Game Design Deep Dive

4 Foundations of RPG Design

DOI: 10.1201/9781003450078-4

4.1 What Is Abstracted Design?

It’s time to turn to the other half of the equation that makes up soulslike design. Abstracted design or RPG gameplay is about the characters and their attributes determining the success of the game, and less on the player’s reflexes (Figure 4.1). If you would like a larger look at the history of the RPG genre and many of its various subgenres, you can find that in Game Design Deep Dive: Role Playing Games.

Figure 4.1 Abstracted design has become incredibly popular as a way of adding more depth and longevity to games, and a mainstay of live service titles. ...