Want to start playing video games but don’t know how to comprehend the concept of a character class? Read on!

While the character class mechanic isn’t present in all video game genres, it plays a vital role in RPGs and shooters. Sometimes, the gameplay experience can feel more rewarding or memorable if you pick the proper role during character creation! But what does the term mean?

Character Class Meaning

Originating in the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game, character class refers to the concept of archetypes assigned to playable heroes. Simply put, it’s your overall role equipped with unique skills, backstory, preferences, dislikes, or origins.

What is a Class in Games?

Since this concept involves “jobs” like warrior, barbarian, priest, monk, or rogue, the system works great in party-based gameplay where all the roles complement each other. All the classes listed above (and more) fall into three types: Tank (distracting enemies from other team members), DPS (dealing damage to enemies), and Healer (keeping everyone healthy and alive). This division balances the team’s performance in RPGs, shooters, and racing games.

That doesn’t mean, however, that classes prove helpful only in party-based gameplay. You can also pick them for solo play to try out different playstyles, weapons, progression paths, and sources of immersion.

Games Involving Character Roles

  • Diablo 2

Diablo 2 – this intense hack-and-slash title features seven character classes: Amazon, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin, Sorceress, Assassin, and Druid. Each has its unique lore, ability set, items, and skill trees to confront the omnipresent forces of Hell.

  • Baldur’s Gate 3

As one of the best RPGs of our time, Baldur’s Gate 3 features an impressive twelve unique character classes. Each wears different armor, uses unique weapons, and has one-of-a-kind abilities.

  • D&D-based RPGs

D&D inspired the introduction of classic character classes to the video game realm. Therefore, many such titles involve fantasy-based roles like warrior, mage, rogue, and druid. Fun fact – Baldur’s Gate 3 runs on a modified version of the fifth edition of the iconic Dungeons & Dragons rules!

Whether you prefer to enjoy the game solo or with others, now you know what a character class means in gaming. You can use it for various purposes, like building the ultimate skillset, discovering better immersion, role-playing, or complementing missing attributes in team-based gameplay. It’s time to see how that works in practice!