A role-playing video game, sometimes called role-playing or RPG for short, places the player in control of a character living in a deep fantasy or futuristic world. Like the table-top role-playing (Dungeons & Dragons) games they grew from, the focus is on creating an experience from the perspective of another person.
Role-Playing games form a strong backbone for other genres like Adventure and Narrative games. The strong sense of character is created by allowing the player control of the appearance, decisions and direction in the game. Some games create this with tight Fighting mechanics, or intricate dungeon Puzzles while others focus more at offering wider expansive choices with Open-Worlds and Strategic decisions.