When I say this people bash me... just because you have swords, play as a "character" and level up doesn't mean it's an RPG.

When I think about my time playing DnD the most important features were: choice (sandbox) and character building.

An "RPG" where I have no choice in how I develop my story and I have no choice on how I develop my char are not RPGs.

Obviously that there are degrees, not every game will be a full sandbox like Minecraft and not every game will have character customization like Path of Exile/Divinity Original Sin/BG2/NWN etc, but IMO you need a healthy dose of both before you can call yourself an RPG.

If you have a linear story you are a gamified movie, and if you have no build customization it's an adventure game IMO.

If you go to like God of War it's classified as an RPG... why? you have no choice in the story, everything is predefined, and all character customization is super linear and restricted... it's an adventure game, not an RPG.