Encyclopedia of Role-Playing Games

By Daniel Ravipinto, Mark A. Fabrizi, Neil McGarry

Spanning from the earliest iterations like Dungeons & Dragons to modern indie and mainstream titles, this encyclopedia offers detailed entries on game systems, mechanics, designers, publishers, and cultural impact.
Encyclopedia of Role-Playing Games offers a sweeping overview of the history and cultural significance of role-playing games across tabletop and digital platforms. Beginning with Dungeons & Dragons in the mid-1970s and continuing today, this reference work explores game systems, narrative structures, and the evolution of player communities. It highlights the creative and collaborative nature of RPGs, their educational potential, and their influence on storytelling, identity, and social interaction, celebrating the enduring power of imagination in interactive play.
It includes historical timelines, genre classifications, and thematic analyses, making it an essential resource for educators, game designers, and enthusiasts alike. Each entry provides context on gameplay style, narrative structure, and community reception, while also highlighting innovations that shaped the evolution of RPGs. With extensively cross-referenced topics, the encyclopedia celebrates the creativity and collaborative spirit that define role-playing games. This volume offers both depth and accessibility to the student, scholar, or layperson interested in the development and impact of role-playing games.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1538197405
• ISBN13: 9781538197400
• Release Date: December 2026
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.0" x 10.0"