LogFAQs > #914651860

mooreandrew58 posted...

I've always hated using it that loosely. If you use it that loosely it serves no purpose existing as a term outside table top games. Because in video games that covers the vast majority.

Im opposed to being overly strict about it too but will generally concede to some games just have some or alot of RPG traits but not all. If being strict though I'd say a RPG needs stats leveling up equipment character classes some form of rng affecting gameplay like which stats level up and how much or if an attack/skill works and a blank slate character you get to make up, name class and if you wish back story.

That's why I generally don't care for calling RPG a genre of its own. Instead, describing games as being another genre with varying degrees of RPG elements (such as leveling up, character customization, stat management, party management, the ability to influence the story and the world...) seems to make a lot more sense, especially where those RPG elements have bled into so many different genres.