Although the tide has shifted as technology has become more advanced, isometric RPGs haveleft their stamp on gaming. Popularized in the '90s on PC, this role-playing subgenre tendsto feature big casts of characters and is usually very story-driven; however, isometric RPGs can vary widely when it comes to their combat, ranging from turn-based systems to more action-oriented ones.
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While modernexamples are few and far in between, with many being marketed as throwbacks to classics from yesteryear, the subgenre has produced some of the greatest role-playing games of all time. Here are the 10 best isometric RPGs.
Honorable mentions go to theShadowrungames andArcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.Diablo IIwill not be included as hack and slash gamesare their own thing.
A highly-rated send-up to classic isometric RPGs likeBaldur's GateandPlanescape: Torment,Pillars of Eternityserves as a prime example that these types of games still have a place in gaming when handled by a capable developer. Obsidian crafted an engaging and complex combat system that rewards adapting one's playstyle depending on an enemy's weaknesses and strengths.
Like many of the subgenre's best creations,Pillars of Eternity's limits experience points to quest completion and exploration,freeing users to approach obstacles in whatever way they see fit.With eleven classes and a solid story,Pillars of Eternityis a great recent entry to the genre. The sequel is also very good.
Debuting in 2000 and spawning two trilogies followed by a reboot series that welcomed its most recent entry in 2018,Avernumis a passion project by Spiderweb Software's Jeff Vogel that has developed a cult following over the years.
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While the third and fifth entries are the best intheir respective trilogies,Avernumweaves a continuous narrative that requires thefranchise to be taken as a whole.Avernum 1is very rough around the edges but does a decent job of setting up the main conflict between the Empire and those exiled to Avernum's subterranean locations.
JRPGs are not usually associated with isometric camera angles, but tactical RPGs are the exception. Released in the same year as Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Tactics is arguably even better than the mainline entry.
Combining 3D with an isometric camera angle, Tactics' turn-based battle system takes place on a grid-style battleground where a unit's movement is dictated by their stats and class. The combat system requires constant planning from the player, as the enemy AI offers a reasonable challenge through the lengthy and fantastic campaign.
Ever since it was originally released in 1999, arguably no other title has come close to mimicking that sense of being part of a small rebellion waging an ever-expandingwar against an overwhelming enemy.Jagged Alliance 2places users in charge of a mercenary group tasked with liberating the nation of Arulco and restoring the royal family to their throne.
Along with taking over towns and mines to fund the resistance, the player is constantly seeking to expand their forces' numbers and arsenal.Jagged Alliance 2's ambition is impressive even in 2020, while the tactical turn-based combat is challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Leave it toObsidian Entertainment to follow upPillars of Eternitywith arguably an even better isometric RPG.Tyrannytakes place in a world where evil has won in the form of the overlord Kyros, andusers play as one of his subordinates tasked with bringing order to the world.
While the gameplay sticks very close toPillars of Eternity,Tyrannyplaces more importance on interactivity and choice, even going as far as to allow players to shape the campaign's backstory by determining how Kyros claimed the world of Terratus as his own.
Although a case can be made for the biggerFallout 2, 1997's original benefits from having a more focused storyline that, ultimately, leaves a longer-lasting impression. At its heart, Fallouttells a simple tale about one person's journey to protect their home; however, finding a replacement chip for Vault 13's water system in the Wasteland is anything but simple.
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Falloutis all about making decisions andlearning to livewith the consequences. Actions change the world and the story's progression, perhaps even locking players out of certain endings. With great all-around writing and one of the best character creator systems in gaming history,Falloutis rightfully regarded as a classic.
The most recent entry in theDivinityfranchise is not only the best in the series but also one of the greatest RPGs of any generation. When the veil separating Rivellon from the Void begins to fade, the Seven Gods elect a Godwoken to keep the latter's evil forces from breaking into the former.
Divinity: Original Sin II's tactical combat comes with a steep learning curve as taking full advantage of the party members' individual strengths is key to overcoming even the most basic of battles. Outside of encounters,Divinity: Original Sin II boasts consistently impeccable writing and areas that just demand to be explored.
Dungeons & Dragons' influence can be seen in nearly all isometric RPGs, so it is only natural that one of the subgenre's best releases happens to beset in the tabletop game's universe. While the classic hero's journey storyline might not hold all that many surprises, BioWare'sminute-to-minute writingis strong throughout the base game's four chapters and its three expansion packs.
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As good as the campaign was,Neverwinter Nights' multiplayer and Aurora toolset wereits greatest components. The latteressentiallyallowed players to craft their own adventures, a tool that greatly expanded the content associated with the game.
Another classic RPG set in theDungeons & Dragonsuniverse,Planescape: Tormenttells a refreshingly strange tale about an immortalbeing who sets out to find his memories as the slate is wiped clean whenever he is killed. The Nameless One isamong the best protagonists in the RPG genre, one who is never reduced to a surrogate for players to live out their hero fantasies.
Planescape: Tormentmostly pushes combat to the side to focus on its narrative and world-building, a decision that makes itmore accessiblefor a revisit in this day and age.
Two decades later andBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amnhas yet to lose its shine. Once again set in Dungeons & Dragons' Forgotten Realms,BioWare's RPG presents a detailed world rich with personality and tales to tell.
The main quest, which should roughly take around 75 hours to complete, builds on its predecessor by telling a more personal but still epic storyline. However, the side quests might be even better than the central story. The gameplay is strategic and versatile, allowing for different approaches to be used in combat and when trying to complete quests.Baldur's Gate IIis everything an isometric RPG should be and more.
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