Video Game Genres: What are Role Playing Games?

If you've ever wanted to step out of “real life” and conquer the world, role playing video games can get you there. They're among today's most popular game genres, dropping us into intriguing virtual environments where each new scene presents unique, evolving challenges for us (and our roleplay characters) to solve. Defining your persona, acquiring cool tools, building skills—it's all part of what makes role playing games so mesmerizing.

Every day, millions of gamers just like you dive into role playing games, and it's easy to see why. There's a sense of adventure and conquest in games like The Witcher 3, where you'll search for a lost loved one across a Slavic folklore setting and seek to control the monster slayer that gives the game its name. Or you can enter the world of Baldur's Gate 3 and fight to save the continent of Faerûn from a returning ancient evil.

Whatever thrills you, there's sure to be a role playing game that gets your competitive juices flowing. One published report put total downloads of role playing games in 2022 at nearly 9 billion. See what we mean when we say these games are popular?

And remember that when it comes to gaming, Lenovo has what you need, from slick gaming laptops and mobile gaming accessories to souped-up gaming desktops and high-res gaming monitors. Whether you're new to role playing games or you've been fighting virtual foes for years, there's a gaming PC—and add-ons—to match your skill level and budget.

Introduction to Role Playing Games

A role playing game (RPG) is a video game in which you take on the persona of a character and operate within a virtual world or setting. The people and places can be based on real life but are more often fictional or fantastical—opening yet more possibilities.

At the most basic level, RPGs present you with an interesting task or goal to pursue by navigating the game narrative, making choices along the way, and responding to each outcome. You'll face obstacles and challenges of increasing difficulty as you gain more tools and skills and, eventually, move to the next scenario in the game narrative.

Of course, that's a simple, dictionary-style definition of RPGs. And in a way, it totally misses the “joy” of it all. Role playing games, especially the most digitally intense titles with deep storylines, can deliver hours of immersive fun. You can create interesting characters who evolve with each new challenge as you think your way from point to point. What's not to like?

What Are Role Playing Games?

Role playing games or RPGs are immersive, interactive video games that allow you to take on a character and play out a role within a pre-defined but expansive and variable virtual environment. Most often, players engage within structured storylines with specific goals, but with various routes to achieving them. The best players combine wit, skill, and focus with imagination—that is, the creativity to push their characters to make interesting choices that drive the game to new, unexpected places.

Within the family of role playing games are several sub-genres:

• What are action RPGs? Action-adventure RPGs offer fast-paced, combat-style environments where role-playing typically means building skilled fighters with unique talents and personas. Popular games in this category include The Elder Scrolls, Fable, and Mass Effect.
• What are Japanese RPGs? These games are noted for distinctive narratives, turn-based combat and fantasy storylines—with extensive character-building along the way. Persona, Dragon Quest, and Nier and among the popular Japanese RPG titles.
• What are western RPGs? Western RPGs start with well-developed stories but are more open-ended than others, giving players lots of customization options—often involving an ethical dilemma that helps define the character. Popular titles include Fallout, Borderlands, and Wasteland.
• What are dungeon crawler RPGs? These games about exploring deep, dark, confusing dungeons, with players sometimes having to engage in tactical combat against attacking monsters. Titles such as Warcraft and Final Fantasy (pre-version XIV) are popular dungeon crawler RPGs.
• What are massive multiplayer online RPGs? These games, abbreviated MMORPGs, add interaction with other players, allowing you to pursue quests as a team and putting greater emphasis on each player's ability to work with others. Some of the most popular RPGs are in this category, such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV Online.
• What are roguelike and roguelite RPGs? Roguelike and roguelite RPGs are replayable, with different experiences each time, and differ from other RPGs in that players' characters may start over with each new game (that is, with no progression from earlier run-throughs). Examples include Rogue, Hack, and NetHack.
• What are Sandbox RPGs> These games are non-linear with open-world environments where players have greater autonomy—some games don't even have a pre-determined goal, allowing players to choose one on their own. Games like Grand Theft Auto and The Legend of Zelda are in the sandbox RPG category.
• What are tactical RPGs? Tactical RPGs often give you a map or grid to follow, making positioning and movement-based skills important, since navigating the terrain is critical to success. In this sub-genre are games like Marvel's Midnight Suns and Divinity: Original Sin 2.

How Are Role Playing Games Different from Other Video Games?

Simple, so-called “traditional” video games typically involve a straightforward, linear set of goals and steps to complete. Think Super Mario Bros., where each new level gets you closer to the goal. Role-playing games turn the concept around: success depends on how well you build and equip your character to progress through each new challenge.

As we've seen, RPGs come in many different types, but most have a narrative-driven format, an immersive virtual world, and multiple opportunities to shape your role and capabilities as you move through the game. In fact, it's this ability to specialize your character—giving up an old skill in favor of one you think will help in a future battle—that differentiates RPGs from some other game genres. And the choices aren't always easy; adding one capability may force you to compromise another.

To better understand the distinction, consider the alternatives to RPGs. Sports-themed games are fun and give you a chance to compete against virtual versions of big-name basketball and football stars. But those characters have pre-defined skills and don't really progress like the characters in RPGs, potentially limiting your enjoyment.

Do I Need a Specific Laptop or Accessories to Play Role Playing Games?

If you're not playing your video games using a console, you're probably using a laptop or desktop. But which gaming laptops or gaming desktops is best for role playing games? And what about gaming accessories?

Base your laptop or desktop purchase (or upgrades) on the games you like to play. That is, go to the game maker's website, find their recommended specifications (not just their minimum ones), and find a PC that matches. Here are examples from two of the most popular of today's RPGs:

*Recommended requirements will change over time. Always check the game maker's website.

Generally speaking, seek the highest-level CPU, GPU, and RAM volume that fits your budget (you can upgrade later, if needed). Laptops provide more portability than desktops, but desktops are preferred by many high-level gamers, since they often house more advanced (i.e., faster) components and are less prone to overheating under intense game action.

As for accessories, essential peripherals for playing RPGs on a laptop or desktop include a mouse or controller that's comfortable and gives you the action-buttons needed for the game. Laptop users may want to invest in an external display for a bigger view of the virtual world, and potentially a gaming keyboard, which may provide additional functionality not available on the laptop.

Role Playing Games in 2025: What's Popular?

If you're not already playing RPGs, are you ready to start? If so, here's a short list of some—not all—of today's most popular role playing video games. Some are new, while others have been captivating gamers for nearly 30 years.

As you'll see, there's an RPG for just about every type of game player:

The Elder Scrolls Series

One of the most well-loved games in 2025 remains The Elder Scrolls Series, an action RPG developed by Bethesda Game Studios. Offering free-form gameplay in an open world, it attracts millions of players worldwide, winning plaudits for unique storylines and challenging gameplay. The experience takes place in pre-medieval Tamriel, where technology is limited but there's magic to learn. The series launched in 1994, the Elder Scrolls Online MMORPG debuted in 2014 (and is still going), and in 2025 the RPG Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered came out.

Fallout Series

Fallout is both an RPG and FPS game (and has been since Fallout 3), so the character you build can go out to conquer and defeat an opponent. Published by Bethesda Game Studios, the game is set in the 3rd Millennium, after a nuclear war decimates the planet. The game first launched in 1997; the latest version is Fallout 4.

The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was launched in 2015 as an action RPG by CD Projekt. Gamers enter a fictional fantasy world to control Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer known as the Witcher. The game takes place in a Slavic folklore setting where you'll hunt down specific monsters on quests while searching for your adopted daughter.

Baldur's Gate 3

Launched in 2023, this game by Larian Studios is based on Dungeons & Dragons and has been nominated for multiple Game of the Year awards for the many ways it gives players to explore and experiment. An ancient evil has returned to Baldur's Gate and the fate of Faerûn lies in your hands.

Mass Effect Series

The Mass Effect Series is a military-based, sci-fi gaming from BioWare. First launched in 2007, it combines the future of both humanity and aliens, with a premise about colonizing the galaxy using tools and skills left behind by advanced precursor civilizations.

Elden Ring

In 2022, Elden Ring launched as an action role-playing game set in the Lands Between. Developed by FromSoftware, the third-person perspective enables players to explore an open-world setting with various weapons, magic, and runes (currency) to help you advance.

Cyberpunk 2077

From CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077 is an action RPG in which players become V, a mercenary who gets a cybernetic biochip containing the engram of a rockstar and terrorist. Those personalities must work together to save V's life. The game was initially released in December 2020.

Final Fantasy Series

One of the most well-known RPGs is the Final Fantasy Series. It was initially released in 1987 as a primarily fantasy-oriented RPG, but today it's more a hybrid of various RPG sub-genres including FPS, MMORPGs and even racing games. Each new launch, from maker Square Enix, offers on a new plot with heroes battling both evil and internal struggles.

Conclusion

Role playing games (RPGs) are among the most popular video games on the market today. They give you the chance to adopt a new, interesting persona—with a variety of skills and abilities—as you navigate through an immersive, virtual world. Whether you're fighting to save Faerûn from an ancient evil in Baldur's Gate 3 or searching for a lost loved one in the latest title in The Witcher series, role playing games can deliver hours of entertainment.

To outfit yourself properly, choose your favorite RPG and find the manufacturer's recommended PC specifications. Then shop Lenovo for a gaming laptops or gaming desktops that meets the requirements. It's a great way to ensure your system is up to the challenge of the game(s) you like to play. And don't forget gaming accessories like specialized mice and keyboards.