Is any game that has any sort character levelling automatically lumbered with the 'Role Playing Game' tag?

As I've been bumbling around the internet seeing what others think of Transistor I've noticed it described as an RPG.

I mean, clearly that's bollocks.

When I think of an RPG I envision lengthy cutscenes, dialogue options and narrative branching. The combat is usually basic and has little to do with player skill.

Are these elements not more indicative of an RPG than an arbitrary number that goes up a bit every time you have a fight?

It's pretty vague these days. Something like the Witcher 3 is pretty far removed from the type of Dungeons and Dragons board game that originated the term. Most games people call RPGs today are really adventure games with some RPG elements. It's really only some indie RPGs and JRPGs that are real RPGs.

When I think of an RPG I envision lengthy cutscenes, dialogue options and narrative branching.

I'd say these belong to the adventure genre, not the RPG genre. This kind of thing has is roots in text adventures and early graphic adventures not card games.

Are these elements not more indicative of an RPG than an arbitrary number that goes up a bit every time you have a fight?

Not really, if you want to get technical, because at its most basic form RPGs were just numbers, decided by the roll of a dice, drawing cards, stats and character skill numbers. These are RPG elements in the purest form.

RPGs are like pornography -- hard to define, but you'll know it when you see it.

And Transistor clearly isn't that. At most, maybe it has a couple RPG elements.

You've played Valkyria Chronicles, right? It's interesting that VC is considered a strategy RPG, but something like XCOM: Enemy Unknown (which is fantastic btw) is a pure strategy game.

I wonder if you'd enjoy a cyberpunk RPG like Shadowrun: Dragonfall? https://archive.today/TDOa9/83428f55e31b043129a6b442c551cb96d795a64b.jpg

Similar look and feel to Transistor, perhaps? But way more into RPG territory. I haven't actually played it yet, but I have it and am looking forward to it.

It's interesting that VC is considered a strategy RPG, but something like XCOM: Enemy Unknown (which is fantastic btw) is a pure strategy game.

Yeah that confuses me. I just started playing Codename: S.T.E.A.M. on 3DS which has gameplay very, very similar to VC but I've never seen it referred to as anything other than Turn Based Strategy.

I played the original Xcom way back in the day, and Rebelstar: Tactical Command on GBA, but haven't got around to the new ones yet. One day.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall looks like Syndicate (from that screenshot anyway).

I'd say RPG's rely on the ability to change your character/s course in terms of how they play (and often, what they do). Often this is directly through changing the base numbers of how a character works (DnD rpgs, Dark Souls, new Fallouts) which is a pretty raw and unsubtle method, but allows for great role playing freedom (I want a giant berserker orc who is also charming and sneaky! Just gotta grind the numbers), more recently games have focused a bit more on automatic levelling (you're stronger hurray!) and allowed equipment and ability customisation instead, often instead focusing on narrative (Witcher 2 and 3). Final Fantasy always seemed to try to strike a balance between these, the characters often being set in their skills and the narrative being told, but just enough customisation to make you feel attached to 'your' team. Also FFX had two options, one levelling up option that was super linear, one that was very open, allowing you to give your tank character magic or whatever.

For me, Deus Ex is a good example of RPG, in how customisable your character is in both skills (very complex skills and limited skill points, forcing you to choose) and narrative. Deus Ex Human Revolution is a game with RPG elements - levelling up, but ultimately pointless since you can gain every 'perk' and everyone ends up the same strength at the end.

I've always thought it was about upgrading a party of characters (or just one); leveling up so you can grant them different abilities and assign them various weapons or items.

The deeper those mechanics work, the better it is as an RPG.

If an RPG has an emphasis on interactive combat, it's called an Action RPG.

But I've also seen people use RPG to describe any game that heavily immersed them in its world.

Just about any game involving character leveling and branching stories/side quests. So the range goes from MUDs to about Legend of Zelda.