No.661133
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RPG is when you can allocate stats on level up or equivalent character customization, so you can choose to put points in magic to roleplay a mage, or choose to put points in strength to roleplay a melee fighter.
The defining characteristic is being able to decide how the character will play in a meaningfully different way, or in other words choose a role for that character to play.
It's why Final Fantasy 16 isn't an RPG, it's a linear action game.