Editing Role-playing video game (section)

===Relationship to other genres===
{{see also|List of video game genres}}
RPGs seldom test a player's physical skill. Combat is typically a tactical challenge rather than a physical one, and games involve other non-action gameplay such as choosing dialog options, inventory management, or buying and selling items.{{Sfn|Adams|Rollings|2006}}

Although RPGs share some combat rules with [[Wargame (video games)|wargames]], RPGs are often about a small group of individual characters.<ref name="gama129583">{{cite web |last=Kaiser |first=Rowan |title=How Mass Effect challenged my definition of 'RPG' |website=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM Tech |date=March 1, 2012 |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/129583/Opinion_How_Mass_Effect_challenged_my_definition_of_RPG.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306024602/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/129583/Opinion_How_Mass_Effect_challenged_my_definition_of_RPG.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2012 |access-date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> Wargames tend to have large groups of identical units, as well as non-humanoid units such as tanks and airplanes. Role-playing games do not normally allow the player to produce more units. However, the ''[[Heroes of Might and Magic]]'' series crosses these genres by combining individual heroes with large numbers of troops in large battles.<ref name="fundamentals"/>

RPGs rival [[adventure game]]s in terms of their rich storylines, in contrast to genres that do not rely upon storytelling such as [[sports game]]s or [[Puzzle video game|puzzle game]]s.<ref name="fundamentals"/> Both genres also feature highly detailed characters, and a great deal of exploration. However, RPGs also feature a combat system, which adventure games lack. In doing so, RPGs tend to emphasize complex internal mechanics where characters are defined by increasing numerical attributes.

Gameplay elements strongly associated with this genre, such as statistical character development, have been widely adapted to other video game genres. For example, ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'', an [[action-adventure game]], uses resource statistics (abbreviated as "stats") to define a wide range of attributes including stamina, weapon proficiency, driving, lung capacity, and muscle tone, and uses numerous [[cutscene]]s and [[Quest (video gaming)|quests]] to advance the story.

''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'', a [[real-time strategy]] game, features heroes that can complete quests, obtain new equipment, and "learn" new abilities as they advance in level.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Monstrous Timelessness of Warcraft 3 |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-monstrous-timelessness-of-warcraft-3/|access-date=2020-12-20|website=Vice.com|date=7 March 2018}}</ref> A community-created [[Mod (video gaming)|mod]] based on ''Warcraft III,'' ''[[Defense of the Ancients]] (DotA),'' served as significant inspiration for the [[multiplayer online battle arena]] (MOBA) genre.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Funk |first=John |date=2013-09-02 |title=MOBA, DOTA, ARTS: A brief introduction to gaming's biggest, most impenetrable genre |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/9/2/4672920/moba-dota-arts-a-brief-introduction-to-gamings-biggest-most |access-date=2019-11-24 |url-status=live |archive-date=5 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905103354/https://www.polygon.com/2013/9/2/4672920/moba-dota-arts-a-brief-introduction-to-gamings-biggest-most |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Ryan |date=27 March 2018 |title=How Warcraft 3's modding community paved the way for League of Legends and Dota 2 |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/warcraft-iii/warcraft-3-mods-dota-league-of-legends |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=PCGamesN}}</ref> Due to its ''Warcraft III'' origins, MOBA is a fusion of role-playing games, real-time strategy games, and action games, with RPG elements built in its core gameplay. A key features, such as control over one character in a party, growth in power over the course of match, learning new thematic abilities, using of [[Magic (gaming)|mana]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobacci |first=Kara|date=2016-04-22|title=Mana – Less Heroes in the ARTS MOBA Genre|url=https://esportsedition.com/dota-2/mana-less-heroes-in-the-arts-moba-genre/|access-date=2020-09-08 |website=Esports Edition}}</ref> leveling and accumulation of experience points,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://click-storm.com/en/articles/6795/|title=What you need to know about the experience in Dota 2 written by Artem Uarabei |website=Click-Storm|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> equipment and inventory management,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Items |website=League of Legends |url=https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/game-info/items/ |access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> completing quests,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.esportstalk.com/blog/5-most-important-heroes-of-the-storm-objectives-10213/|title=The 5 Most Important Heroes of the Storm Objectives|date=2018-11-21|website=EsportsTalk.com |access-date=2019-09-25|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925110002/https://www.esportstalk.com/blog/5-most-important-heroes-of-the-storm-objectives-10213/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and fighting with the stationary [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] monsters,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roshan Dota 2 Guide|date=2018-10-17|website=FirstBlood® |url=https://pages.firstblood.io/pages/blog/dota-2/roshan-dota-2-guide/ |access-date=2019-09-25|archive-date=2019-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925110057/https://pages.firstblood.io/pages/blog/dota-2/roshan-dota-2-guide/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rendina |first=Brandon |date=27 October 2017 |title=Heroes of the Storm: How to Fully Utilize Boss and Mercenary Camps |website=team-dignitas.net |url=http://team-dignitas.net/articles/blogs/Heroes-Of-The-Storm/11768/heroes-of-the-storm-how-to-fully-utilize-mercenary-camps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030105304/http://team-dignitas.net/articles/blogs/Heroes-Of-The-Storm/11768/heroes-of-the-storm-how-to-fully-utilize-mercenary-camps |archive-date=30 October 2017 |access-date=2019-09-25 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> have resemblance with role-playing games.

According to [[Satoru Iwata]], former president of [[Nintendo]], turn-based RPGs have been unfairly criticized as being outdated, and action-based RPGs can frustrate players who are unable to keep up with the battles.<ref name="Iwata Asks: RPG"/> According to [[Yuji Horii]], creator of the popular ''Dragon Quest'' series and Ryutaro Ichimura, producer of [[Square Enix]], turn-based RPGs allow the player time to make decisions without feeling rushed or worry about real-life distractions.<ref name="Iwata Asks: RPG"/>