Gamers talk about RNG a lot, especially when they lose a match or miss a reward. But what does RNG actually mean? Not everyone knows the full story behind it.
This article explains RNG in simple terms. You’ll learn what it is, how it works, and where you see it in games. We’ll also look at examples from popular titles you might already play.
And finally, we’ll go into why players sometimes hate it—and when randomness can actually make a game better.
What Does RNG Mean in Gaming?
RNG stands for Random Number Generator. It’s a system used in games to make something happen by chance instead of by set rules.
This isn’t new. Game developers have used RNG for decades to make gameplay less predictable. In older games, it controlled dice rolls and enemy movements. In modern games, it decides everything from loot to damage numbers.
RNG helps games feel more natural. When you open a chest or land a critical hit, that’s RNG working in the background. It creates variety, so you don’t see the same results every time.
Common things controlled by RNG in games:
- Item drops after a battle
- Critical hits or misses during combat
- Chest rewards with random loot
- Enemy spawns that change with each level
These changes can make a game feel fresh—or frustrating, depending on when and how they show up.
Types of RNG Found in Games
RNG doesn’t just control one thing. It affects many parts of a game, depending on the genre and design.
- Combat RNG – You may land a critical hit or miss an attack based on chance. Example: Pokémon battles.
- Loot RNG – After a fight, you might get rare items—or nothing. Example: Fortnite chest rewards or Diablo dungeons.
- Map RNG – The world layout changes each time. Example: Hades uses random room orders and enemy sets.
- Cosmetic RNG – Open a loot box, and you might get a new skin—or a duplicate. Example: Overwatch and Apex Legends.
Each type adds surprise, but also creates risk. Some players like the variety, while others don’t like leaving success up to luck.
Real Examples of RNG in Popular Games
In Fortnite, players land in random places and search for chests. What’s inside? It could be a strong weapon—or something weak. This affects early fights, especially in competitive matches.
Genshin Impact uses a “gacha” system, where you pull random characters and weapons. The chances of getting a 5-star character are low, and some players spend real money to try again.
Hearthstone is a digital card game where random effects decide which cards appear or what happens when a card is played. Some games are won or lost by luck, even if both players play well.
In Pokémon, every move has a chance to miss. Critical hits also happen randomly, and they can turn a close match into a surprise win or loss.
Hades uses RNG for room layouts and power-ups. Each run feels different, which helps with replay value. But sometimes you don’t get the powers you need, and that can end a run early.
Why Developers Use RNG in Games
RNG helps developers build games that don’t feel the same every time you play. When outcomes change from run to run, players stay interested longer.
It also adds suspense. You don’t know what’s coming, which makes each moment feel important. RNG keeps games from feeling boring or too easy.
And from a production side, randomness is cheaper than making 100 hand-designed outcomes. Instead of designing every reward, the game just picks one randomly. That saves time and budget while still keeping the player guessing.
Why Gamers Criticize RNG?
Not everyone likes random outcomes. When a game depends too much on chance, it can feel unfair—even if you played perfectly.
Some players feel like their skill doesn’t matter when RNG gets in the way. They might lose a match because of a lucky enemy hit or a bad reward drop, not because they made a mistake.
RNG is also a problem in games with real money involved. In gacha games like Genshin Impact, people may spend money for a low chance at getting rare characters. This leads to “pay-to-win” concerns. And in competitive games, bad luck can ruin ranked matches.
Can RNG Be Fair and Skill-Based?
Some games try to balance RNG with skill. In Slay the Spire, cards are random, but smart planning still wins. You adjust your strategy as you go, and that feels fair.
Other games use “pity systems” that reduce randomness over time. For example, in Genshin Impact, if you don’t get a good pull after many tries, the odds go up. This makes it easier to accept some bad luck early on.
When used right, RNG adds fun and excitement. It gives players a reason to keep playing. But when it replaces skill or fairness, it can ruin the experience fast.
