Best Isometric RPGs, Ranked

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home February 25, 2025 4 Views 26 Min Read
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Although the tide has shifted as technology has become more advanced, isometric RPGs have left their stamp on gaming. Popularized in the ’90s on PC, this role-playing sub-genre tends to 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 modern examples are few and far between, with many being marketed as throwbacks to classics from yesteryear, the sub-genre has produced some of the greatest role-playing games of all time. Here are the best isometric RPGs available today.

Updated February 25, 2025 by Jacob Whaling: We’ve updated this list with even more isometric RPGs to play.

32

Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a CRPG based on the Pathfinder Tabletop RPG franchise. Set in the harsh Stolen Lands, you play as a recently appointed Baron, tasked with conquering parts of the land, taking care of threats, and developing your own kingdom.

Unless you’re already familiar with the Tabletop version of Pathfinder, Kingmaker will be difficult to get into. There are tons of complicated systems and mechanics, deep character-building, and brutal encounters. If all of these sound like positives to you, you will absolutely love this game. If not, it’s sequel, Wrath of the Righteous, which we’ll take a look at further, may be more to your liking.

31

Last Epoch

An Excellent Diablo-like RPG

What if Diablo, Chrono Trigger, and Path of Exile had a crossover game? Well, it would look a little something like Last Epoch, a hack-and-slash isometric RPG about time travel, dungeon-crawling, and fighting ghastly dark fantasy beasts. You also have up to 15 Mastery Classes to select from here that branch off from the base set, including Shaman, Beastmaster, Falconer, and Bladedancer.

The aesthetic will feel very similar to RPGs of its genre, but the element of time travel and getting to explore different epochs of the World of Eterra introduces a very intriguing twist. The lore also incorporates a threat called The Void and otherwordly gods that give it somewhat of a Lovecraftian edge.

30

No Rest For The Wicked

The Ori Team Works Its Magic Again

The Cerim sneaking up on an enemy for a stealth kill in No Rest for the Wicked

The developer behind the Ori games made a highly anticipated shift away from the metroidvania genre with No Rest for the Wicked. The game plays exactly like an isometric FromSoftware RPG, featuring plenty of grotesque boss fights, eerie environments, and difficult Soulslike combat with parry mechanics. Even sneaking behind enemies to get them with a stealth blow like Elden Ring or Sekiro is an option.

You start on a ship bound for Isola Sorca when it’s suddenly besieged by enemies during a storm, causing you to shipwreck on the island, and the worldbuilding and character stories begin from there. The premise may remind you of a mix of Game of Thrones and Lies of P and the game’s gorgeous art style still leaves that signature mark from the Ori games.

No Rest for the Wicked is currently an Early Access title with limited game content available.

29

The Thaumaturge

A Polish RPG Hidden Gem

Selecting special effects from cards while fighting police in a village in The Thaumaturge.

The Thaumaturge is one of 2024’s most overlooked RPGs. It’s set in the rich historical context of 1905 Poland (when the country was still part of the Russian Empire under Tsar Nicholas II) and follows Wiktor Szulski, a detective with the special ability to tame mythological demons called Salutors to use against enemies in turn-based combat.

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And since you’re a detective, you must also solve a few mysteries in between all the combat with Russian imperialist authorities, and that involves the unique investigation mechanic of Wiktor snapping his fingers to reveal a particle trail pointing to the next piece of evidence. Think of it as Disco Elysium meets Vampyr but with Grigori Rasputin by your side.

28

Diablo 4

A Hellishly Gothic RPG

Diablo 4 Season Of Blood Necromancer

Diablo is back, and it’s the most gorgeous and graphically stellar next-gen return to the demon-infested domain of Sanctuary. Every area and dungeon is a harrowing Gothic experience with an atmosphere that’s unmatched by any other dark fantasy horror RPG. Plus, there’s even more detailed character creation in store for the fourth installment, with five classes to choose from.

The ‘Demon Queen’ Lilith and her forces of evil are once more a threat to Sanctuary, and you have a brilliantly voiced cast of characters helping the main protagonist on their journey toward stopping them. The hack-and-slash spell-casting combat system and loot-based gameplay within procedurally generated dungeons coupled with the story will keep you engaged for the seasonal expansions to come.

27

Transistor

Cyberpunk Isometric Fun

Transistor’s character (Red) standing on a bridge with background of a town.

We’ll get to Supergiant’s crown jewel Hades further down the line, but Transistor is another incredible isometric achievement from the studio that equally deserves a mention here. This game takes you to a beautifully hand-drawn cyberpunk sci-fi world rather than the fantasy genre Supergiant is more well-known for creating, and it sets up one of the most unique premises in the RPG genre.

You’re a singer named Red who stumbles upon a giant sword called the Transistor, which takes her voice along with the consciousness of the last person slayed by it to serve as the game’s narrator, voiced once again by Logan Cunningham. In more strategic, turn-based combat around the arenas of Cloudbank, Red will be forced to use the Transistor and the weapon’s functions against robot enemies known as The Process, while pursuing a larger mystery.

26

Solasta: Crown Of The Magister

SRS Powered

Solasta Temple of Evil screenshot

Solasta: Crown Of The Magister is sure to interest you if you’re a Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast since it runs off of the Fifth Edition rules. It’s able to do this thanks to the Systems Reference Document and Open Gaming License, which is a fancy way of saying the rules for D&D are available for anyone to use.

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Solasta makes solid use of the ruleset to provide varied player customization options and satisfying combat. It’s a great entry point into the genre as well as being satisfying to veterans.

25

Triangle Strategy

Award Nominated Excellence

Our heroes are surrounded on the bridge in Triangle Strategy

Triangle Strategy was released in 2022, a year packed with great games, but it still managed to make its presence felt. One of the best tactical RPGs in years, it was, quite rightly, nominated for Best Roleplaying Game at the Game Awards, losing out to Elden Ring. Being beaten by such a cultural juggernaut is no slight against Triangle Strategy, which could easily have won in other years.

The graphical style is both modern and charmingly retro, with a well-paced story and excellent combat that requires you to think about your moves. The cast of characters is delightful, the only complaint being that you don’t get enough time with them.

24

Wildermyth

Procedural Perfection

Combat against monsters in Wyldermyth. In a paper cutout style on a game board, adventurers prepare to fight.

The first thing that will catch your eye when it comes to Wildermyth is the gorgeous graphical style. Designed to resemble paper models on a grid-based gameboard, it replicates the feeling of playing D&D. Unique visuals are always great to see, but Wildermyth’s feel especially special.

The next thing you’ll notice is, of course, the gameplay. Characters are randomly created, and the adventure is procedurally generated, allowing you to find and craft your own unique narrative each time. The gameplay is grid-based and tactical, with enough behind it to be worthy of those stunning visuals.

23

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

For The Golden Throne

Warhammer 40000 Rogue Trader - space combat with ship coming out of the warp

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader perfectly conveys the tone of its popular setting. Hitting the two key points of the Warhammer 40k universe, grim and dark, it’s a sci-fi adventure like few others.

With a variety of interesting characters, gameplay systems, and weapons to get to grips with, Rogue Trader is the sort of game you’ll be spending a long time and multiple playthroughs with. If you’re a fan of Warhammer 40k, that will obviously sound great, but even if you’re not, the game is well worth a look.

22

Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

Customization And Challenging Combat

The party spread out while next to an Ice Dragon in Icewind Dale.

Following its work on the remasters of the original Baldur’s Gate and its sequel, the dev team at Overhaul Games decided to tackle another classic CRPG from the Black Isle Studios stable. Originally released in 2000, Icewind Dale was another isometric RPG that made use of the Infinity Engine and the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Second Edition ruleset.

The Enhanced Edition currently ranks as the best way to experience the game today, with support for widescreens and a slew of little tweaks and bug fixes to help the gameplay better on modern computers. The game reuses most of the original assets though, so those expecting a complete graphical overhaul might find the visuals a little bit dated by today’s standards.

21

Tunic

Delightful Diorama

A screenshot showing the fox about to pick up the sword in Tunic.

Borrowing as much from Dark Souls as it does from The Legend of Zelda, Tunic is a game that should instantly appeal to fans of both series. It was developed by Andrew Shouldice and released on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. It’s considered by many to be the best isometric RPGs released in 2022, as well as one of the year’s best games overall.

You play the role of a tunic-clad fox on an adventure through a mysterious land, presented in the style of a beautiful diorama. Aside from its shiny exterior, it also boasts some challenging boss fights that are almost Soulslike in nature. So, if any of that sounds like your kind of jam, Tunic is definitely worth checking out.

20

Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous

Everything A Sequel Should Be

A demon stands in the midst of a magical ritual in Pathfinder WotR.

via Owlcat Games

Released on September 2, 2021, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is the even better sequel to the already fantastic Kingmaker. A turn-based isometric RPG that also offers real-time combat as an alternative, Wrath of the Righteous provides customizations and systems in the dozens, presenting players with a wide array of classes that cover almost every conceivable gameplay style. This focus on customization extends to the difficulty options and speed of combat.

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The mythic path is also an exciting addition to the late game and opens up a whole new slew of choices and trajectories to explore. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a great modern inclusion to the genre, one that harbors back to the classics while also refining its own formula to create a largely satisfying and robust experience.

19

Wasteland 3

A Modern Take On A Classic Style

Those aching for something akin to the classic Fallout games need to check out the Wasteland series, particularly the second and third entries. As good as the former is, the latter is overall a more complete experience, courtesy of its immersive world, the plethora of consequential choices the game presents to players, and its deep skills and combat systems.

Set in Colorado, Wasteland 3 tasks two Desert Rangers with tracking across the post-apocalyptic hellscape as they go from town to town. Along the way, they’ll recruit NPCs as they construct a well-rounded party.

18

The Age Of Decadence

Be Prepared

Age of decadence screenshot outside of fortified walls with crucified prisoners

Released in 2015, The Age of Decadence is built on the backs of classic RPGs from yesteryear, and that extends to its crushing difficulty. With multiple origins, weapon types, skills, factions, and reputations, The Age of Decadence bombards players with options that need to be memorized and perfected.

Although a budget title, The Age of Decadence’s strong writing, challenging tactical combat, and fully fleshed-out world allow it to stand alongside the best turn-based RPGs on the market. Just make sure to thoroughly read the tutorials and lore.

17

Path Of Exile

All The Action You Could Ask For

A screenshot of an Omniphobia battle in Path of Exile.

This is the isometric RPG for die-hard fans. Inspired heavily by the Diablo franchise, Path of Exile has a familiar UI, infinite build options, and seemingly endless gameplay. Fans of the series laud its skill system and uncluttered gameplay as two chief pros.

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16

Pillars Of Eternity

Helped Spark The Isometric RPG Renaissance

Adventurers battle giant spiders outside a rocky cave in Pillars of Eternity.

A highly-rated send-up to classic isometric RPGs like Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment, Pillars of Eternity serves 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 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 Eternity is a great recent entry to the genre, and the sequel is also very good.

15

Avernum Series

Best Enjoyed As A Whole

A series of gardens and decorated rooms in Avernum.
mixcollage-20-jan-2025-06-31-pm-8982.jpg

Avernum

Debuting in 2000 and spawning two trilogies followed by a reboot series that welcomed its most recent entry in 2018, Avernum is a passion project by Spiderweb Software’s Jeff Vogel that has developed a cult following over the years.

While the third and fifth entries are the best in their respective trilogies, Avernum weaves a continuous narrative that requires the franchise to be taken as a whole. Avernum 1 is 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.

14

Final Fantasy Tactics

Still Among The Best

Multiple characters battle across snowy terrain in Final Fantasy Tactics.

JRPGs are not usually associated with isometric camera angles, but tactical RPGs are the exception. Released in the same year as Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy Tactics is arguably even better than the mainline entry.

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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 its 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.

13

Jagged Alliance 2

Rebel With A Cause

A battle at a factory in Jagged Alliance 2.
mixcollage-17-jan-2025-01-45-pm-9676.jpg

Jagged Alliance 2

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-expanding war against an overwhelming enemy. Jagged Alliance 2 places 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.

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