The Shocking Truth About Rng (And Why It Makes You Rage-Quit!)
RNG Unlocked
Games have gotten really good at surprising us. Characters are more dynamic, enemies act smarter (or at least less predictable), and environments change in ways that keep things fresh. That’s what we love about games — the unexpected. If every match or level played out the same way, most of us would lose interest fast.
A big reason that doesn’t happen? RNG.
So, What Is RNG in Gaming?
RNG stands for Random Number Generator. It’s been part of video games for decades, and it does exactly what it sounds like; it generates numbers at random. Behind the scenes, the game takes those numbers and uses them to decide what happens: what kind of loot an enemy drops, how strong the next attack is, what enemies show up, sometimes even what the in-game weather looks like.
Ever had a wild Pokémon pop out of the grass? That’s RNG. Opened a chest and got something completely useless? Yep, RNG again.
Basically, RNG in games is what keeps things from becoming stale. It’s the reason your tenth run through a dungeon can still surprise you. But whether you love it or hate it depends on how it’s used.
What Makes a Good RNG in Gaming?
The link between RNG and player experience is stronger than most people think. When it’s balanced, RNG keeps you on your toes. You don’t know what’s coming, and that makes every decision feel important.
Look at Tetris. Every block is randomly selected, and that randomness is the entire challenge. You don’t get to choose what’s next — you just have to deal with it. It’s simple, but it’s why people still play it decades later.
Then there’s the bet on casino slots, where RNG is everything. Every spin is a random outcome — symbols appear based on pure chance. It’s what makes slots addictive (for better or worse), and also what keeps them “fair” in theory. No skill, just luck.
Done right, RNG makes games exciting, unpredictable, and fun to replay.
What Is Bad RNG in Gaming?
Bad RNG is a pain. It’s when randomness feels more like punishment than variety. Think about spending hours grinding for an item that never drops. Or getting hit with three missed attacks in a row during a boss fight. Or worse, failing a mission because something random happened and you had no control over it.
That’s when RNG becomes one of the worst parts of the game.
The worst RNG in video games usually shows up in places where the player is chasing a rare outcome, like loot boxes, gacha pulls, or super low drop rates. Some games know players will keep trying for that one rare thing, and they stretch the odds just enough to keep people hooked. It’s frustrating. Sometimes, it even feels like the game’s trying to milk your time or money.
Can You Predict RNG in Video Games?
Kind of. RNG isn’t “true” randomness — it’s an algorithm, and algorithms follow rules. Especially in older games, players found ways to predict or manipulate RNG. Frame-perfect inputs, repeating patterns, or just saving and reloading until you get what you want.
Some Final Fantasy fans figured out how to guarantee rare drops. In older Pokémon games, you could predict when a certain wild Pokémon would show up. Today’s games are harder to crack because the algorithms are more advanced and the systems are more complex. Still, it’s not impossible. Speedrunners and hardcore players are always poking at the edges.
So, Why Do People Hate RNG?
Because it takes away control. Even when we know games are full of randomness, we feel like we should be in charge. Miss a critical hit? Bad luck. Open ten chests and get nothing? More bad luck. And eventually, it stops being fun and starts feeling like the game is wasting your time.
There’s also a deeper reason: people don’t like leaving outcomes to chance. We want to earn our wins. When RNG gets in the way, it can feel like the game isn’t respecting our effort.
That’s why some players say RNG is ruining games. Not because randomness is bad, but because poorly balanced randomness can make everything feel meaningless, like your choices don’t matter.
Finding the Sweet Spot
Still, randomness is part of what makes games great. Look at roguelikes. They live and breathe RNG. Every run is different — new layouts, new enemies, different gear. It makes games like Hades or Dead Cells feel fresh every time you play.
Minecraft wouldn’t be Minecraft without RNG. Every world is generated on the fly. You never know what you’ll find when you start digging — and that’s the point.
The key is balance. Developers need to make sure randomness adds something without taking too much away.
