Table of Contents
Random number generation is a pillar of contemporary gaming, determining outcomes that extend well beyond the toss of virtual dice.
It’s a mechanism that creates random results, adding excitement, challenge, and diversity to games of any type, even the ones you wouldn’t think of right off the bat.
Whether card games, competitive first-person shooters or RPGs, RNG affects everything from loot drops to critical strikes, and in this article, we unveil what RNG is, how it functions, and what it accomplishes in various types of games.
Random Number Generation in Short
On a fundamental level, RNG is a process that generates random numbers through algorithms or hardware. Computers in games utilise “pseudo-random number generators”, algorithms that generate strings of numbers that are apparently random but derived from an original value known as a seed.
The seed, typically tied to a system clock, makes each string unique. This system is called “pseudo”, since real randomness, such as from physical sources (e.g., atmospheric noise), is not utilised in games on a large scale because it is complex.
The process in games is straightforward: the game calls for a number, the RNG algorithm creates it, and the game utilises it to determine the outcome. This then decides whether a sword swing is a critical hit or determines which card is coming next in a deck, adding randomness. It makes games dynamic so that the players are not able to anticipate or predict every action.
Games of luck are the first thing that comes to mind when RNG is mentioned, and it’s justified since this kind of system is the foundation of fairness in games like slots, blackjack, or poker. In online poker, for instance, the RNG shuffles the deck by giving each card a random number and cataloguing them. This replicates the lack of pattern in a manual shuffle of cards. Ever since its inception, it has remained the standard for online casinos, and even modern ones use it to this day. However, some of them also give the players a slight advantage over the randomness with the use of bonus codes, like the bet365 casino bonus code, with free spins and deposit matches.
But outside of cards, in slots, for example, RNG dictates which symbols are on the reels to guarantee that every spin is unbiased and independent. They rely quite a bit on RNG to replicate the chance element of their real-life counterparts, where victory is determined by luck.
RNG in Role-Playing Games
RPGs apply RNG in a somewhat similar vein to introduce complexity into combat and exploration.
In Pokémon or Final Fantasy, for example, RNG determines if or not an attack will be a critical hit, inflict a status effect such as poison, or determine the quality of loot that enemies drop.
For example, defeating a monster in Monster Hunter: World could be rewarded with a very rare gem, but the chance is controlled by RNG, most of the time with drop rates lower than 5%. The randomness compels the players to continue grinding since no two fights feel quite identical.
RNG in Competitive Games
Competitive games that focus on skill, rather than chance, also utilise RNG to add a little unpredictability.
Critical hit chances are tied to RNG in League of Legends, so a player’s attack is either going to double-damage at the appropriate time, or not. In first-person shooters such as Valorant, RNG affects the recoil patterns of firearms, so spray-and-pray tactics are less viable. Even in fighting games such as Super Smash Bros., RNG dictates what items spawn in a match, and players must adjust accordingly in the moment.
These aspects make no match predictable, while quick thinking is rewarded together with raw talent.
In Strategy and Simulation
In Civ VI, RNG influences results such as the success of a barbarian attack or whether a diplomatic negotiation goes in the player’s favour, meanwhile, in The Sims, RNG governs daily events, like a Sim receiving a promotion at work or burning a dinne.
Regardless of the genre, randomness requires strategic flexibility, as players cannot expect the same result each time.
The Balance of RNG and Skill
While RNG creates excitement, it is also carefully balanced to avoid frustration. Too much randomness, like too-rare loot drops, can make games feel unfair. Developers tune RNG so that skill remains a factor.
In Hearthstone, for example, card draw is random, but deck-building strategy enables players to influence the odds. Likewise, in Overwatch, RNG can determine a small incident, yet coordination of teamwork and marksmanship matter significantly more. That balance makes matches interesting without allowing chance to outshine skill.
So, even without you knowing, there was an instance where RNG determined your luck, even if you played something that doesn’t rely solely on luck. The mechanism working in the background guarantees randomness, making each playthrough different, whether you’re competing against others or juts chasing that legendary skin.
