Phrase guide

Random Number God

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • rhymes with -ɒd

1

noun

Meaning 1

The pseudorandom number generator used by a roguelike game's engine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous

Topics: roguelikes, video-games

Examples

  • 1998, Chris Kern, Rules (was Re: Angband Rule Number One!), rec.games.roguelike.angband, Usenet Rule #1 of Angband is this: NEVER forget that you are a but a pathetic slave to the entity that is the Random Number God. The RNG will laugh in your face and taunt you in many ways. No matter how you may try to evade it or con it, it knows your deepest desires. You cannot hide from the RNG's mind what you are attempting to scum for. It can see your character sheet and find out what resists you are missing. It knows many insidious ways to inflict harm upon your psyche and drive you to emotional turmoil. The RNG is a marionette, and you are the slavering puppet. You will cry in relief when he gives you an artifact and then wail in despair while the RNG laughs at your pitiful failures. You CANNOT escape the horror.
  • 1999, Brandon Pitman, Re: [Z] Death by act of Random Number God, rec.games.roguelike.angband, Usenet
  • 2002, John Hansen, Re: Random funny moments., rec.games.roguelike.nethack, Usenet The Random Number God at work again, I see.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative form of Random Number God.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Back-formed from the initialism RNG.