NPC stands for Non-Player Character (sometimes called Non-Playable Character) in video games. It refers to any character controlled by the game's AI or scripts, not by a human player—like shopkeepers, quest givers, villagers, or enemies with repetitive dialogue and behaviors. They help populate the world, advance the story, or provide services, but lack true free will or deep decision-making.
In modern gaming slang (especially online since around 2018), "NPC" has evolved into an insult. It describes someone who seems to mindlessly repeat popular opinions, follow trends without thinking, or act like they're on a scripted loop—basically, lacking original thoughts or agency, just like a basic game NPC spouting the same lines every time you talk to them.
You'll hear it in memes, Twitch chats, or arguments: "That guy's such an NPC." It's playful banter in games but can sting as a real-world jab at conformity.