Yoodli and The 100th Monkey, a dynamic consultancy and training company based in the UK, announce a strategic collaboration to enhance learning retention through AI-powered coaching. The 100th Monkey specializes in ensuring that training experiences lead to lasting change, and with Yoodli’s AI-driven technology, this process becomes even more effective. Introducing iMO, a cutting-edge practice and coaching tool designed to reinforce learning after training sessions.
Enhancing Learning Retention with AI-Powered Coaching
The 100th Monkey has long been recognized for delivering impactful training programs. Now, with iMO powered by Yoodli, learners can transition from knowledge acquisition to long-term skill mastery through interactive coaching.
iMO strengthens learning and development efforts by reinforcing training content, ensuring key takeaways translate into real-world improvements. Key features include:
Advanced Communication Coaching: iMO provides AI-generated insights on pacing, tone, filler words, word choice, and delivery to help professionals refine their speaking and presentation skills.
Simulated Workplace Conversations: Customizable roleplays allow individuals to engage in realistic scenarios, receiving private and data-driven coaching aligned with The 100th Monkey’s established frameworks. The platform can be customized to reflect each organization’s unique culture and real-world situations, ensuring relevance and practicality.
Sustained Skill Development: iMO delivers mini, personalized programs designed to focus on areas for improvement identified during training sessions, enabling learners to continuously apply and reinforce training insights, improving retention and effectiveness over time.
Data-Driven Progress Tracking: Personalized reports offer measurable insights into communication improvements, helping organizations track development and ROI.
Scalable Learning Solutions: Available on demand, iMO makes high-quality coaching accessible across teams and organizations, extending the impact of learning initiatives.
“At Yoodli, our mission is to make expert communication coaching accessible and results-driven,” said Varun Puri, CEO at Yoodli. “By partnering with The 100th Monkey, we are equipping professionals with AI-driven tools to enhance confidence, master essential skills, and foster workplace success.”
Richard Edwards, Co-Founder of 100th Monkey, said: “We saw an instant impact with delegates ten years ago when we pioneered bringing data into our soft skills courses. They loved the objective feedback and tangible steps to progress their communication skills. Since then we have continued to seek ways to unlock the science of speaking, and it has been a long held desire to develop an AI tool that we trusted could generate accurate data, align to our frameworks, and complement our way of thinking. This is why we are so delighted to have found and partnered with the brilliant people of Yoodli. The platform really is a game changer for both delegate experience in-session, and critically, for continued learning, post training.”
About The 100th Monkey
The 100th Monkey is a consultancy and training firm based in Bristol, UK, serving clients globally. Their expertise spans:
Personal Development: Award-winning programs designed to enhance skillsets, mindsets, and overall professional effectiveness.
Team Effectiveness: Tailored workshops and offsites to strengthen team performance, decision-making, and strategic direction.
Leadership Consultancy: Partnering with organizations to refine strategies, improve communication, and operationalize business plans.
Yoodli is an AI-powered communication coaching platform that offers private, real-time, and judgment-free practice opportunities for professionals and GTM teams. Trusted by Fortune 100 companies, including Google, Yoodli’s SOC2 Type 2 and GDPR-compliant technology enhances sales training, objection handling, leadership development, and more. The platform is used by Toastmasters International, top business schools, and professionals in over 150 countries.
Yoodli and The 100th Monkey share a vision of empowering professionals with the tools needed to succeed in today’s evolving workplace. iMO bridges the gap between learning and real-world application, delivering an innovative, scalable solution that fosters long-term growth and measurable success.
While there’s no question that it can be fun and thrilling, there are tons of common roleplay challenges that crop up, regardless of your experience level.
In our comprehensive guide, we’ll tell you what you need to roleplay challenges, including what makes it challenging, the most common difficulties, and how you can overcome these challenges.
Why Is Roleplaying Challenging?
Whether you’re roleplaying by yourself or in a group, there’s no doubt that roleplaying can be challenging. One of the most difficult parts about roleplaying is the spontaneity and improvisation. The ability to think on your feet and respond doesn’t come easy to everyone. A large part of roleplay is the unexpected scenarios that come with it and your ability to react to them. Plus, folks who’ve never roleplayed before can feel uncomfortable and out of place, especially around more seasoned roleplayers.
Roleplayers are constantly growing and learning from roleplay challenges, and that’s part of what makes it fun.
6 Common Roleplay Challenges and How to Deal with Them
Roleplay can be very fun and rewarding, but it also takes dedicated effort and practice to engage in a successful roleplay. Chances are, you’ll come across some challenging situations and moments during a session that can leave you wondering what the best move is. Here are six common roleplay challenges and solutions for how you and your group can overcome them.
1. Your group has toxic roleplayers.
When you engage in group roleplay — especially when you’re roleplaying with folks you don’t know — there’s always the risk you’ll encounter a toxic roleplayer. Roleplayers who are toxic don’t always have the same traits, so it can be hard to recognize until you’re in the thick of it. It might be someone who struggles with emotional intelligence, empathy, communication skills, or something else entirely. Regardless, toxic roleplayers can create unnecessary drama and negative interactions for the entire group.
If your group is dealing with someone who’s toxic, one option is an open discussion with the person about their problematic behavior. This can be a one-on-one conversation with you and the toxic person to discuss what you’ve noticed and how it’s affected the group. You can even use a tool like the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI)™ feedback model to make sure your conversation stays on track. You can also get support and suggestions from other roleplayers who might be dealing with similar situations.
2. There’s a power imbalance (or a power struggle).
When you’re participating in a group roleplay, it’s not uncommon for there to be power struggles. Even with roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons where there’s a designated “leader,” the Dungeon Master, sometimes players still struggle to accept their roles and responsibilities.
If your group has trouble with power imbalances, encourage everyone to openly discuss any problems or concerns they have. Make sure they know the group is a safe space with open, respectful dialogue. If worse comes to worst, you can always find someone to mediate the conversation. Having a neutral mediator can help resolve conflict more easily.
3. You’re having trouble scheduling folks for a roleplay session.
One of the most common roleplay challenges, hands down, is scheduling conflicts. Whenever you engage in group roleplay, you have to work with the schedules of multiple people, which often leads to conflict. Many people who roleplay are also balancing other time commitments, like school, work, or other activities. It can be hard to organize a group together when everyone has different commitments. Not only that, but many roleplay groups have folks in different time zones, which can also complicate things.
If you’re in charge of scheduling group roleplay sessions, try to be as accommodating and flexible as you can. Having a group chat over text or using apps like GroupMe or Discord can make coordinating easier. Once you have a set time and date, you can even use something as simple as Google Calendar to create invites so everyone has the session on their calendar.
4. You’re struggling to come up with roleplay ideas.
Whether you’re roleplaying individually or in a group, having trouble coming up with roleplay ideas is something that everyone experiences. Many people experience writer’s block, struggle with character development and plotline ideas, or simply can’t think of a worthwhile roleplay scenario. It’s a frustrating but completely normal roleplay challenge. The solution will depend on your specific problem.
For example, if the main issue is you’re struggling with writer’s block, there are tons of exercises that can help you overcome it. Practices like mind mapping, free writing, or general brainstorming can help get the creative juices flowing. However, don’t be afraid to take a step back and take a break if you’re still having trouble. Coming back to it later can give your brain a much-needed rest and make it easier to come up with ideas.
If you and your fellow roleplayers struggle with character development, take some time to really dig deep into your respective characters. Think about the character’s backstory and their personality traits. What motivates them? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Answering these questions can help you flesh out characters and lead to a more successful roleplaying session.
5. Your roleplay group is inexperienced.
Although it’s not a problem, having an inexperienced group is one of the most common roleplay challenges out there. Folks who’ve never roleplayed before often struggle with some of the same difficulties, like staying in character, remembering game rules if participating in an RPG, or following basic roleplay etiquette.
If you’re working with people who are inexperienced roleplayers, remember to be patient, first and foremost. It can be overwhelming and intimidating to work with folks who are seasoned roleplayers when you’re a beginner, so a little patience will go a long way. Doing things like setting clear expectations and fostering a positive roleplay environment will help players feel more comfortable. Offering non-judgemental support and guidance can also make a big difference when it comes to an inexperienced group.
6. The group has trouble following basic roleplaying etiquette.
Because roleplay is such a versatile subject, the basic etiquette of each type of roleplay can differ. This can lead to conflict, especially when one behavior might be OK during one type of roleplay but not OK in another roleplay setting.
For example, in a historical roleplay, folks often dress up as their character in period-appropriate clothing. However, it might cause conflict if you started a Dungeons & Dragons group and expected them to source clothing that would be realistic for their characters.
Even so, there’s basic, often unspoken etiquette that roleplayers expect to follow, and failing to do so can cause issues. To avoid problems with etiquette, be sure to follow some of the basic expectations and unspoken rules for roleplay, such as:
Be respectful during and outside of roleplay sessions
Don’t try to control how other people roleplay
Avoid metagaming — AKA, using information you learned out of character during a roleplay while you’re in character
Set and keep up important boundaries (more on this below)
How to Boost Your Roleplaying Abilities With Yoodli
It doesn’t matter if you’re engaging in a creative roleplay with friends or you’re doing a little interview roleplaying to prepare for an upcoming job interview. Regardless of the exact kind of roleplay, a little practice goes a long way. If you have a goal of improving your roleplaying skills, look no further than Yoodli.
Yoodli — a roleplay and speech coach powered by artificial intelligence — offers folks realistic roleplay scenarios to practice their skills. Anyone can leverage Yoodli to practice roleplaying, whether that’s with one of Yoodli’s existing scenarios or a custom roleplay idea. With this comprehensive tool, there’s an endless amount of possibilities for practice.
Yoodli’s powerful roleplay capabilities can set you ahead of the game.
It works like this. Yoodli provides a bank of existing roleplay scenarios you can choose from, from sales roleplay calls to media training and small talk (and everything in between!). If you have a specific scenario in mind — say, negotiating for a raise at work — you can use Yoodli’s Builder to create a custom roleplay scenario from scratch. Once you’ve chosen a roleplay scenario, you’ll start the session and Yoodli’s AI persona will engage in roleplaying with you, just like a human would. Plus, there’s a plethora of AI-powered personalities you can roleplay with, so you can get experience chatting with all different kinds of people.
But after the session is over, it doesn’t just end there. You’ll get an in-depth, personalized report of exactly how you can boost your skills. The actionable feedback you’ll get will help pinpoint exactly what you need to work on and how you can achieve those goals.
Yoodli’s valuable insights can help you overcome common roleplay challenges.
The best part? You can get started with Yoodli for free at https://yoodli.ai/.
Tips for Preventing Common Roleplay Challenges
While it’s true that some roleplay challenges just can’t be prevented, there are steps you can take to set you and your group up for success. Whether you’ve just started a new roleplaying group or you’re considering it, here are some simple tips for preventing common roleplay challenges.
1. Set boundaries ahead of time.
If you’re doing a solo roleplay session, like prepping for a job interview or practicing an upcoming presentation, setting boundaries is probably the furthest thing from your mind. However, if you’re engaging in a group roleplay, one of the best tips for preventing common roleplay challenges is to set boundaries ahead of time.
Think about what kinds of limits you’d like to set for your group before you pitch them. For example, you could set boundaries for the length and frequency of roleplay sessions. If you’re willing to commit to a 4-hour Dungeons & Dragons session once a week, you can set that expectation for yourself. That way, if the session starts to go over 4 hours, you’ll be well within your rights to exit the session after that time. Nobody will be surprised because you’ve set that boundary ahead of time.
Whatever your boundaries are, be sure to set those limits and communicate your expectations clearly with the group. Otherwise, things can get lost in translation, which can lead to more roleplay challenges.
2. Try to be patient and practice empathy.
Regardless of whether you’re a new or a seasoned roleplayer, aim to work on your patience and empathy skills. This is especially true if you’re roleplaying in a group setting with other people. It’s normal to make mistakes, even for experienced roleplayers, so embrace them.
If you’re playing a roleplaying game that has lots of rules, like Pathfinder, someone is bound to make a mistake sometimes. That’s OK! Making mistakes — especially in group roleplay — is normal and something that everyone can grow from. If you or someone else makes an error during a session, keep a supportive, positive attitude and move forward.
3. Work on your communication skills.
Even something as simple as a misunderstanding or misinterpretation can lead to more roleplay challenges. To avoid this, take time to sharpen your own communication skills. That means committing to active listening when other roleplayers are talking and using clear, respectful language.
If you’re working in a roleplaying group with other people, make sure to encourage and foster an open, respectful dialogue. This will lead to more constructive conversations and leaves less room for interpretation and misunderstandings.
4. Keep an open mind.
Learning how to become more open-minded is a great way to prevent common roleplay challenges. If you’re open to listening to the ideas, perspectives, and opinions of others, it’ll make for a more fruitful roleplay experience for everyone. Being close-minded can lead to unfair power imbalances and it can make it a struggle to come up with new ideas.
Instead, make it a priority to explore and embrace new views and perspectives. If you’re leading your own roleplay group, encourage feedback from other roleplayers and work on your feedback reception skills. You can use the group’s feedback to improve your own skills and roleplay sessions overall.
The Main Takeaway
Roleplaying isn’t always easy, and it’s normal to encounter roleplay challenges from time to time. However, overcoming these challenges is much easier when you have a tool like Yoodli that you can use to practice in a safe, risk-free space.
If you’re looking for a new hobby or game to pick up, why not try some of the best roleplaying games of all time?
In our ultimate guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know about RPGs, including why they’re so popular, the top 7 RPGs of all time, and a tool to leverage to improve your roleplaying skills.
Why Are Roleplaying Games (RPGs) So Popular?
Although roleplaying games (RPGs) aren’t new, they’re now more popular than ever. The show “Stranger Things” incited a re-emergence of Dungeons & Dragons fans and introduced this tabletop roleplaying game to the next generation.Video and computer games like “World of Warcraft” and “Grand Theft Auto” are some of the most recognizable in the world. But why are these types of games so popular among fans?
In reality, there are many valid reasons why roleplaying games are so popular. One reason is the versatility of roleplay. Folks can be their authentic self or they can jump into the role of a character persona who’s completely different from they are. For some people, it can be an escape.
With roleplaying games, folks can explore the lengths of their imagination and work on their creative skills, too.
Many RPGs revolve around social interaction and give players a space where they can practice their social and collaboration skills to work toward a common goal.
Now more than ever, people are exploring the wide world of roleplaying — especially through games.
7 Best Roleplaying Games of All Time
If you’re looking to explore the world of roleplay in a creative or even social way, consider checking out a few roleplaying games. There are tons of types of games, from tabletop roleplaying games to computer and video RPGs.
With so many to choose from, however, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are seven of the best roleplaying games of all time, from Dungeons & Dragons to the “Fallout” series and “Skyrim.”
1. Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)
As one of the most well-known roleplaying games of all time, it’s no surprise that Dungeons & Dragons makes the list. First published in the mid-1970s, D&D is a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) where players take on the role of a character to explore a storyline. Each session is led by the dungeon master or DM, and is steered by a set of rules and guidelines.
Gain experience points (XP) to level up their character
With all that D&D has to offer players, it’s no surprise it’s one of the most famous RPGs of all time. Although traditionally the game is played on a tabletop (or some other in-person setting where players can sit around together), more and more D&D campaigns are transitioning to virtual environments like Discord where people all over the world play together in real time.
Given its publication in 1974 and its rich, cultural history, D&D is often credited for kicking off the start of the roleplaying industry.
2. ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’
In the realm of video roleplaying games, “Baldur’s Gate 3” is one of the best options for new and seasoned roleplayers out there. Players create their own character and embody them via the game, exploring new areas and encountering plenty of other non-player characters (NPC). You can play single or multiplayer, which means that, unlike games like Dungeons & Dragons, you don’t have to assemble your own party to enjoy the game.
“Baldur’s Gate 3” is a great VRPG that allows folks to explore their creative side in an exciting virtual environment: The Forgotten Realms. Players can choose from a plethora of character classes and personalize their character before diving into the complex storyline Baldur’s Gate has to offer.
Because it’s based on D&D, the general gameplay and mechanics are similar, making it a great precursor or accompanying game if you’re considering exploring D&D.
3. Call of Cthulhu
If tabletop roleplay games are more your specialty, add Call of Cthulhu (CoC) to your list. This TTRPG released in the ’80s is based on H. P. Lovecraft’s fictional horror story of the same name. In CoC, players explore terrifyingly similar settings to the real world — Ancient Rome, 1,000 AD, 1980s — but darker.
The player’s role is that of an average person-turned-investigator. You and your teammates might be a school librarian, a journalist, or a professor. Your character can be personalized, just like in Dungeons & Dragons, meaning you can choose your skills, occupation, backstory, and other details. However, you’ll eventually be tasked with uncovering unsettling (and thrilling!) mysteries.
Unlike Dungeons & Dragons, CoC uses percentile dice, meaning players get results from 1 to 100 instead of using a system like the d20 System.
For fans of mystery and horror, Call of Cthulhu is definitely worth exploring. If tabletop games aren’t your thing, CoC also has an online version.
4. ‘Fallout: New Vegas’
The “Fallout” series has always been pretty popular and “Fallout: New Vegas” is no exception. This action video roleplaying game takes place in a futuristic wasteland in the Mojave Desert. The player wakes up after being attacked by an unknown aggressor and roleplays as this new character, exploring the region while navigating conflict. Because “Fallout: New Vegas” uses an open-world map, players can freely wander and explore their settings to their heart’s content.
Not only was this iteration of “Fallout” a success, but it was also labeled a cult classic and one of the greatest video games of all time.
5. ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’
Another action video RPG worth checking out is “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” the third game in the popular “Witcher” series. In this VRPG, based on a book series of the same name, players roleplay as a Witcher named Geralt of Rivia, whose monster-slaying takes him all around the Continent, a fantastical world with dwarves, elves, and magic.
“Wild Hunt” makes our list as one of the best roleplaying games of all time in part because of its beautiful graphics and expansive gameplay. It certainly holds its own as a VRPG and captivates both new and experienced roleplayers alike.
Pathfinder is another worthy tabletop roleplaying game that’s won the hearts of tons of RPG lovers. This fantasy game has roots that can be traced back to the revised 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, so fans of D&D will likely feel that familiarity.
With Pathfinder, players roleplay as a human or fantasy character and go on adventures, just like you might in D&D. There are similar core gameplay mechanics (like the fact that Pathfinder uses the d20 system), races, and classes, too. However, in contrast to D&D, Pathfinder is more rules-heavy, which can make things more complicated for players.
For folks looking for a more complex version of Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder is an ideal choice.
7. ‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’
Last but not least, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” is an action roleplaying video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios — the same developer behind many of the “Fallout” series games. For players looking for an action-packed VRPG, “Skyrim” provides all that and more.
In “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” players customize their character and explore the fictional land of Skyrim while on a quest to defeat a dragon known as the World Eater. Like some of the others on our list, “Skyrim” is considered one of the best video games of all time.
Improve Your Roleplaying Skills With Yoodli
While you’re exploring different roleplaying games like D&D and Pathfinder, you might find that your skills need a little work. Whether you’re testing out new roleplay ideas for your next session or you’d just like to improve the way you communicate on the fly, using a tool like Yoodli can completely transform the way you do it.
Yoodli is an AI roleplay and communication coach that offers intelligent roleplay scenarios for folks to practice. Users can explore Yoodli’s existing scenarios or build their own from scratch to meet any need they might have, whether that’s social skills practice, interview prep, or practice speaking a new language.
Well-known brands like Google, Korn Ferry, and Dale Carnegie have already used Yoodli for various use cases, such as certification programs.
Yoodli’s versatile capabilities can help you improve your skills, whether you’re practicing for an upcoming interview or honing your skills for roleplay games.
Here’s how it works. Yoodli lets users try all kinds of roleplay (be it sales roleplay, small talk practice, performance review simulations — you name it!) and responds with a detailed report of how you can improve your skills. There are tons of AI-generated personas you can pair with Yoodli’s roleplay scenarios, so you can practice with different personalities for best results.
With Yoodli’s Builder tool, you can create and customize your own scenario. Just add any important information to train the AI persona for your roleplay. For example, let’s say you’ll be buying a car in the next few months but you’re inexperienced with negotiation. You can instruct Yoodli to act as a car salesman and have your AI partner engage in some negotiation practice with you. It’s that easy.
You can train your AI partner to fulfill any of your roleplay needs, from interview prep to negotiation practice.
But Yoodli does so much more than provide a space for realistic roleplay: It also provides an in-depth report on how you did during the roleplay so you’ll know what to work on. Users get actionable, data-backed feedback and suggestions so they can take their roleplay skills to the next level. Your personalized report will include insights into your speaking patterns, delivery, and listening ability.
Find out more about how you can start experimenting with Yoodli for free to improve your skills at https://yoodli.ai/.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re dipping your toes into roleplaying games for the first time or you’re a seasoned player, our list of the best roleplaying games of all time gives you a variety of worthwhile options to explore. Plus, if you’re looking to improve your skills, especially for creative roleplay games like Dungeons & Dragons, look no further than Yoodli’s intelligent roleplay and coaching.
Roleplaying games have been around forever, but have since increased in popularity. From tabletop roleplaying games to video RPGs, there’s a plethora of games worth exploring.
In our ultimate guide, we’ll tell you everything you should know about roleplaying games, including how they work, the most common formats, essential genres, plenty of exciting RPG examples you can try, and tools for improving your basic roleplay skills.
What Are Roleplaying Games (RPGs)?
A roleplaying game — often shortened to RPG — is a type of game where players embody a character and interact with others. It usually involves a narrative of some kind where players can play the role of a specific character as they explore their world.
Most RPGs involve features like character creation and development, collaborative storytelling, and world-building and exploration. Of course, one thing all RPGs have in common is the roleplaying element.
How do RPGs work?
In general, RPGs work by having players take on a character or persona and engage with others as they explore the world they’re in. However, there are so many different types of roleplay that roleplaying games can look very different depending on the type, the format, the players involved, and other factors.
For example, some RPGs rely heavily on dice rolling to dictate what happens during your turn. Other games might include skill checks, specific combat systems, and other rules and guidelines.
Most Common Types of Roleplaying Games
Like roleplay itself, roleplaying games are very versatile. There are so many types, formats, and genres that all yield different experiences for the players. Here are some of the most popular types of roleplaying games worth exploring, from tabletop RPGs to LARPing and video RPGs.
Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs)
The most original type of roleplaying game is called a tabletop roleplaying game or TTRPG. These are sometimes known as pen-and-paper roleplaying games. Players roleplay with dialogue and open discussion, often in-person, with this type. A player will not only speak their dialogue but they’ll also describe what they’re doing out loud.
With tabletop roleplaying games, folks will usually rely on character sheets, dice, and storytelling to explore a shared narrative. It’s an immersive experience that lets people use their imagination to problem-solve and overcome barriers. TTRPGs are also a fun way to boost your creativity and collaboration skills.
There are tons of great examples of TTRPGs. Perhaps the most well-known, repopularized by the TV show “Stranger Things,” is Dungeons & Dragons. Other TTRPG examples include games like Call of Cthulhu, which is a horror game based on H.P. Lovecraft’s story of the same name, and Pathfinder, which is similar to D&D.
Live-action roleplaying games
A live-action roleplaying game — often referred to as LARPing — is a type of roleplaying game where people physically portray the character they’re playing. With a TTRPG for example, players might speak and act as their character, but they usually dress in their typical, normal clothes. When participating in a live-action roleplaying game, folks typically dress up in clothes that would fit their character.
There are many genres and types of live-action roleplaying games, such as:
Historical LARPing, which involves acting out real historical events or fictional events set in a certain time period
Superhero live-action roleplay games, where the players roleplay as people with supernatural powers
Fantasy LARPing, which involves roleplay with fantastical elements, like magic or supernatural creatures
Video roleplaying games (VRPGs)
There are also video roleplaying games or VRPGs. This category includes computer roleplaying games (CRPGs), too. This video game genre leverages roleplaying elements — like taking on a character role and making decisions that impact the VRPG storyline — to provide an in-depth roleplaying experience. Some of the most common features of VRPGs include side quests, world exploration, character development, and ethical dilemmas.
One of the most successful video roleplaying games of all time is the “Pokémon” video game franchise. “World of Warcraft” and the “Diablo” franchise are also great examples of this roleplaying game subtype.
Essential Genres, Subgenres, and Formats of RPGs
The world of roleplaying games is a vast one, and as such, there are tons of genres, subgenres, and formats players can explore. Here are the most essential types, formats, and genres of roleplaying games you should know about.
Sandbox RPGs
One of the most popular game formats is the sandbox game. A sandbox RPG gives the player lots of freedom to explore their world and in this case, enjoy roleplaying elements paired with exploratory free reign. These are often open world, meaning the player can roam freely and interact with others. This gives players more creative liberty as they can stray from whatever path they’re on instead of having a set path to follow.
Some of the best sandbox RPGs include games like:
“Terraria”
“Red Dead Redemption”
“The Sims”
“Assassin’s Creed”
“Fallout 4”
“Minecraft”
The “Grand Theft Auto” series
Tactical RPGs
Tactical RPGs encompass a very popular genre of roleplaying games that focuses on tactical strategy in a roleplaying setting. This genre lets users practice their planning, decision-making, and strategy skills through turn-based or real-time strategy.
Examples of tactical RPGs include games like:
“XCOM 2”
The “Fire Emblem” series
“Valkyria Chronicles”
“Wasteland 3”
“Baldur’s Gate 3”
Some of these titles also cross into other genres, like fantasy RPGs.
Massively multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG)
The main allure of massively multiplayer online RPGs (also called MMORPGs) is that you can interact with thousands of online players in real time in a virtual environment. MMORPGs can fall into a number of subgenres, like fantasy, horror, or tactical roleplaying games, so players can get a wide range of experiences.
Common features of MMORPGs include things like:
Economic systems where players can purchase things in-game
Side quest and exploration opportunities
Social interaction and communication
If you’re thinking about trying a massively multiplayer online RPG, some tried-and-true fan favorites include:
“Guild Wars 2” and “Lost Ark,” which are both free-to-play options
“World of Warcraft,” which delves into the fantasy side of MMORPGs
The “Final Fantasy” series, particularly “Final Fantasy XIV,” which is another great fantasy choice
MMORPGs are great options for folks who want to practice their social skills, teamwork, and collaboration skills in a virtual environment.
Horror RPGs
Horror is a pretty large genre, but horror RPGs are some of the most popular roleplaying games out there, and for good reason. They’re a creative option for folks who like the macabre and are looking for some suspenseful fear. No one horror RPG is the same, but they often involve plotlines where the main character has to investigate a mystery or comes face-to-face with monsters, ghosts, or other terrifying supernatural beings.
One of the best things about horror RPGs is that they come in a wide array of formats, from tabletop roleplaying games to computer RPGs. Some of the most common horror RPGs include titles like:
“Darkest Dungeon”
“Omori”
“Bloodborne”
“Darkwood”
“Pathologic”
Fantasy RPGs
Last but certainly not least, fantasy RPGs encompass some of the most successful roleplaying games of all time. This genre emphasizes fantastical elements, like side quests, magic, and mythical or supernatural creatures. There’s a pretty wide variety of fantasy RPGs, but most involve creating a character to go on an exploratory adventure to overcome evil forces.
Some common fantasy RPG examples you might recognize include titles like:
Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)
“Baldur’s Gate 3”
“Diablo III”
“Pillars of Eternity”
“Skyrim”
“Elden Ring”
Improve Your Roleplaying Abilities With Yoodli
If you feel like your roleplaying abilities need some work — especially when it comes to roleplaying games like D&D — you’re not alone. Roleplaying is a skill that often takes time to develop. But there’s no easier way to improve your skills than with Yoodli.
Yoodli is an AI-based roleplay expert and communication coach that provides roleplay environments for folks to practice their skills. Users can choose from existing roleplay scenarios or build their roleplay scenario from the ground up with Yoodli’s Builder. You can use its capabilities to practice professional skills, like negotiation or problem-solving, or to work on your creative side.
Hone your RPing skills with Yoodli to gain more confidence playing roleplaying games.
Regardless of your “why” for practicing roleplay, Yoodli takes the complexity and mystery out of roleplay. Folkscanexperiment with any kind of roleplay, from everyday small talk to sales roleplays and performance review simulations. You’ll also be able to personalize your AI-generated roleplay partner by choosing an existing persona or customizing one of your own.
With Yoodli’s Builder tool, you train the AI partner however you need to. For example, if you’re trying to boost your skills for roleplaying games, you can give your AI partner all the information it needs to engage in a creative roleplay.
Easily train Yoodli to be your ideal roleplaying games partner.
Once you’re ready, Yoodli will kick off the roleplay, allowing you to engage in back-and-forth conversation in real time.
No matter what kind of roleplaying games you’re into — be it historical roleplay, fantasy RPGs, or tabletop roleplaying games — Yoodli can help take your roleplay skills to the next level. Plus, as a speech coach, it’ll give you actionable feedback and tips on how to improve your abilities. After every simulation, users get an in-depth report on how their roleplay went, including actionable insights on their listening, speaking patterns, and delivery.
Find out more about how you can boost your skills for roleplaying games with Yoodli for free at https://yoodli.ai/.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re new to roleplaying games or you’re a seasoned player, a little RP practice goes a long way. There’s no better tool than Yoodli to get you and your roleplaying skills up to par, on your own time, at your own speed.
