Noun. a character in a game that is not controlled by the person playing the game, nor by any sort of AI.
I recently heard my friends use this term to categorize another mutual friend. None of us have actually heard from this mutual friend since pre-COVID, and even then, only a few times a year, at one of the larger celebrations or gatherings. In a matter of fact way, my friends described NPCs in the video game world as those random characters that don’t do much but often serve the purpose of helping the player to move along in the game or storyline. We’ve all encountered those in a video game, from Grand Theft Auto to Harry Potter to Overcooked. They’re the characters that stay in the same place and have a few repeated motions or phrases that you, as a player, might run up to, seeking help or a clue for passing that level.
Every one of us are NPCs to someone else. Definitely harder to recognize yourself as an NPC than to point out those who breezed in and out of your life.
Do you remember the classmate of the lawyer you met at that one dumpling crawl? We used to meet up regularly and try new restaurants. She even introduced her yoga friend to your friend, and now those two are married. Last I heard, she was somewhere in Asia doing hip hop?
Do you remember the British manager who used to inspire the entire team of the impactful work and new markets we were building? He worked in the military, married an Italian, and had two beautiful boys. Such an inspiration and mentor. I wonder if his latest career track has developed a new loyal following?
Do you remember the Latina who was so nice and literally, you met off Craig’s List to be roommates with? She was the perfect roommate and that lasted almost three years, sharing a small living space during some difficult challenges. I hope her all the best, when she went for another graduate degree and a job switch?
Do you remember those Hong Kong guys who always bought drinks and showed us the nightlife through club hopping? They were such personalities and high-rollers on the outside, though I’m sure they were softies at heart. I wouldn’t have truly experienced HK if not for them. Do you think in the years since, they’re still at Dragon Eye tossing back tequila?
Do you remember your best friend obsessed with Ireland and Irish culture? You were inseparable in college; studying, traveling and doing most activities with together. And then she got leukemia and died. I wonder, do you call her an NPC — another person just passing through your life, who served a purpose in the storyline to move it along, but only existed in limited levels, that once passed, don’t come back?
Ironically or not, NPCs in video games have a similar parallel in the life. Life basically is a video game, just without the unlimited respawns.
