History & Evolution of RPGs | EXPLORED

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development.
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ABOUT ME
Hey there folks!! My name is Niyat and this channel was created to assist in answering all your questions about Films, Comics and Popular culture in a fun and engaging way!
Disclaimer: I do not own rights to any of the source materials I used in this work, appealing to allowance made for "fair use" purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research, under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

That was a perfectly well executed explanation on the history of RPG's, also, I never knew Vin Diesel was into RPG games like Dungeons and Dragons

[@InfamousRafe]

Wel, you surprised you didn't know with how often you comment...

[@InfamousRafe]

I'm*

[@TheRPGChick]

One of his movies, The Last Witch Hunter, was based on his D&D character, named Kaulder.

[@gerrysantos1829]

I never expected this but i definitely wasnt disappointed.

[@MrBreydon]

The music. The history. The video all around give me a good feeling, brings back great memories as a kid. Even now I’m in the service and your videos help me with my fascination with history and lore. I thank you for making my morale higher every time I get a notification from you. ❤️

[@filmcomicsexplained]

No, thank you for watching mate :)

[@z.s.n.]

Thank you for your selflessness. I appreciate you!

[@atompunk456]

I love the new content this channel is going with

[@InfamousRafe]

Same I thrive off this.

[@adamsmithproperties2528]

Fallout 1 and 2 are my favorite RPGs of all time, excellent video keep up the great work

[@rezonan3520]

Glad I'm not the only one that like crpgs

[@domagojkersun9630]

Baldurs Gate 2 and Torment are awesome too. I am glad I see some Black Isle fans!

[@rogueascendant6611]

Diablo was the first RPG that I've played on PC back in the days. The game is solely based as the first prototype or the early form made in 1997. I spent days playing it and never get tired of it. It was surreal mesmerizing for me as the first known computer game I came about.

[@TheDarkNature]

Really love your channel! Trying to use you as inspiration to grow my own. Best of luck to you, hopefully you reach 1 million soon!

[@GrexTheCrabasitor]

do it harder

[@jeremygeffrard5282]

Rpg were the reason I started gaming love a good story

[@ValleyofEndar]

Played Temple of Apshai back in the day on my C64... I remember it as fairly interesting, but it wasn't until I found the game Bard's Tale 3 that I became an RPG fan. It was incredibly immersive for that time. Glad they remastered the trilogy, it feeds my nostalgia trips...

[@derpmcgerp5968]

This is masterpiece, this needs more likes. Keep up the good work my friend

[@CaptainClark23]

Great video as always. This was a nice surprise and change from your usual thing. Would love to see you cover JRPGs Cheers dude!

[@williamcote4208]

Here’s another HEAVILY D&D inspired rpg, the Star Wars Knight of the old Republic games. They are amazing. Also, to the people here, who did you prefer as a protagonist? Revan or Meetra Surik (the exile)

[@williamcote4208]

Millian Macalintal Don’t forget that they did this in 14 month instead of 3 years, which is why BioWare baled the fuck out

[@tylerpetty5671]

To be honest i would play both those have a intrusting background both have character development and became iconic in thier own rights

[@Andre_vyent]

yes it amazing and also another old , neverwinter nights with some of the best dialogs and neevrwinter nights 2, and dragon age 1

[@TY-km8hj]

As a character, revan, he's on one of the best characters in star wars. As a protagonist in-game tho, I'd say meetra surik, kotor 2 is just a masterpiece and is truly one of the best RPG's around.

[@iainpace772]

I remember playing all the original D&D on an 8086 and then my 286 IBM clone. Talk about taking me back to my childhood when you talked about Pool of Radiance. My it was my exposure to these early games that makes me enjoy games such as Fallout and Witcher. The game play is great but it is all the lore that I find the most entertaining. Love the vid.

[@wesford808]

My first RPG was Secret of Mana on SNES. I still love it today!

[@DolanOk]

Oh man I haven't seen you in so long, I love this type of video exploring gaming history! Keep it up man your video format is great for these kinds of topics!

[@jonathanpretty5031]

The games that got me into RPGs is Final Fantasy 8, Oblivion, and Dragon Age Origins. I never played games like these before until a friend of mine showed me FF8. I was blown away by its graphics at the time and have now beaten more or less every main line FF game.

[@FloraJoannaK]

I remember playing Morrowind and NWN1 as a kid, and having no idea what I was doing. All the mechanics and systems in place were new to me. It was... Kind of awesome? My first RPG-ish game was Pokemon Red, though. I'd say it counts as an RPG. It's the most nostalgic genre for me, no doubt about it.

[@obedientconsumer5056]

I came up on Ultima Online, EverQuest, Diablo, All the Elder Scrolls games, and a bunch of others. Love RPG's.

[@FreedomActual]

i like where this channel is going as always keep up the great content

[@joshmerchant8737]

What are the odds, I'm playing skyrim right now. With like 81 mods though lol.

[@incandescentbeverage247]

It's necessary...

[@greenkoopa]

@@incandescentbeverage247 no. You must play the very balanced and not broken or exploitable Xbox 360 base version.

[@TheMoon-jd2bv]

I've also been replaying it for the last week or so. Probably my favorite game of all-time.

[@ameliaward7429]

I equate playing Skyrim to rewatching the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

[@bryanaa196]

And they said high specs are too much.

[@jevinday]

Bad ass video Niyat. Love the concept!

[@eugenej.6331]

Please make more videos like this! This is excellent!

[@demonsorrows]

My first RPG game played was Final Fantasy for the NES. First RPG-lite boardgame was Dragon Strike. It came with a VHS tape tutorial/story of people playing. I still love the video. It's on KZbin if anyone wants to watch it =P It's done with the old school oversaturated green screen they used in 90s video games. It's glorious xD

[@onikai7055]

My first RPG game was Skyrim and that game got my attention instantly. I was into Halo, COD and Minecraft so RPGs never really caught my attention until my friend let me play Skyrim. I loved that game so much I bought instantly and it was fun. Now I just mod Skyrim a lot but it’s still fun. I miss the original curiosity I had for the game tho.

[@ghostman1695]

I was surprised you skipped entirely over Sierra and LucasArts games such as Quest for Glory. Quest for Glory was one of the first RPG games where you could carry a character from one game to the next. That said Cyberpunk 1st edirion was the first tabletop game I played. There was a lot of Cyberpunk and Shadowrun -esque games that I felt captured the feel of those RPGs similar to D&D. Thanls for sharing your love of the genre though!!

[@MsIvalane]

RPG's are my primary (maybe only) genre of games i play. I love the ability to tell a story and the ability to immerse yourself within a world. The first I can remember is Baulder's Gate 2, and it's been all western rpg's all the time since lol. I'd love to see a followup re: JRPG's as well!

[@VincentJ274stoicsoldier]

Your videos are incredible, Niyat. This one has been educational to learn more about RPGs. I have been wondering if you can do a video on Extraction (2020) and Only. Two recommendable Netflix originals with outstanding storylines.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼

[@dr.richtofen8875]

Hey man. Love your vids. Have you considered making an official discord server? I think it would be cool

[@spidermcgavenport]

Unlimited Adventures was my first RPG maker, Eye of the Beholder was my first First Person RPG on PC but my first Strategy RPG Master of Magic by Micro Prose was and still is my absolute favorite.

[@NatesGG]

Thanks for the consistent uploads!

[@elphaba4674]

RPGs will always be my favorite! 👍👍 Been a warcraft player since 2007!

[@fearthepointman3134]

First rpg i ever played was Final Fantasy on the NES but never got far in it back when i was 8 or so. Then eventually my friend's dad bought him Phantasy Star 4 and that was the first rpg i fully immersed myself in and blew my mind. Hoping to get my hands on it again.

[@chrisz5z]

True RPGs have never really been my cup of tea, but i can understand why they are so loved. And even tho i don't play them i still hold them in high regard because they've influenced many of my favorite games as they all have RPG elements.

[@ephraimchishi7571]

My favourite RPG was and still is Titan Quest. Love the ancient mythology setting and mastery system.

[@whiskeyweekly7533]

This was awesome! A history I didn't know I always wanted.

[@SoUnholy]

Imagine if Ewan McGregor had played one of the grey beards.

[@derpmcgerp5968]

That would be beautiful

[@joelromero6074]

Not the normal content but I'm here for it.

[@SantiagoCabezasNQN]

My first RPG was The Eidolon (Commodore 64). Then there were some, not mentioned in the video, as Eye of the Beholder series, The Summoning, Moira, and some other classics. Absolutely loved Morrowind, Oblivion not so much, Skyrim 110%. As many here, looking forward to Cyberpunk 2077.

[@ghossts]

the music is so soothing

[@kingssman2]

J-RPG themes. You start off doing task in your tiny village and at the end of the game you have to defeat GOD

[@AtomicOwl]

Now this is shinigami tensei

[@diamondclaw5313]

Hay filmcomic , just seen the movie, project almanac, and didn't really understand the ending that well. I understand the beginning and middle but, can't seem to understand the last part. Either way you do a fantastic job at explaining every detail, if you ever need a new film idea here is a film to explain.

[@XX-sp3tt]

You forgot Chainmail. That is D&D's bedrock. D&D in fact started life as an outgrowth of Chainmail, which is why there are rules focused on building fortresses and gathering followers in the original version game. And that Chainmail itself was based off of Little Wars, a game created by HG Wells himself.

[@ethanmorin6024]

I've consumed a relatively large amount of media and I would love to be able to give back to the community that has dueled my dreams and nightmares for my entire life. Also FCE is an awesome and you are an awesome person.

[@Ghostgaming-hs8jk]

Love your contact dude never stop

[@akiharashuguro2141]

Oh thank God you finally upload

[@dudedude64]

Am I the only one who likes to draw maps of fictional countries and areas and make a detailed history of it just for fun?

[@sharkfin154]

I started playing rpgs in about '07-'08 with adventure quest and runescape. The next one I played was probably skyrim, where I of course was fully hooked and now do the witcher and fallout

[@jetstreamdefalpha5411]

im starting to like this channel alot more.

[@perdomot]

My first RPG was FF Legends in 1989 on the original Gameboy. Loved that game.

[@juggaloclownpreacher]

What is the name of the backround music ?

[@joseescobedo9150]

It would be nice to see a JRPG video too

[@filmcomicsexplained]

We can make that happen!

[@eyeln9ne696]

Yeah, I've always been a big jrpg and tactical rpg fan.

[@apictureoffunction]

As far as what makes an RPG what it is, I don't think we can rely on the acronym of "role playing game" anymore, because that phrase describes virtually any game where you play as a character. If we look at what games have historically been classified as RPGs, I think the defining feature would be a game that has some sort of experience and leveling system, even if "experience" is referred to by a different name. When people talk about games that "have RPG elements", it almost always means there's some sort of system that allows you to grow and improve your character over time, for example, acquiring and spending Adam in Bioshock in order to acquire new plasmids, passive buffs, etc. Or collecting and spending Runes in Dishonored in order to acquire new powers and to upgrade them, as well as collecting bone charms in order to get different passives to round out your play style. However, in those two games, you improve your character by acquiring specific items and/or resources, hence why the "leveling" system in them acts as an "RPG element" rather than being a full blown RPG. In a full blown RPG, leveling is always done by acquiring experience points, which the player gets by completing quests, engaging in combat, and/or using skills (IE getting experience by successfully picking a lock in Skyrim). Once the player has received enough experience points, they then "level up" by being rewarded some form of points they can spend. In these games, leveling up/improving your character is done either by adding those points to attributes/skills to make them more effective, spending those points on new "perks" from a skill tree(s) to improve stats and/or receive new abilities, or a combination of both the attribute and perk/skill tree system. I've heard other people try to argue that an RPG requires a dialogue system, or that it requires some form of "choice and consequence" to the gameplay and story, but neither of those things by themselves determine whether a game is considered an RPG. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of games that are and will forever be classified as RPGs, despite not having either of those two things. Off the top of my head, Final Fantasy immediately comes to mind. The thing is, the phrase "role playing game" has never really made sense as a genre classification in videogames. It made sense for tabletop RPGs, because it helped separate them from other tabletop games like TCGs and board games, because in tabletop RPGs you were playing a role of a character. But in almost EVERY single videogame, you play the role of a character, so that version of the phrase "role playing game" could be applied to something as ill-fitting as Super Mario Bros. At the end of the day, the first RPG was Dungeon and Dragons. And the systems from D&D that have always been present in videogames classified as RPGs, are a form of experience and a form of leveling. Sorry for my super long comment, but I wanted to lay out my case coherently, and there was quit a bit of ground to cover.

[@randallholloway8686]

Loved this one! Where did Eidos and stealth games like Thief and assassin's creed fit in with influence as opposed to action?

[@СтефанБорисов-ш5й]

For the question: what games were most influential?, I have only one thing to say... WOW

[@realist6482]

True

[@Skulltar69]

I'd say something like System Shock or Deus Ex

[@СтефанБорисов-ш5й]

@@Skulltar69 They have a strong fan base but no so big. WoW had a massive player base and brought RPGs to the mass audience true its massive multi-player.

[@Azure9577]

Subgenres exist Wow had the biggest influence on mmorpgs and somewhat diablo style rpgs But other genres had their own sources of influence

[@montmurillo8291]

Vr will arguably be the next ultimate way to experience rpg

[@melissameadows4503]

please talk about JRPG games. they are a huge part of my life, and the reason I am who I am today. This genre of games are the reason I still love games today. Games like Golden Sun, Final Fantasy, Octopath Traveler, Chrono Trigger and so many more are important in video game history. And I feel like these types of games are dying out in favor of the more popular shooters and other mindless games out there. Sorry to those who love shooters like Destiny and the like. Please give light to this genre, as I believe that they are very under appreciated and underrated.

[@APOLLYON-IV]

Damn that's some good content

[@TheMoonShepard]

I'm looking forward to Cyberpunk 2077 this year.

[@tamashi1094]

Combat for the Witcher was.. questionable...

[@Spinnekk]

Same here.

[@GracelessEmber]

Sad comment seeing this now

[@usmcdevildog3497]

Great video as always, any thoughts about talking about the Recorded Attacks from the Zombie Survival Guide, the idea of zombies being around thought out human history is incredible and terrifying

[@filmcomicsexplained]

I can look into it mate!

[@usmcdevildog3497]

@@filmcomicsexplained awesome, your vid on the WWZ virus was the best

[@overlance]

We need part 2 for interstellar, its been 2 yrs PLS!

[@ameliaward7429]

You haven't lived until you've played an RPG off a cassette tape.

[@gustavoc305]

I would like to see a video on Super 8 please

[@beaulavin8455]

Since you're on the topic of a video game I was hoping could you do a explain on man of medam because the second video game of the horror anthology series the dark pictures is coming out soon that's little hope and I thought it'd be a good time for you to check out their first one since you also did their until Dawn

[@Seraphim401]

The Witcher 1 is the first rpg I ever played. Been hooked ever since.

[@domagojkersun9630]

Witcher 1 is the true RPG of the series while other two are going more of a action game.

[@KSofficial141]

Roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons really get me excited, theres other roleplaying and tabletop games such as: Alien, Borderlands, Skyrim, Dark Souls, etc Edit: by the way Nyeant (I hope I spelled it right) what is your opinion on Baldur's Gate 3?

[@doccoke8782]

I will definitely say the first game or such that I can love that had any rpg like elements was soul calibur 3. The conquer mode. Agreeably it’s more strategy based. But to be fair, you were able to customize your character, armor, weapons, and fighting style while commanding an army. You chose who you would fight and what to do while at the same time try to help out who ever and how ever. But what brought some true love for it is seeing my older brother play this mode and how he role played is character, who he respected, loved, and hated along with making his character appear old at the end to signify the years of war and death his character went through. After that was fable 2 because you can choose on what your actions are and how it will affect everyone. Then when Dragon age came around. That was my true awakening to rpgs. Forging alliances with factions and groups to fight the darkspawn, who you wish to be remember as a hero or monster. Then came oblivion and fallout 3. I couldn’t fully play them because I was honestly scared of feral ghouls and zombie’s but I loved them. Then Skyrim and new Vegas was around in my teenage years and I had to much fun going through them. Then when Skyrim se and fallout 4 came to the Xbox one with modding. To this day I still have them downloaded and can’t bring myself to do so. Though I can but help have that idea with fallout 4 because whenever I try to go anywhere in Boston it crashes. But with Skyrim it’s fine at least. It rarely does it only with certain areas and guild quests. After one little crash it works fine. As of past few years I have been introduced to dnd. And for the past few months. I have been working on a world and playing it with brothers as the dm. I will definitely say, if it wasn’t for being introduced to rpgs in my youth. I wouldn’t have the imagination I would have today. And I love every bit of it.

[@iceheart1289]

Hate to be negative, but just glad this isn't another video of "what went wrong" or "a bleak depressing world" topic. Love this channel as always though.

[@KreamyKakes]

You should see if you could explore The Enclave or The Brotherhood Of Steel from Fallout.

[@jikhiljikki3381]

Sky fing rim. I love this channel

[@XX-sp3tt]

JRPGs and WRPGs go in very different directions. JRPGs are very narrative focused. While WRPGs focus on customization and the player character being an empty vessel for you to inhabit.

[@shainewhite2781]

Cool, this looks interesting!

[@thumperjr100]

Love Baulders Gate series

[@Megatron_95]

Greedfall is a good example of an RPG game. And I don't even like RPF games

[@Kreau]

Yeah I picked that one up a month ago but had to put it down when I went on deployment, Never eeven left the docks

[@PunishedDad]

Never really thought about it but I think my first RPG might actually be Might and Magic 9, which I bought because I liked heroes of might and magic 3 so much. after that I guess it would be Runescape

[@AProudDad]

Making modules in good ol' Neverwinter Nights. Before that I played PnP Dungeons & Dragons. Now I'm playing Outer Worlds and just marveling at how far we've come.

[@rezonan3520]

Good and fine but the outer worlds is just mediocre for me But it does have its good parts But I can't play it again

[@johnlewis8156]

FF2 (I think it was 4 in Japan) was my first RPG and was hooked ever since. I don't have the time like that anymore but it was my first. Ff3 (us) became my favorite. My first action RPG was secret of Mana . I got alot of my friends into other RPGs with that due to it being 3 player co-op. The music in that game is still one of the best of the 16 bit era. My favorite RPG of PC are fall out 1 and 2. I never got into the fps fall out games. Also Diablo 1 was great for the co-op aspects. Fond memories ❤️

[@jaycross320]

Please do a talk about all the gods and deitys in elder scrolls

[@moustholmes]

Hey since you are doing more game related content you should do a video on Death stranding by Hideo Kojima if you have the time (40-50 hours gameplay). Its Hideo Kojima's first game he have made with his own company and its weird and wonderful.

[@rezonan3520]

People hate that game so get ready for hate

[@moustholmes]

@@rezonan3520 yea the game is not everybody's cup of tea but that is mostly due to the game being overhyped and some people expecting a action game but got a very repetitive and slow gameplay but the story is good. Ironic that a game about unification ended up being very divisive.

[@MidnightWanderer]

For me, its WoW...(World of Warcraft) been playing it for several years now.

[@michaelliggett1622]

Old school runescape was my first then a few months or year later runescape 2 was made which was regular runescape of early 2000 and so on

[@josephinebristow8578]

My 1st RPG was legend of Zelda ocarina of time. Which I don't know if it counts as an RPG but it was the 1st game I got into

[@yannacallaway11]

My first rpg was Final Fantasy, but I dont remember which one. I played it on PSP, so it was a long while ago. Till this day I still play FF games, mainly 15.

[@sixtenmller8452]

vampire the masquerade bloodlines change everything for me. it was just awesome.

[@tuhkakasa1917]

You could do video of JRPG, also your view of Bloodborne, FF7 Remake or Warhammer 40K could be interesting? First rpg for me was orginal Final Fantasy 7, that did hit. Modern i liked Dragon age: Origins, Fallout, Bloodborne, Witcher series and of course Final Fantasy series?

[@infamousarsonist949]

Please do an Explaination on war of the worlds :)

[@stargazerSofia]

yes yes yes !!! do more

[@grifcheese1076]

My favourite rpg has to be oblivion I love the elder scrolls the music the quests it's just so good.

[@jonathanpretty5031]

Oblivion was awsome! I think it's the best Elder Scrolls game at the moment. I loved Skyrim but it kinda lost some of the awsome stuff you could do in the game. Specifically the Dark Brotherhood quest line.

[@grifcheese1076]

@@jonathanpretty5031 I know right? I'm 14 and my uncle got me hooked to the franchise I'm trying to play morrowind now

[@Azure9577]

@@jonathanpretty5031 morrowind is the best elder scrolls in my opinion Because the combat is not button mashing

[@TheBat200]

I know I’ve been playing rpgs since before I can even remember playing any, but the first one I remember playing was Pokemon Red version.

[@mori7644]

Hey man explore JRPG’s I think that would make a good video

[@growndown3358]

Guess your changing your channel name to FilmComicsGamesExplained. I don't mind. I'd like you to cover games aswell. I like your impartial take.

[@white-dragon4424]

What, no "Adventure" for the Atari VCS (1980), Advanced D&D Cloudy Mountain (1982) Advanced D&D Treasure of Tarmin (1983) for the Intellivision? Or what about Dungeon Master I and II in the late 80s and early 90s?

[@iHaveTheDocuments]

I love the worlds from software makes. Dark souls but especially bloodborne. Before I found it I didn't realize what was possible from a game. It's hard and you have to earn your way though but the reward was like no other.

[@rococoblue]

🧐 fascinating!.

[@CitizenZero1]

My favorite RPG as a kid was Earthbound. It was playful and weird and cool.

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

• 5:11 - "A-S-C 2"? 🤨 😂 ASCII = /ass-key/ • 11:00 - Yeah, SSI AD&D games ftw! 👍😀 • It's so weird when KZbinrs do similar videos about non-current topics at the same time. Someone else did a deep-dive into RPGs just last week. 🤔

[@Maddin1313]

ASSKEY 😂😂

[@reimusklinsman5876]

Took me a second to figure out what asc2 is

[@Mr.Default5699]

This is new but I like it 😀

[@nicholasbradley8794]

I've been playing rpgs since the early 2000s my first rpg was dungeons and dragons for the original xbox

[@markidjanivulle3680]

More please!!!

[@itsmekinowa6052]

It was in 1986, the declaration of the gaming war between console and PC.

[@samus88]

I never played RPGs other than Pokemon (and I play each game a dozen times), but I recently started playing Bravely default/second, Persona Q/Q2 and Project X Zone/PXZ2. I don't think I could ever get into action-rpgs tho. I like having time to think what I do with a menu. Action games require actual skill during real-time battles and my brain doesn't work like that.