Today CRPG's take place in a variety of settings, including Steampunk, Science Fiction and

Professional game development usually begins with a game design, which itself has several possible origins. The occasional game starts development with no clear game design, but as a series of experimentations. The best selling computer game of all time, The Sims, was developed by the game designer,

The majority of console RPG's are set in fictional worlds which the hero explores and ultimately saves throughout the course of the game. In most cases, especially in early CRPG's, the game takes place in a medieval fantasy setting, and feature common elements such as mythological monsters to fight (most notably dragons), magic for the characters to learn, and kingdoms to save or conquer.