Gameplay involves exploring, acquiring resources, solving puzzles, and interacting with player or non-player characters in the persistent world.
Through the player's actions, his/her virtual characters' statistics or traits demonstrably evolve throughout the game".
Electronic Arts has published the most award winners for the RPG genre, which included titles under collaboration with SquareSoft before their merger with Enix.
ArenaNet, Blizzard Entertainment, SquareSoft, Square Enix, and Electronic Arts are the only publishers with back-to-back wins for RPG awards.
Deus Ex, Eve Online, and Pokémon have received the most nominations without winning a single award.
There have been a few franchises with back-to-back wins: Numerous games receives multiple nominations, mostly for expansion packs.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is the only game to win both console and computer RPG awards in the same year in 2004.