Is your premise that rpg games are usually addictive or is that a straight how-to question, like, how to make a (your) rpg addictive?
Because either way, rpg games are not addictive as such.
What's addictive is mmorpgs, gambling games and typically certain mobile games that are optimised to give a kick and retain player engagement.
Might you be really asking, what makes a rpg game a good rpg game? Or are you after the essence of what makes a game an rpg game. Because, let's be honest, leveling up your character is not really playing a role.
Rpg games are just emulating parts of table top role playing games and got their name from that. And there are ttrpg where you will not gain experience and will not have character levels. And not everyone will like every ttrpg, just because it is an ttrpg. And different people will like ttrpg for different reasons.
I believe the main factor of rpgs is immersion. However you would achieve this. This can be by good story telling. Or by engaging the player with rewards for effort. Or simply by good game play. Even eye candy can help. Or music. Minigames. Side quests. Whatever. The bottome line would be, it should be entertaining and that usually entails being fun.