Color-coded NPCs
Video game concept
NPCs are color coded for how tough they are or otherwise identify their nature, such as element.
36
games
8platforms

WIN 2002

WIN 2005-09

WII 2009-09-08

WIN 2007

WIN 2010-06-24

WIN 2014-07-22

X360 2013-01-15

WIN 2008-09-01

WIN 2009-09-08

PS3 2010-01-05

PS3 2013-01-15

WIN 2005
The first video game about Color-coded NPCs was released on June 28, 1991.
Sigma Team, Eidos Interactive and QCF Design has published most of these games
See also: palette swapping
This is common in MMOs but usually limited to the ever present name tags that float above every critter you encounter.
Older games with miniscule graphics (in terms of used pixels) often resorted to palette switches for sprites, which usually matched how much tougher the individual variant was. However, this does NOT require palette swapping to be involved. The colored enemies can be wholly unique, they just have distinct coloring to show other traits.
Older games with miniscule graphics (in terms of used pixels) often resorted to palette switches for sprites, which usually matched how much tougher the individual variant was. However, this does NOT require palette swapping to be involved. The colored enemies can be wholly unique, they just have distinct coloring to show other traits.