non-player character

noun

non-play·​er character ˈnän-ˈplā-ər- 

variants or less commonly non-playable character

ˈnän-ˈplā-ə-bəl- 

plural non-player characters also non-playable characters

: npc:

a

: a character in a video game that does not represent and cannot be manipulated by a player

During the adventure, players will get the opportunity to travel with several different non-player characters.

—Charlie Hall

Every single non-playable character has a unique background—occupation, hobbies, relationships, felonies, special abilities—all of which are generated by the game's "Census" system.

—Lewis Gordon

compare avatar sense 1

b

: a character in a role-playing board game, card game, or live-action game that is controlled or performed by an organizer, facilitator, or supporting participant

Often, leaders of these [Dungeons and Dragons] games will create an entire world of their own, with their own special monsters, weapons, and non-player characters.

—Dara Edwards

What happens on the adventure is dictated by the Dungeon Master, who serves as a storyteller of sorts. Using a campaign book, the Dungeon Master sets the scene, interprets and relays the rules, and voices any of the non-playable characters you'll meet along the way.

—Liam Martin

Examples of non-player character in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The other characters in the game are considered non-player characters (NPCs). — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 May 2026

Within the parameters of a game—where non-player characters essentially function as different disguises for, and manifestations of, a single narrative engine—such paranoia might not be unjustified. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026

Park argues that developers could be forced to compromise stories, art, non-player characters, battles, worlds—all of which are already at risk of being automated by new AI tools. — Helen Vogelsong-Donahue, Wired News, 13 Mar. 2026

After a bleak early life devoid of interactable non-player characters, Bethesda added a proper main quest and plenty of side missions built around settlers, bandits, and colorful groups that have been expanded with each content update. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 15 Dec. 2025

What sets the game apart is its AI engine, which spawns countless non-player characters (NPCs) with unique storylines and characteristics. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above