whether it’s random battles spiky-haired protagonists or hunting for crystals
protagonists or hunting for crystals
protagonists or hunting for crystals that hold the fate of the world we’ve
that hold the fate of the world we’ve
that hold the fate of the world we’ve come to expect certain things from our
come to expect certain things from our
come to expect certain things from our favorite role-playing games here’s a
favorite role-playing games here’s a
favorite role-playing games here’s a dead dragon and that’s something I
dead dragon and that’s something I
dead dragon and that’s something I definitely understand welcome to
definitely understand welcome to
definitely understand welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 RPG cliches hey no matter which way you
RPG cliches hey no matter which way you
RPG cliches hey no matter which way you go a black it for this list we’re
go a black it for this list we’re
go a black it for this list we’re looking at some of the most common
looking at some of the most common
looking at some of the most common themes tropes and game mechanics you’re
themes tropes and game mechanics you’re
themes tropes and game mechanics you’re likely to find in the majority of
likely to find in the majority of
likely to find in the majority of role-playing games whether they be
role-playing games whether they be
role-playing games whether they be Western Japanese single player or
Western Japanese single player or
Western Japanese single player or massively multiplayer let’s go number 10
massively multiplayer let’s go number 10
massively multiplayer let’s go number 10 black hole backpack did you know that
black hole backpack did you know that
black hole backpack did you know that most RPG heroes are also obsessive
most RPG heroes are also obsessive
most RPG heroes are also obsessive hoarders just take a look inside
hoarders just take a look inside
hoarders just take a look inside any protagonists inventory do you really
any protagonists inventory do you really
any protagonists inventory do you really need a dozen different swords 99 healing
need a dozen different swords 99 healing
need a dozen different swords 99 healing potions several full sets of body armor
potions several full sets of body armor
potions several full sets of body armor furniture for your villa
furniture for your villa
furniture for your villa dragon bones and those flowers that you
dragon bones and those flowers that you
dragon bones and those flowers that you picked luckily a lot of RPGs offer a
picked luckily a lot of RPGs offer a
picked luckily a lot of RPGs offer a bottomless back pack that can be filled
bottomless back pack that can be filled
bottomless back pack that can be filled with all the kinds of crazy crap you
with all the kinds of crazy crap you
with all the kinds of crazy crap you find on your adventure even if the hero
find on your adventure even if the hero
find on your adventure even if the hero is never even visibly seen with a
is never even visibly seen with a
is never even visibly seen with a backpack or even pockets
sometimes you meet someone new and you
sometimes you meet someone new and you get the feeling like you’ve met them
get the feeling like you’ve met them
get the feeling like you’ve met them before and that’s because you probably
before and that’s because you probably
before and that’s because you probably have on the surface RPG characters
have on the surface RPG characters
have on the surface RPG characters aren’t totally original
aren’t totally original
aren’t totally original you got your fighter your mage your
you got your fighter your mage your
you got your fighter your mage your healer your cute little mascot and so on
after a while it seems like every game
after a while it seems like every game reuses this tried-and-true formula but
reuses this tried-and-true formula but
reuses this tried-and-true formula but in a way that’s sort of comforting to
in a way that’s sort of comforting to
in a way that’s sort of comforting to new players I guess number eight heroes
new players I guess number eight heroes
new players I guess number eight heroes get away with anything apparently being
get away with anything apparently being
get away with anything apparently being the future savior of the world comes
the future savior of the world comes
the future savior of the world comes with a few perks everyone around you is
with a few perks everyone around you is
with a few perks everyone around you is willing to just look the other way while
willing to just look the other way while
willing to just look the other way while you steal plunder and murder your way to
you steal plunder and murder your way to
you steal plunder and murder your way to the top
the top
the top seriously with only a couple of
seriously with only a couple of
seriously with only a couple of exceptions most NPCs just plain don’t
exceptions most NPCs just plain don’t
exceptions most NPCs just plain don’t care if a stranger barges into their
care if a stranger barges into their
care if a stranger barges into their home during dinnertime rummages through
home during dinnertime rummages through
home during dinnertime rummages through their stuff takes their money smashes
their stuff takes their money smashes
their stuff takes their money smashes their furniture and leaps oh and those
their furniture and leaps oh and those
their furniture and leaps oh and those nameless guards you killed while
nameless guards you killed while
nameless guards you killed while infiltrating the Castle F who cares
infiltrating the Castle F who cares
infiltrating the Castle F who cares it’s all for the greater good right
it’s all for the greater good right
it’s all for the greater good right number seven destroyed home town
number seven destroyed home town
number seven destroyed home town evacuate the civilians to the shelter
evacuate the civilians to the shelter
evacuate the civilians to the shelter few things will get an RPG hero off of
few things will get an RPG hero off of
few things will get an RPG hero off of their butts like a good old quest for
their butts like a good old quest for
their butts like a good old quest for revenge the first hour of gameplay will
revenge the first hour of gameplay will
revenge the first hour of gameplay will be sure to show you how peaceful and
be sure to show you how peaceful and
be sure to show you how peaceful and perfect the hero’s life is in his serene
perfect the hero’s life is in his serene
perfect the hero’s life is in his serene hometown only for that to come crashing
hometown only for that to come crashing
hometown only for that to come crashing to an end literally at the hands of a
to an end literally at the hands of a
to an end literally at the hands of a villain it’s an exciting action-packed
villain it’s an exciting action-packed
villain it’s an exciting action-packed and definitely dramatic way to kick off
and definitely dramatic way to kick off
and definitely dramatic way to kick off a story and it gives our hero something
a story and it gives our hero something
a story and it gives our hero something to angst about for the entire game give
to angst about for the entire game give
to angst about for the entire game give me your hand
and trust us you will be hearing about
and trust us you will be hearing about it a lot
it a lot
it a lot I am sorry number six
I am sorry number six
I am sorry number six repetitive NPCs yo are you feeling today
repetitive NPCs yo are you feeling today
repetitive NPCs yo are you feeling today videogame characters have come a long
videogame characters have come a long
videogame characters have come a long way and are getting more and more
way and are getting more and more
way and are getting more and more sophisticated but they still have their
sophisticated but they still have their
sophisticated but they still have their limits I used to be an adventurer like
limits I used to be an adventurer like
limits I used to be an adventurer like you then I took an arrow in the knee
you then I took an arrow in the knee
you then I took an arrow in the knee NPCs specifically those found meandering
NPCs specifically those found meandering
NPCs specifically those found meandering around villages and hubs are not known
around villages and hubs are not known
around villages and hubs are not known for their conversational skills Shepard
for their conversational skills Shepard
for their conversational skills Shepard grunt Shepard Rex expect a lot of
grunt Shepard Rex expect a lot of
grunt Shepard Rex expect a lot of generic readings cryptic hints about how
generic readings cryptic hints about how
generic readings cryptic hints about how to advance the plot or complaints about
to advance the plot or complaints about
to advance the plot or complaints about how their cow has gone missing
how their cow has gone missing
how their cow has gone missing good day enough talk the best part
good day enough talk the best part
good day enough talk the best part they’ll repeat these lines to you again
they’ll repeat these lines to you again
they’ll repeat these lines to you again and again because what else have they
and again because what else have they
and again because what else have they got to do with their time of course the
got to do with their time of course the
got to do with their time of course the player character often has a go-to
player character often has a go-to
player character often has a go-to response on hand to dismiss the NPC’s as
response on hand to dismiss the NPC’s as
response on hand to dismiss the NPC’s as well I should go I should go
well I should go I should go
well I should go I should go I should go number five rats bats
I should go number five rats bats
I should go number five rats bats spiders and skeletons there’s no better
spiders and skeletons there’s no better
spiders and skeletons there’s no better way to prepare for a long epic adventure
way to prepare for a long epic adventure
way to prepare for a long epic adventure than by pulling out your sword and
than by pulling out your sword and
than by pulling out your sword and whacking a few of these generic critters
whacking a few of these generic critters
whacking a few of these generic critters before setting off
before setting off
before setting off your rats fat spider skeleton slimes
your rats fat spider skeleton slimes
your rats fat spider skeleton slimes goblins and so on aren’t terribly
goblins and so on aren’t terribly
goblins and so on aren’t terribly dangerous they’re just annoying and kind
dangerous they’re just annoying and kind
dangerous they’re just annoying and kind of icky you’re bound to encounter at
of icky you’re bound to encounter at
of icky you’re bound to encounter at least one of these as you travel through
least one of these as you travel through
least one of these as you travel through your first cave or dungeon but soon
your first cave or dungeon but soon
your first cave or dungeon but soon enough they’ll become one-hit kills for
enough they’ll become one-hit kills for
enough they’ll become one-hit kills for you and your team of specially trained
you and your team of specially trained
you and your team of specially trained war machines of course they are
war machines of course they are
war machines of course they are number four magic MacGuffins you know
number four magic MacGuffins you know
number four magic MacGuffins you know the drill the world is out of balance
the drill the world is out of balance
the drill the world is out of balance you need the four crystals or seven
you need the four crystals or seven
you need the four crystals or seven magic stars or the 12 days of Christmas
magic stars or the 12 days of Christmas
magic stars or the 12 days of Christmas whatever
RPG plotlines love to follow a formula
RPG plotlines love to follow a formula and you’ll start to pick up on it by the
and you’ll start to pick up on it by the
and you’ll start to pick up on it by the time you visited your third elemental
time you visited your third elemental
time you visited your third elemental temple or grabbed yet another ancient
temple or grabbed yet another ancient
temple or grabbed yet another ancient artifact then it’s off to the next one
artifact then it’s off to the next one
artifact then it’s off to the next one of course you could just chuck them into
of course you could just chuck them into
of course you could just chuck them into the ocean but instead you’re gonna march
the ocean but instead you’re gonna march
the ocean but instead you’re gonna march right up to the bad guys front door so
right up to the bad guys front door so
right up to the bad guys front door so he can take them right out of your hands
he can take them right out of your hands
he can take them right out of your hands aren’t you
aren’t you
aren’t you oops number three AB neezy AK character
oops number three AB neezy AK character
oops number three AB neezy AK character and nothing says mysterious and alluring
and nothing says mysterious and alluring
and nothing says mysterious and alluring like forgetting who you are where you
like forgetting who you are where you
like forgetting who you are where you came from what your name is and what
came from what your name is and what
came from what your name is and what you’re doing with your life got no use
you’re doing with your life got no use
you’re doing with your life got no use for the past kind whether it’s thanks to
for the past kind whether it’s thanks to
for the past kind whether it’s thanks to an ancient curse a traumatic event or
an ancient curse a traumatic event or
an ancient curse a traumatic event or some villains dastardly plot amnesia
some villains dastardly plot amnesia
some villains dastardly plot amnesia builds up suspense by slowly revealing
builds up suspense by slowly revealing
builds up suspense by slowly revealing more and more of the hero’s epic past as
more and more of the hero’s epic past as
more and more of the hero’s epic past as the game goes on so I don’t know where
the game goes on so I don’t know where
the game goes on so I don’t know where this place is or even where I came from
this place is or even where I came from
this place is or even where I came from this also allows you to better associate
this also allows you to better associate
this also allows you to better associate with your character because now
with your character because now
with your character because now everything is new to both of you and
everything is new to both of you and
everything is new to both of you and guess what they’ll always and I say
guess what they’ll always and I say
guess what they’ll always and I say always have a backstory that ties
always have a backstory that ties
always have a backstory that ties directly into the main plot you’ll never
directly into the main plot you’ll never
directly into the main plot you’ll never find a hero who just got blackout drunk
find a hero who just got blackout drunk
find a hero who just got blackout drunk one night and hit his head on the
one night and hit his head on the
one night and hit his head on the pavement and coincidentally also has to
pavement and coincidentally also has to
pavement and coincidentally also has to save the world
save the world
save the world maybe if I could find sin one more time
maybe if I could find sin one more time
maybe if I could find sin one more time I could go home number two the chosen
I could go home number two the chosen
I could go home number two the chosen one chosen one huh he must have been out
one chosen one huh he must have been out
one chosen one huh he must have been out of his mind if it’s not clear yet RPG
of his mind if it’s not clear yet RPG
of his mind if it’s not clear yet RPG heroes always have a burning need to be
heroes always have a burning need to be
heroes always have a burning need to be more special than everyone else from
more special than everyone else from
more special than everyone else from this moment Colette becomes the chosen
this moment Colette becomes the chosen
this moment Colette becomes the chosen of regeneration so if you happen to hear
of regeneration so if you happen to hear
of regeneration so if you happen to hear of a prophecy a myth or a rumor of a
of a prophecy a myth or a rumor of a
of a prophecy a myth or a rumor of a fabled hero destined to rise up and save
fabled hero destined to rise up and save
fabled hero destined to rise up and save the world from the clutches of darkness
the world from the clutches of darkness
the world from the clutches of darkness you can be pretty sure that it’s
you can be pretty sure that it’s
you can be pretty sure that it’s definitely true and it’s definitely you
definitely true and it’s definitely you
definitely true and it’s definitely you they’re talking about I got to believe
they’re talking about I got to believe
they’re talking about I got to believe it your Dragon Ball I mean if it wasn’t
it your Dragon Ball I mean if it wasn’t
it your Dragon Ball I mean if it wasn’t why would you even be hearing it you
why would you even be hearing it you
why would you even be hearing it you don’t have time for things that aren’t
don’t have time for things that aren’t
don’t have time for things that aren’t about you right oh how I wish you
about you right oh how I wish you
about you right oh how I wish you weren’t the only person who could bring
weren’t the only person who could bring
weren’t the only person who could bring light to that deep dark abyss before we
light to that deep dark abyss before we
light to that deep dark abyss before we reveal our top pick here are a few
reveal our top pick here are a few
reveal our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
do I ever tell you about the time I kill
do I ever tell you about the time I kill this rat and out pops an entire chest
this rat and out pops an entire chest
this rat and out pops an entire chest number one no one else can do anything
so it turns out there’s a downside to
so it turns out there’s a downside to being the center of the universe sure
being the center of the universe sure
being the center of the universe sure you get all the glory of saving the
you get all the glory of saving the
you get all the glory of saving the world but you also get to play as a
world but you also get to play as a
world but you also get to play as a glorified servant to everyone from that
glorified servant to everyone from that
glorified servant to everyone from that little kid looking for his dog to the
little kid looking for his dog to the
little kid looking for his dog to the old woman that’s looking for five vials
old woman that’s looking for five vials
old woman that’s looking for five vials of faerie tears I only needed 12 more
of faerie tears I only needed 12 more
of faerie tears I only needed 12 more scale can you believe it I was so close
scale can you believe it I was so close
scale can you believe it I was so close everyone else in the world will be happy
everyone else in the world will be happy
everyone else in the world will be happy to stand around never lifting a finger
to stand around never lifting a finger
to stand around never lifting a finger yelling out their problems until you
yelling out their problems until you
yelling out their problems until you walk by will you help me if I bring the
walk by will you help me if I bring the
walk by will you help me if I bring the goat back of course most of these NPCs
goat back of course most of these NPCs
goat back of course most of these NPCs are willing to line your pockets with a
are willing to line your pockets with a
are willing to line your pockets with a little gold in exchange but they just
little gold in exchange but they just
little gold in exchange but they just can’t be bothered to do it themselves
can’t be bothered to do it themselves
can’t be bothered to do it themselves I’ll give you this ring in trade I have
I’ll give you this ring in trade I have
I’ll give you this ring in trade I have no use for it anymore and you know
no use for it anymore and you know
no use for it anymore and you know you’re gonna say yes every time because
you’re gonna say yes every time because
you’re gonna say yes every time because you’re the hero dammit
you’re the hero dammit
you’re the hero dammit and you’re also pretty greedy nice
and you’re also pretty greedy nice
and you’re also pretty greedy nice excuse do you agree with our list I
excuse do you agree with our list I
excuse do you agree with our list I think you might have overdone it
think you might have overdone it
think you might have overdone it what other cliches do you see way too
what other cliches do you see way too
what other cliches do you see way too much of in your favorite RPGs for more
much of in your favorite RPGs for more
much of in your favorite RPGs for more insightful top 10s published every day
insightful top 10s published every day
insightful top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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