History Main / WesternRpg

The Western RPG's definitions is in many ways defined to be everything that the Eastern [=RPG=] isn't; after all, before Japanese [=RPGs=] came onto the scene, all role-playing games are Western [=RPGs=]. It was the emergence and divergence of Japanese [=RPGs=] from ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' onwards that made a distinction between Japanese-developed [=RPGs=] and Western-developed [=RPGs=] necessary.

'''Western RPG''' (WRPG for short) is a subgenre of RolePlayingGames. It contrasts the EasternRPG subgenre, and was likely originally coined as a reaction to the emergence of the Eastern RPG (JRPG) genre.

The genre is historically also known as '''Computer RPG''' (CRPG for short), as a result of Western [=RPGs=]' historical preference for PC platforms, in contrast to Eastern [=RPGs=]' preference for consoles. As multi-platform releases became standard for [=RPGs=] in the 2000s (for both Eastern and Western developers), the term "Computer RPG" lost its WRPG meaning and instead became a name for a new type of PC-exclusive RPG games, which are often independently-developed and in the Western RPG style.

'''Western RPG''' (WRPG for short) is a subgenre of RolePlayingGames. It contrasts the JapaneseRPG (or Eastern RPG) subgenre, and was likely originally coined as a reaction to the emergence of the JRPG genre.

The genre is historically also known as '''Computer RPG''' (CRPG for short), as a result of Western [=RPGs=]' historical preference for PC platforms, in contrast to Japanese [=RPGs=]' preference for consoles. As multi-platform releases became standard for [=RPGs=] in the 2000s (for both Eastern and Western developers), the term "Computer RPG" lost its WRPG meaning and instead became a name for a new type of PC-exclusive RPG games, which are often independently-developed and in the Western RPG style.

* ''VideoGame/Cloudpunk''

*** ''VideoGame/BaldursGate

*** ''VideoGame/BaldursGate

The Western RPG's definitions is in many ways defined to be everything that the Eastern [=RPG=] isn't; after all, before Japanese [=RPGs=] came onto the scene, all role-playing games are Western [=RPGs=]. It was the emergence and divergence of Japanese [=RPGs=] from ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' onwards that made a distinction between them and Western-developed [=RPGs=] necessary.

*** ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIThroneOfBhaal''
** ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII''
** ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance''
* ''VideoGame/TheBannerSaga''
** ''VideoGame/TheBannerSaga2''
** ''VideoGame/TheBannerSaga3''
* ''VideoGame/{{Barony}}''
* ''VideoGame/BattleChasersNightwar''
* ''VideoGame/{{Battleheart}}''
* ''[[VideoGame/TheBardsTale The Bard's Tale: A Quest for Coin and Cleavage]]''
* ''VideoGame/TheBardsTaleTrilogy''
** ''VideoGame/TheBardsTaleIV''
* ''VideoGame/BetrayalAtKrondor''
* ''VideoGame/BetrayalInAntara''
* ''VideoGame/BigSkyTrooper''
* ''VideoGame/BlackGeyserCouriersOfDarkness''
* ''VideoGame/{{Blackguards}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodnet}}''
* ''VideoGame/BobsGame''
* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}''
** ''VideoGame/BorderlandsThePreSequel''
** ''VideoGame/TalesFromTheBorderlands''
* ''VideoGame/BoundByFlame''
* ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm''
* ''Main/BroQuest''
* ''VideoGame/C4Quest''
* ''VideoGame/CallOfCthulhuTheOfficialVideoGame''
* ''VideoGame/CaptainBibleInDomeOfDarkness''
* ''VideoGame/ChampionsOfNorrath''
* ''VideoGame/ClassOfHeroes''
* ''VideoGame/ColonyShip''
* ''VideoGame/{{Consortium}}''
* ''VideoGame/CrayonConwuest''
* ''VideoGame/CrystalChronicles''
* ''VideoGame/CubeWorld''
* ''VideoGame/{{Cythera}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Dark}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Darklands}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Darkest Dungeon}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Darkest Dungeon 2}}''
* ''VideoGame/DarkHeartOfUukrul''
* ''VideoGame/TheDarkMeadow''
* ''VideoGame/TheDarkSpire'' (Made by a Japanese developer and a clone of ''Wizardry''. Note that ''Wizardry'' [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff remained popular and influential in Japan for far longer than in the USA]].)
* ''VideoGame/DarkSun''
* ''VideoGame/{{Darkstone}}''
* ''VideoGame/DarkWaters'': A GameMod for ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' created by Adam Miller.
* ''VideoGame/DeadState''
* ''VideoGame/DeathSpank''
* ''VideoGame/TheDead''
* ''VideoGame/DecayOfLogos''
* ''VideoGame/{{Deliantra}}''
* ''VideoGame/DeusEx''
** ''[[VideoGame/TwentyTwentySeven 2027]]''
** ''VideoGame/TheNamelessMod''
* ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar''
* ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution''
* ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided''
* ''VideoGame/DeusExTheFall''
* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''
** ''VideoGame/DiabloII''
** ''VideoGame/DiabloIII''
* ''VideoGame/DinkSmallwood''
* ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium''
* ''Franchise/{{Dishonored}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored 2}}''
** ''VideoGame/DishonoredDeathOfTheOutsider''
* ''VideoGame/DivineDivinity''
** ''VideoGame/BeyondDivinity''
** ''VideoGame/DivinityIITheDragonKnightSaga''
** ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin''
** ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII''
** ''VideoGame/DivinityFallenHeroes''
* ''VideoGame/{{Dnd}}''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorWhoLegacy''
* ''Franchise/DragonAge''
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening''
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition''
* ''VideoGame/{{DragonFable}}''
* ''{{VideoGame/Dragonstomper}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Drakensang}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Drakkhen}}''
* ''VideoGame/DreamWorld''
* ''VideoGame/DroxOperative''
* ''VideoGame/{{Dungeon}}''
* ''VideoGame/DungeonLords''
* ''VideoGame/DungeonMaster''
* ''VideoGame/DungeonSiege''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:E-H]]
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena''
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall''
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind''
*** VideoGame/TamrielRebuilt (a fanmade [[GameMod add on]] that aims to make the rest of Morrowind (and, as the name implies, other parts of Tamriel) explorable)
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion''
*** ''VideoGame/{{Nehrim}}'' (a fanmade [[GameMod total conversion]])
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''
*** ''VideoGame/BeyondSkyrim'' (a fanmade [[GameMod add on]] that aims to make most of the continent of Tamriel explorable)
*** ''VideoGame/{{Enderal}}'' (a fanmade [[GameMod total conversion]] from the developers of ''VideoGame/{{Nehrim}}'')
*** ''VideoGame/{{Falskaar}}'' (a fan-made [[GameMod add-on]] that adds a whole new region to explore)
*** ''VideoGame/InterestingNPCs'' (a fanmade {{NPC}} {{GameMod}})
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'', a GaidenGame {{MMORPG}} set at least 500 years prior to ''Arena''
* ''VideoGame/EldestSouls''
* ''VideoGame/{{ELEX}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Elvira}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Ember}}''
* ''VideoGame/EncasedRPG''
* ''VideoGame/{{EpicDuel}}''
* ''VideoGame/EpicTheHumorousRPG''
* ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' (another example by a Japanese developer)
* ''VideoGame/EverreachProjectEden''
* ''VideoGame/EvilIslands''
* ''VideoGame/ExcelsiorPhaseOneLysandia''
* ''VideoGame/{{Exile}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Avernum}}''
* ''VideoGame/EyeOfTheBeholder''
* ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}''
** ''VideoGame/FableI''
** ''VideoGame/FableII''
** ''VideoGame/FableIII''
* ''VideoGame/FaeryLegendsOfAvalon''
* ''VideoGame/TheFaeryTaleAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/TheFallLastDaysOfGaia''
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 1}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}''
** ''VideoGame/FalloutVanBuren'' (a canceled installment)
** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}''
** ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''
** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{FATE}}''
* ''[[VideoGame/FearMythosRPG Fear Mythos: The RPG]]''
* ''VideoGame/FinalVision''
* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysWorld''
* ''VideoGame/ForgottenRealms''
* ''VideoGame/FreedomForce''
** ''VideoGame/PulpAdventures''
* ''VideoGame/FreedroidRPG'', which is also OpenSource and [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin free]].
* ''VideoGame/FrozenState''
* ''VideoGame/GalaxyOfPenAndPaper''
* ''VideoGame/GameOfThrones''
* ''VideoGame/AGameOfThronesGenesis''
* ''VideoGame/{{Geneforge}}''
* ''[[{{VideoGame/GetInTheCarLoser}} Get In The Car, Loser!]]''
* ''VideoGame/GhostHospital''
* The ''VideoGame/GoldBox'' series by SSI
** ''VideoGame/UnlimitedAdventures'' (a [[GameMaker game making tool]] for Gold Box-style games)
* ''VideoGame/GoldenLand''
* ''VideoGame/{{Gothic}}''
* ''VideoGame/TheGreatCollapseOfGoatVillage'' (Chinese RPG based off of ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'')
* ''VideoGame/GREEDBlackBorder''
* ''VideoGame/GrimoireHeraldsOfTheWingedExemplar''
* ''VideoGame/HarryPotterHogwartsMystery''
* ''VideoGame/HellgateLondon'': Owned now by a Korean game distributor, it's still defined by its Western developers and influences, particularly Diablo.
* ''VideoGame/HeroURogueToRedemption''
* ''VideoGame/HeroicArmiesMarching''
* ''VideoGame/AHouseOfManyDoors''
* ''VideoGame/HyperLightDrifter''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:I-L]]
* ''VideoGame/IMissTheSunrise'' (freeware; blended with EasternRPG)
* ''VideoGame/IOfTheDragon''
* ''VideoGame/IcewindDale'' (and its sequel)
* ''VideoGame/TheIncredibleAdventuresOfVanHelsing''
* ''VideoGame/{{Inquisitor}}''
* ''VideoGame/InfinityBlade''
* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire''
* ''VideoGame/JoeDeversLoneWolf''
* ''VideoGame/KidMystic''
* ''VideoGame/KingdomComeDeliverance''
* ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning''
* ''VideoGame/KingsField'' (another Japanese example)
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfPenAndPaper''
** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfPenAndPaper2''
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheChalice''
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''
** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords''
* ''VideoGame/{{Krater}}''
* ''VideoGame/KultHereticKingdoms''
* ''VideoGame/LandsOfLore''
* ''VideoGame/LastDream''
* ''VideoGame/LegacyOfTheAncients''
* ''VideoGame/LegendOfGrimrock''
* ''[[VideoGame/LionheartLegacyOfTheCrusader Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader]]''
* ''VideoGame/TheLogomancer'' (mostly an EasternRPG, but contains the WideOpenSandbox aspect of this genre)
* ''VideoGame/TheLongingRibbon''
* ''The Lord of the Rings Vols. 1 and 2'' (the 90's [=RPGs=] by Interplay)
* ''VideoGame/LooneyTunesWorldOfMayhem''
* ''VideoGame/TheLordOfTheRingsTheThirdAge'' (Another western take on the JRPG)
* ''VideoGame/LordsOfXulima''
* ''VisualNovel/LorenTheAmazonPrincess''
* ''VideoGame/TheMagicCandle''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:M-P]]
* ''VideoGame/MarvelAvengersAlliance''
* ''Franchise/MassEffect''
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect1''
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''
** ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda''
* ''VideoGame/MaxAnAutisticJourney''
* ''VideoGame/{{MechQuest}}''
* ''VideoGame/MeriwetherAnAmericanEpic''
* ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor''
** ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar''
* ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic''
* ''VideoGame/MonsterArena''
* ''VideoGame/MoonstoneAHardDaysKnight''
* ''VideoGame/MordorTheDepthsOfDejenol''
* ''[[VideoGame/PLATOMoria Moria]]''
* ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade''
** ''VideoGame/EighteenSixtySixAMountAndBladeWestern''
** ''VideoGame/AnnoDomini1257''
** ''VideoGame/Europe1200''
** ''VideoGame/TheLastDaysOfTheThirdAgeOfMiddleEarth''
** ''VideoGame/LightAndDarknessHeroesOfCalradia''
** ''VideoGame/PhantasyCalradia''
** ''VideoGame/ProphesyOfPendor''
** ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}''
** ''VideoGame/SolidAndShade''
** ''VideoGame/StarWarsConquest''
** ''VideoGame/SwordOfDamocles''
* ''VideoGame/MountAndBladeIIBannerlord''
* ''VideoGame/{{Nethergate}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Neverend}}''
* ''VideoGame/NeonXSZ''
* ''VideoGame/NeoQuest'' (Notable for being a PHP RPG on the {{Website/Neopets}} website)
** ''VideoGame/NeoQuest II''
* ''VideoGame/NeoScavenger''
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights''
** ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2''
** ''VideoGame/TheAielundSaga'' (a popular fanmade module that will take you to epic levels)
** ''VideoGame/BloodrightTheBloodRoyal'' (a popular fanmade module)
** ''VideoGame/D20ModernNeverwinterNights'' (a [[GameMod mod]] which adds modern and futuristic themed content for the LevelEditor)
** ''VideoGame/ADanceWithRogues'' (a popular fanmade module)
** ''VideoGame/{{Gladiatrix}}'' (a fanmade module)
** ''VideoGame/JulyAnarchy'' (a futuristic UrbanFantasy series of planned mods - the first one has been released)
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfArterra'' (a popular fanmade module)
* ''VideoGame/{{Nox}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Oddity}}''
* ''VideoGame/OdysseyTheLegendOfNemesis''
* ''VideoGame/OfOrcsAndMen''
* ''VideoGame/{{Outward}}''
* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile''
* ''VideoGame/PathfinderKingmaker''
* ''VideoGame/PennyArcadeAdventures''
* ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity''
* ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternityIIDeadfire''
* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''
[[/index]]
* ''Planet Stronghold'' (an independent 2D game with many Western RPG elements, created by Creator/WinterWolves with UsefulNotes/RenPy, released for computers in February 2011)
[[index]]
* ''VideoGame/ThePrecursors''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Q-T]]
* ''VideoGame/QuarterstaffTheTombOfSetmoth'' (overlaps with InteractiveFiction)
* ''VideoGame/QueensWish: The Conqueror''
* ''VideoGame/QuestOfYipe''
* ''VideoGame/RainbowSkies''
* ''VideoGame/RavenswordShadowlands''
* ''VideoGame/RealmsBeyond''
* ''VideoGame/RealmsOfArkania''
* ''VideoGame/DieReiseInsALL''
* ''VideoGame/{{Revenant}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Risen}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Sacred}}''
* ''VideoGame/Sacred2FallenAngel''
* ''VideoGame/Sacred3''
* ''VideoGame/SaltAndSanctuary''
* ''VideoGame/SentinelWorldsIFutureMagic''
* ''VideoGame/SerpentInTheStaglands''
* ''VideoGame/SevenTheDaysLongGone''
* ''VideoGame/ShadowKeep''
* ''VideoGame/ShadowrunReturns''
* ''VideoGame/ShroudOfTheAvatarForsakenVirtues'', the successor to the ''Ultima'' series
* ''VideoGame/SidMeiersPirates''
* ''VideoGame/SiegeOfAvalon''
* ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth''
** ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole''
* ''DarthWiki/{{Space}}''
* ''VideoGame/SpaceSiege''
* ''VideoGame/{{Space Station 13}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Stonekeep}}''
* ''VideoGame/StygianReignOfTheOldOnes''
* ''VideoGame/{{Sudeki}}'', though it is modeled after [=JRPGs=]
* ''VideoGame/StickRPG''
* ''VideoGame/{{Soulbringer}}''
* ''VideoGame/StarcomNexus''
* ''VideoGame/StarControl II''
* ''VideoGame/StarCrawlers''
* ''VideoGame/StarWarsUprising''
* ''Franchise/StevenUniverse''
** ''VideoGame/AttackTheLight''
** ''VideoGame/SaveTheLight''
** ''VideoGame/UnleashTheLight''
* ''VideoGame/{{Strife}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Summoner}}'', though it has elements inspired by Eastern RPG and is something of an hybrid of the two.
** ''VideoGame/{{Summoner 2}}'', its [[ActionRPG action oriented]] sequel.
* ''The Summoning'' (a 90's dungeon crawl, not to be confused with the above)
* ''VideoGame/SuperDarylDeluxe''
* ''VideoGame/SuperheroLeagueOfHoboken''
* ''VideoGame/SwordCoastLegends''
* ''VideoGame/SystemShock''
* ''VideoGame/TaskMaker''
** ''VideoGame/TheTombOfTheTaskMaker''
* ''VideoGame/TelepathRPG'' (also a TacticalRPG [[WebGame made in Flash]])
** ''[[VideoGame/TelepathRPGServantsOfGod Servants of God]]''
* ''VideoGame/TempleOfApshai'', the first game in the ''Apshai'' series.
* ''VideoGame/TheTempleOfElementalEvil''
* ''VideoGame/ThroneOfDarkness''
* ''VideoGame/TinkerQuarry''
* ''VideoGame/TitanQuest''
* ''VideoGame/TooHuman''
* ''VideoGame/{{Torchlight}}''
** ''VideoGame/TorchlightII''
* ''VideoGame/TormentTidesOfNumenera'', the successor to ''Planescape: Torment''.
* ''VideoGame/TwoWorlds''
* ''VideoGame/{{Tyranny}}''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:U-Z]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaI''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaII''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaIII''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaIV''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaV''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaVI''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaVIIPartII''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaVIII''
** ''VideoGame/UltimaIX''
* ''VideoGame/{{Underrail}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''
** ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}''
** ''VideoGame/UndertaleYellow''
* ''VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant'', the continuation of the ''Ultima Underworld'' series
* ''VideoGame/UnemploymentQuest''
* ''VideoGame/{{Unepic}}''
* ''VideoGame/UnisonLeague''
* ''VideoGame/UnterwegsInDuesterburg''
* ''VideoGame/UntoldLegends''
* ''VideoGame/VacantSky''
* ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines''
* ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeRedemption''
* ''VideoGame/{{Venetica}}''
* ''VideoGame/VictorVran''
* ''VideoGame/WarpForce''
* ''VideoGame/WarhammerChaosbane''
* ''VideoGame/WarriorsOfMightAndMagic''
* ''VideoGame/{{Wasteland}}''
** ''VideoGame/Wasteland2''
* ''VideoGame/TheWitcher''
** ''VideoGame/TheWitcher2AssassinsOfKings''
** ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt''
* The ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' series
* ''VideoGame/{{Wolfenhain}}''
* ''[[Franchise/{{Thunderscape}} World of Aden: Thunderscape]]''
* ''VideoGame/YIIKAPostModernRPG''
* ''VideoGame/TheYouTestament''
[[/folder]]
[[/index]]
----

The genre is historically also known as '''Computer RPG''' (CRPG for short), as a result of Western [=RPGs=]' historical preference for PC platforms, in contrast to Japanese [=RPGs=]' preference for consoles. As cross-platform releases became standard for [=RPGs=] in the 2000s (for both Eastern and Western developers), the term "Computer RPG" lost its WRPG meaning and instead became a name for a new type of PC-exclusive RPG games, which are often independently-developed and in the Western RPG style.

'''Western RPG''' (WRPG for short) is a subgenre of RolePlayingGames. It contrasts the JapaneseRPG (or Eastern RPG) subgenre, and was likely originally coined as a reaction to the emergence of the JRPG genre. The genre is also known as '''Computer RPG''' (CRPG for short), which contrasted the JRPG's now-obsolete "Console RPG" moniker; however, with the widespread proliferation of cross-platform RPG games today, the term "Computer RPG" is slowly gaining a new meaning that specifies it as PC-exclusive RPG games (often independently-developed and in the western RPG style), making it no longer a synonym for [=WRPGs=].

* Often released on the PC instead of consoles (though recently they have been on both).

'''Western RPG''' (WRPG for short) is a subgenre of RolePlayingGames. It contrasts the JapaneseRPG (or Eastern RPG) subgenre, and was likely originally coined as a reaction to the emergence of the JRPG genre. The genre is also known as '''Computer RPG''' (CRPG for short), which contrasted the JRPG's now-obsolete "Console RPG" moniker; however, one should note that the CRPG name today is slowly gaining a new meaning that is different from WRPG.

The Western RPG's definitions is in many ways defined to be everything that the Eastern [=RPG=] isn't; after all, before Japanese [=RPGs=] came onto the scene, all role-playing games are Western [=RPGs=]. It was the emergence of Japanese [=RPGs=] that made a distinction between them and Western-developed [=RPGs=] necessary.

* Usually made in North America or Europe. However, there also have been Japanese examples, most of them influenced by the [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff local popularity]] of ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' and ''VideoGame/DungeonMaster''.

If applied to the narrow creator region definition of Eastern [=RPGs=], then Western [=RPGs=] are all [=RPGs=] made outside of East Asia, usually North America and Europe. When used to contrast the [[UsefulNotes/MechanicsDynamicsAesthetics aesthetical]] definition of Eastern [=RPGs=], Western [=RPGs=] are defined as a Role-Playing Game following a style popularized by Western computer developers.

The ''Ultima'' series reached its [[VideoGame/UltimaVII high point]], [[VideoGame/UltimaVIII withered]], and [[VideoGame/UltimaIX died]] by 1999. In the [[TheNineties mid-90ies]], things were looking very grim for Western [=RPGs=]. ''Ultima'' was not the only reputed series that didn't [[VideoGame3DLeap make it to the 3D]]: ''Wizardry'', ''[[VideoGame/TheBardsTaleTrilogy The Bard's Tale]]'', ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'', the VideoGame/GoldBox, ''VideoGame/TheMagicCandle'', ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'', ''VideoGame/EyeOfTheBeholder'', ''VideoGame/LandsOfLore''... [[EverybodysDeadDave they were all dead or dying]] by the end of the decade.

Perhaps as a response to this, the genre has experienced a renaissance of sorts in TheNewTens. The rise of crowdfunding (and Website/{{Kickstarter}} in particular) and affordable game tech (like UsefulNotes/{{Unity}}) has allowed some veteran developers to go back and reevaluate the gameplay and story ideas that were on the table during the Golden (pre-1995) and Silver Ages (late 90ies to early 2000s) but have been swept under the rug as Western [=RPGs=] went down the triple-A road.

The RPG genre originated from attempts to adapt the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' pen-and-paper RPG format onto a digital video gaming medium. Two games, ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' codified the RPG genre as a whole, and even the JRPG codifier ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' directly took their influence from them. After RPG development diverged into WRPG and JRPG following ''Dragon Quest'', ''Wizardry'' and ''Ultima'' continued being the pioneers of Western RPG tradition, with ''Wizardry'' codifying such things as a PlayerParty of [[NonPlayerCompanion pregenerated NPCs]] and KarmaMeter, while ''Ultima'' codified things like interactive dialogue (via a TextParser) and NPCScheduling, as well as the traditions of the Sandbox RPG.

* '''Narrative RPG''': The youngest subgenre of Western [=RPGs=], narrative [=RPGs=] put a greater emphasis on intricate plots and interesting characters. Although its [[UrExample earliest specimen]] -- ''VideoGame/BetrayalAtKrondor'' and (unsurprisingly) the ''Ultima'' games from ''VideoGame/UltimaVIIPartII'' onwards -- emerged at the dusk of the Golden Age (1993[[note]]not entirely coincidentally, a similar shift to more intricate narratives was occurring around the same time in big ERPG franchises, as well, e.g. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV''[[/note]]), the subgenre wasn't codified until ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' and ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' towards the end of the 1990s.

* '''DungeonCrawler''': The form that the [[UrExample earliest examples]] of RolePlayingGames (and therefore the earliest Western/Computer [=RPGs=]) took, in games like ''VideoGame/TempleOfApshai'', ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'', and ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}''. These games are directly inspired by ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', with a gameplay that primarily focuses on the dungeon crawling experience. As a player, you were supposed to get through a dungeon, killing monsters and looting treasure--in essence, a more forgiving version of the {{Roguelike}}s (which had been codified around the same time).

Computer RPG is a flexible format, having gone through several dominant design paradigms since its nascence [[TheEighties around 1980]]. The [[UrExample earliest examples]] (''VideoGame/TempleOfApshai'', ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'') were inspired by ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and are best described as "{{dungeon crawl|ing}}ers": as the player, you were supposed to get through a dungeon, killing monsters and looting treasure--in essence, a more forgiving version of the {{Roguelike}}s (which had been codified around the same time).

For a while, [=RPGs=] in the West remained [[RPGsEqualCombat all about]] TurnBasedCombat, but something extraordinary happened in 1985: Richard Garriot's Creator/OriginSystems released ''VideoGame/UltimaIV'', which codified the "[[WideOpenSandbox sandbox RPG]]" subgenre, where you could go wherever you wanted and do whatever you pleased. For the longest time, ''Wizardry'' and ''Ultima'' were the pioneers of Western RPG tradition, with ''Wizardry'' codifying such things as a PlayerParty of [[NonPlayerCompanion pregenerated NPCs]] and KarmaMeter, while ''Ultima'' codified things like interactive dialogue (via a TextParser) and NPCScheduling. ''Ultima'' even gave birth to the ImmersiveSim [[note]]with the ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'' SpinOff[[/note]] and the {{MMORPG}} genres[[note]]''VideoGame/UltimaOnline'' had not invented the genre, but it was its first commercial success[[/note]]. Although the ''Ultima'' series reached its [[VideoGame/UltimaVII high point]], [[VideoGame/UltimaVIII withered]], and [[VideoGame/UltimaIX died]] by 1999, it saw a successor to its traditions in ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, which climbed to the heights of commercial and critical success in the following decade.

But in the [[TheNineties mid-90ies]], things were looking very grim for Western [=RPGs=]. ''Ultima'' was not the only reputed series that didn't [[VideoGame3DLeap make it to the 3D]]: ''Wizardry'', ''[[VideoGame/TheBardsTaleTrilogy The Bard's Tale]]'', ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'', the VideoGame/GoldBox, ''VideoGame/TheMagicCandle'', ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'', ''VideoGame/EyeOfTheBeholder'', ''VideoGame/LandsOfLore''... [[EverybodysDeadDave they were all dead or dying]] by the end of the decade. Then, however, FromTheAshes of the old Western RPG tradition, two phoenixes rose around 1997. One was ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', a perky little dungeon crawler that captivated the masses with simple, action-oriented gameplay (instead of traditional turn-based) and a consistent and moody {{Gothic|Horror}} atmosphere. The other was ''VideoGame/{{Fallout|1}}'', a game that profoundly changed the Western understanding of role-playing video games by focusing on a single PC's story (rather than a [[PlayerParty party]]) and on the choices the players must make, from [[CharacterCustomization building their character]] to [[StoryBranching story-shaping decisions]] to figuring out [[CombatDiplomacyStealth their path to victory]].

On the shoulders of these giants, the third and, so far, the youngest subgenre of Western RPG arose: the "narrative RPG". Although its [[UrExample earliest specimen]] -- ''VideoGame/BetrayalAtKrondor'' and, unsurprisingly, the ''Ultima'' games from ''VideoGame/UltimaVIIPartII'' onwards -- emerged at the dusk of the Golden Age (1993[[note]]not entirely coincidentally, a similar shift to more intricate narratives was occurring around the same time in big ERPG franchises, as well, e.g. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV''[[/note]]), the subgenre wasn't codified until ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' and ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' towards the end of the decade. These games put a greater emphasis on intricate plots and interesting characters and [[GenreTurningPoint hit gold]]. As the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth generation]] approached, this allowed the Western [=RPGs=] to go on an offensive and plant boots on the console ground with ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' (a sandbox RPG) and ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' (a narrative RPG).

Perhaps as a response to this, the genre has experienced a renaissance of sorts in TheNewTens. The rise of crowdfunding (and Website/{{Kickstarter}} in particular) and affordable game tech (like UsefulNotes/{{Unity}}) has allowed some veteran developers to go back and reevaluate the gameplay and story ideas that were on the table during the Golden (pre-1995) and Silver Ages (late 90ies to early 2000s) but have been swept under the rug as Western [=RPGs=] went down the triple-A road. For more details on the Western RPG renaissance phenomenon, see [[Analysis/WesternRPG the Analysis tab]]. On the triple-A side of the industry, the narrative RPG subgenre was, for a long time, defined by the [[DuelingGames rivalry]] between Creator/BioWare's {{flagship franchise}}s, ''Franchise/MassEffect'' and ''Franchise/DragonAge'', and Creator/CDProjektRED's ''Franchise/TheWitcher'' games[[note]]although with CPR finishing ''The Witcher'' story arc and [=BioWare=] switching its full attention to the non-RPG ''Anthem'', the narrative subgenre has been dormant in the AAA space for some time[[/note]]. The sandbox RPG niche is dominated by Creator/{{Bethesda}}'s massive ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' and ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' franchises. Pure dungeon crawlers have largely gone out of favor with the big publishers, but Creator/{{Blizzard|Entertainment}} has made a resurgence with ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'', and ''Diablo'' clones like the ''VideoGame/{{Torchlight}}'' series still bring in the cash.

If applied to the narrow creator region definition of Eastern [=RPGs=], then Western [=RPGs=] are all [=RPGs=] made outside of East Asia, usually North America and Europe. When used to contrast the aesthetical definition of Eastern [=RPGs=], Western [=RPGs=] are defined as a Role-Playing Game following a style popularized by Western computer developers.

'''Western RPG''' (WRPG for short) is a subgenre of RolePlayingGames. It contrasts the JapaneseRPG (or Eastern RPG) subgenre, and was likely originally coined as a reaction to the emergence of the JRPG genre. The genre is also known as '''Computer RPG''' (CRPG for short), which contrasted the JRPG's now-obsolete "Console RPG" moniker; however, one should note that the latter name today is slowly gaining a new meaning that is different from WRPG.

The term "Western RPG" (WRPG for short; sometimes also referred to as Computer [=RPGs=] or [=CRPGs=], due to their historical preference for PC platforms instead of consoles) can be used in two different ways:

A RolePlayingGame developed in the Western world, specifically North America and Europe.

Or a Role Playing Game following a style popularized by Western computer developers, which is sometimes differentiated from {{Eastern RPG}}s by having several or more of the following features: