The Ongoing RPG Debate: What Defines the Genre Anyway?
Oh boy, the classic “what makes an RPG?” debate is back on the table. This time, it’s thanks to Emil Pagliarulo from Bethesda Game Studios, who recently stirred the pot in an interview with GamesRadar+. Seriously, Emil, it’s the holidays—not Halloween! Read the room.
For ages, gamers have been hashing out what really defines the RPG genre. Sure, leveling systems, skill trees, and customizable characters are often considered staples, but in reality, developers frequently borrow elements from all over the gaming landscape. This makes it tougher than ever to pin down a concrete definition. According to Pagliarulo, Bethesda caught on to this evolving perspective during the gap between releasing Fallout 4 and Starfield.
“The time between Fallout 4 and Starfield, […] the one thing we really learned is there is no one definition of an RPG,” Pagliarulo remarks. “Look at Cyberpunk 2077, one of my favorite games. Some people don’t even call that an RPG. So the concept of an RPG is always evolving. But does it mean that your game has traits, it has backgrounds, that it has dialog?”
Does that mean The Outer Worlds 2, where a single dialogue choice can flip the entire narrative, fits the mold? “That’s what some people consider an RPG. So it’s really all over the map. And so what we focus on, we want to give players a good story.”
No matter how you slice it, it’s hard to deny that Bethesda Game Studios stands tall among the leading RPG developers today. And the anticipation for The Elder Scrolls 6 is palpable. This long-awaited sequel is bound to deliver just as much, if not more, than its predecessors, which are often hailed as some of the greatest RPGs ever made.
And hey, I’m not getting dragged any deeper into this debate. It’s the holidays, and I’ve got eggnog to enjoy!
Todd Howard has also teased that Elder Scrolls 6 “most definitely” features more trees than Skyrim. Now I’m thinking it might be set in Valenwood—a location conspiracy is brewing!