Game Design Critic Josh Bycer is back with another entry in the Game Design Deep Dive series to discuss the Role-Playing Game genre. Arguably one of the most recognizable in the industry today, what is and what isn’t an RPG has changed over the years. From the origins in the tabletop market, to now having its design featured all over, it is one of the most popular genres to draw inspiration from and build games around. This is a genre that looks easy from the outside to make, but requires understanding a variety of topics to do right.

• A breakdown of RPG mechanics and systems, perfect for anyone wanting to study or make one themselves


• The history of the genre – from tabletop beginnings to its worldwide appeal


• The reach of the genre – a look at just some of the many different takes on RPGs that have grown over the past 40 years


• An examination of how RPG systems can be combined with other designs to create brand new takes