Or are they fake RPG's cause there is only one-way conversation (you don't choose what your character says) and cause the focus is on combat

Yes, they are simply ARPG (Action RPG's) instead of CRPG's or JRPG's. They're all just different sub-genres within the RPG genre.

Yes. Like how I see Akalabeth: World of Doom as a real RPG.

I don't really like or care about splitting hairs about blurry genre divisions like this. I call them hack'n'slash for easy distinction from "proper" RPGs, becuase my personal look at it somewhat internally inconsistant.

Here's the thing: I sort of think of Diablo 1 as an RPG, but I don't feel that way about Diablo 2. The thing is, Diablo 1 feels a lot like a throwback to the oldest, most classic dungeoncrawling that was the very basis and essence of early D&D. It feels true to that. The mood and the art feel right. The world and the story of the game are so minimalistic, the lack of opportunity for actual "roleplaying" isn't felt at all. It's like an early D&D module that simply isn't meant for any of that.

Diablo 2 on the other hand, while essentially obviously the same genre, no longer fits for me with that legacy. It's a follow-up to Diablo, but not to that "D&D module" mentality. The world is much bigger. There's way more story (and backstory), but the player's options for interaction with the story and the world remain just as limited as in the first game. It no longer feels like any sort of an RPG campaign, but it's own different thing. And pretty much all the hack'n'slash games follow the example of Diablo 2.

I'm not sure if this will make sense for anyone, but that's how I feel about it.

Aargh, you have done it now and summoned the authority of categorisations dt....
It’s probably a waRPG or something.

Yeah, the thread is basically destined to die as soon as she finds it. Best we can do is cram in as much of actual fun discussion as we can before that.

I think that the focus is on stats, random loot, character development, ambience and dungeon exploration. Diablo tries to do it in real time combat but, to me it is a pure example of classic dungeoneering CRPG.

In the same vein as the classic Wizardry trilogy or like the randomness and replayability of the venerable Rogue. I am pretty sure that those titles were the main inspiration.

Neither. I don't use words like "real" or "fake" to describe different types of games. Diablo is usually seen as belonging to a subgenre of RPG games called ARPGs, Hack-and-Slash-RPGs, or Diablo-likes (some say "Diablo-clones", not necessarily meant in a negative way, but of course that can't be applied to Diablo itself). I suppose it's evolved from the idea to combine rogue-likes with action gameplay and actual graphics.

RPG to me is a vast genre with many, many different elements and many subgenres depending on how the elements are balanced. Personally I don't think you can fully describe computer RPGs by way of any single criterion alone, like stats, character building, inventory management, roleplaying, combat, choice and consequences, etc. to me it's about several of the optional defining criteria being present and combined. But if you haven't figured it out yet, starting forum discussions about the definition of RPG is almost akin to trolling, because it will never lead anywhere constructive. Each and every of the optional criteria for an RPG has its own share of champions claiming it is the one and only that counts, and apparently many gamers think that what they personally believe should be the right definition for a term is more important than how these terms are usually uderstood and used by the majority.

99% of electronic RPGs out there are imperfect imitations of tabletop pen & paper RPG; Every subgenre are just focusing on certain aspects and simplifying other things.

Diablo is a different kind of RPG. That's an action-based RPG, often referred to as ARPG's. They are their own thing, more or less, as part of the ARPG sub-genre of RPG's.

Basically - you pick a certain class/character/hero - and you constant defeat enemies; get new unique loot; mod unique loot; level-up your character and their stats & skills. ARPG's and Diablo-likes do this in the extreme sense of it - as they do this on a level of their own, where this is the focus and main goal and gameplay loop. This looting & leveling stuff is the primary part of the game - often the story and decision-making are secondary...or non-existent...or close to non-existent.

Even D2, is basically a dungeon-crawler here - it's just you ain't jumping down and down into each dungeon like say Diablo 1. You're now also out in this game's actual game-world in the open, above ground, and in towns. It still acts like a dungeon-crawler w/ its constant combat; constant running around and grinding for levels & loot; and whatnot.

Tons of ARPG's like Diablo series - Grim Dawn; Sacred 1+2; Dungeon Siege series; Space Siege; Silverfall; Van Helsing ARPG; Titan Quest; etc etc etc.

Also, you have games like Hellgate: London and Borderlands series - which heavily mix a lot of shooter elements and ARPG elements together.

I have to ask, did you just write hundreds of random questions on little papers, threw them in a hat, pull out out one every few hours and then immediately proceed to create a thread about it on the forum? These random questions have been popping up regularly over the past few days. Just wondering if there is something else to it...

As for the topic, the usual answer applies here:

It depends. Specifically on what a person considers to be RPG elements and what not and if that's enough for them to call it that. There is no universal definition.

He just picks up the scraps that Kai2 leaves behind.

Yes, I sometimes wonder if these streams of questions, all very similar are the product of some google AI test. Perhaps trying to gauge the market on game mechanics or something like that. It’s not the first time, there was the keith ones and there have been others before as well.

Diablo-clones and -likes are H'n'S (Hack and Slash) games under the umbrella term ARPG, which itself lies under the even bigger encompassing term RPG.

You are most likely thinking of WRPG's (Western like Baldurs Gate) or JRPG's (Japanese like Final Fantasy). Which you find under CRPG's (computer/console) a "sibling" term to ARPG (Action RPG).

*edit*

I should mentioned that most games that fall under ARPG are massively different themselves, and that term should really never be used unless in specific circumstances. Use Spectacle Fighter, H'n'S, Immersive Sim, Rogue-lite, Shooter looter, etc, instead.