Often patents cover the combination of multiple non-patent-able things. E.g. the fan, heating element, and the concept of blowing hot air were not novel in 1931, but that didn't stop the hair dryer being patented.

I meant that for example JRPG's have both context sensitivity and tab based menu systems.

EX: Only showing spells after the character learns them, or disabling Magic menu for non magic characters.

Now if they want a narrow patent that covers say hair dryers but not floor heaters that's not as hard to defend. But narrow patents are also less useful.

Not-so-novel things in combination can be rather novel.

I was pointing out you see them both used in the same context somewhere else.

JRPG's had both context sensitivity and nested tabable menus.

If they have some very narrow definition that's allowed, but a wide scope invites a wider range of prior art.