Polar Games
Guide

RPG games: what they are and an online RPG to play

What an RPG is, the kinds (tabletop, turn-based, action, MMORPG), the most famous RPGs and a browser RPG to start today. Polarzinho picked the panda class, level 1.

By Polarzinho ·

Polarzinho in a cape with a wooden sword reading a treasure map next to a little purple dragon and a jewel chest, with a castle in the distance

RPG stands for role-playing game: you become a character, level up, collect items and live an adventure. As a panda, I always pick the class that eats bamboo to heal. It does not exist yet, but I keep asking.

Here you will find what RPGs are, the main kinds, from tabletop to MMORPG, the most famous RPGs and an online RPG you can play in your browser with nothing to download.

Play PawBound Online

What is an RPG

A game where you control a character who grows through a story. The genre’s trademarks:

  • A character with stats, like strength, agility and intelligence.
  • Levels and experience: the more you play, the stronger you get.
  • Classes, like warrior, mage or archer.
  • Items, gear and weapon crafting.
  • Quests and a world to explore.

Kinds of RPG

  1. Tabletop RPG: played with paper, dice and a game master who runs the story. Dungeons & Dragons, from 1974, is the most famous.
  2. Turn-based RPG: everyone acts on their turn, like the Japanese classics.
  3. Action RPG: combat happens in real time.
  4. MMORPG: a huge online world with many players at once.
  5. Tactical RPG: grid combat, thinking through every move like a board game.

The most famous RPGs

  • Dragon Quest (1986) and Final Fantasy (1987): the Japanese classics that made video game RPGs popular.
  • Pokémon (1996): catch, train and evolve creatures.
  • World of Warcraft (2004): one of the most famous MMORPGs in the world.
  • Skyrim (2011): a huge open world to explore your way.
  • The Witcher 3 (2015): a mature story full of choices.
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023): an RPG based on Dungeons & Dragons.

An online RPG in your browser: PawBound Online

PawBound Online is the Polar Games fantasy MMORPG, free with no download: it opens right in your browser. Create an animal adventurer, pick a class and set out across a world of twenty regions.

  • 73 creatures and 18 bosses, each with its own level, element, behavior and drops.
  • More than 300 items, from gear to crafting recipes.
  • It is in open alpha: bugs and tweaks are part of the test, and player feedback helps shape the world.
PawBound Online character sheet with a husky guardian in blue armor and the strength, vitality, dexterity, agility, intelligence and luck stats

PolarzinhoA husky in armor with a shield. I wanted a panda, but I will take the husky. Respect the pack.

PawBound, in Portuguese: the character sheet, with stats and gear.
PawBound world map with islands, forests, volcanoes, snowy mountains and marked towns

PolarzinhoI looked at the map and went where there was less snow first. Pandas like the cold, within limits.

The world map: twenty regions to explore.
PawBound forge with a sword recipe and the list of required ingredients

PolarzinhoI was three ingredients short. I went mushroom hunting. Came back with two. RPGs teach patience.

The forge: every weapon has a recipe and ingredients.

Tips to start an RPG

  1. Pick your class by play style: up close, at range or with magic.
  2. Do the first quests: they teach the basics.
  3. Do not sell everything: some items become ingredients later.
  4. Read what each stat does before spending your points.

FAQ

What is an RPG game?

A game where you control a character who grows in level, stats and gear throughout an adventure.

What is an MMORPG?

An online RPG where many players share the same world at the same time.

Is there a free online RPG in the browser?

Yes. PawBound Online is free and runs in your browser with no download. It is in open alpha.

Pick your class

Open PawBound Online with the button below, create your adventurer and start at level 1. The pack is waiting.

Play PawBound Online