Random number generation, or RNG, is the unseen engine that makes many video game features work, from loot drops to procedural levels. Figuring out how it works helps you understand why you never seem to “get that super-rare item” and how makers use the unknown to keep things interesting.
What RNG Actually Is
Random Number Generators (RNGs) are used in video games to make decisions about things like whether an enemy drops a famous item, whether a weapon hits or misses, or how a map is made. A lot of games use pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs). If you know the seed and algorithm, you can figure out the series of numbers.
The numbers may look random to you as a player, but developers often add controls like weighted odds, “bad luck mitigation” timers, or drops that happen after a certain number of fails. That is, you may feel better or unluckier than other people, but the framework is meant to keep players happy and interested.
Where You Find RNG Working Behind the Scenes
Many casino-style mechanics within games or standalone apps rely on random number generators (RNG), and the same algorithmic principles apply to real-money scenarios. For players curious about how RNG works in these contexts, platforms such as 76 Payline Slots allow users to explore demo modes where systems are exposed and organized by volatility, RTP, and theme. Random number generators are also used in other types of games, from the loot tables in Diablo IV to the pack openings in FIFA Ultimate Team, as well as the drop features in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. Across all of these examples, it is designed randomness, rather than pure luck, that shapes the player experience.
In RPGs and mobile gacha games, RNG determines the rarity of items, characters, or cards. Pull rates for top-tier rewards are often very low, and to keep players engaged, developers frequently add “pity timers” or guaranteed drops after a certain number of attempts. Beyond rewards, RNG also plays a role in procedural content generation and level design, shaping worlds, items, and enemy placements in open-world games, roguelikes, and survival crafting titles. For example, a seed might determine the layout of a map, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique and enhancing replayability.
Even in competitive or skill-based games, RNG is present, influencing elements such as the chance of critical hits, weapon spread, or the locations where players start. This controlled unpredictability keeps matches dynamic, encouraging players to adapt on the fly rather than relying solely on memorization or fixed strategies. Across genres, RNG demonstrates how algorithmic randomness can balance challenge, engagement, and fairness in modern games.
Why RNG in Games Often Feels Frustrating
After spending dozens or even hundreds of hours on a game in search of a rare thing, not getting it feels unfair. In fact, the RNG’s seed, algorithm, and timing may already be set when you turn it on, so it’s not just a matter of hitting a button. Examples abound in games with loot-systems or gacha mechanics, where even the “chance” of dropping a rare item might be 0.5 % or less.
When players can’t see the whole picture behind the odds, they often get angry at RNG. It’s possible for a game to have a low drop rate that makes sense on paper, but when it fails over and over again, it feels like the design was wrong.
A lot of people also think that the odds are the same for each try, but hidden counters or guarantee mechanisms can change those odds over time. Players think that these systems are unfair when authors don’t explain them well. However, the problem is usually bad communication and not the algorithm itself.