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.
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 December 19, 2025 by Ben Jessey: There were still some iconic isometric RPGs that didn’t make this list. So, we’ve updated it to add a few more.
Super Mario RPG
Mario has excelled in a bunch of different genres. So, it isn’t a huge surprise that he has featured in several excellent RPG titles. One of them is Super Mario RPG, which is a remake of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Both the remake and the original use an isometric camera view. It works really well with Mario’s signature art style.
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What also works well is the game’s simple but satisfying take on turn-based combat. There isn’t a litany of skills to remember or understand, but the ones that are in the game perfectly suit the classic Mario characters that are pulling them off. There is also a nice story and a lot of personality in the game.
Shadowrun Returns
Shadowrun Returns is set in a dystopian, cyberpunk version of Seattle. Your character goes there to find out who murdered their former ally. You aren’t doing it for justice, though; you’re doing it because there is a lot of money on offer if you succeed. So, the game revolves around a murder mystery and a very compelling one at that.
The game is quite linear for an RPG, but that doesn’t sour the whole experience. In fact, it may help with the pacing of the story since you don’t get sidetracked too much. Plus, there is plenty of depth regarding character progression and combat, which makes up for the lack of freedom you get when it comes to exploration.
Hades 2
Isometric RPGs are often slow, tactical games that offer turn-based combat. Hades 2, however, feels more like a full-on action game. Yet, it is actually both an RPG and a roguelike. In it, you play as the Princess of the Underworld, Melinoe. As her, you must defeat the Titan of Time, Chronos.
Because this is a roguelite, you don’t accomplish your goal in your first attempt. Instead, you keep going on different runs, clearing area after area of adversaries. In the process, you get to experience exciting and action-packed hack-and-slash combat. You also get to partake in some fun conversations and meet some well-designed characters.
Torment: Tides Of Numenera
Torment: Tides of Numenera is an RPG that really puts the emphasis on storytelling and conversations. The turn-based combat system very much feels secondary in this game. That is probably for the best, though, because story and characters are where this title truly shines.
The premise alone gets you invested. You play as a vessel that has been cast off by the Changing God, who is a being that uses different physical bodies to keep themselves alive. You’re one of the bodies the God no longer needs, meaning you’re left to create a life for yourself, while being chased by an evil entity. There aren’t many video games with similar premises. It truly feels original. And it’s a tale told through plenty of long, fascinating conversations. So, this is the sort of RPG for those who love story-driven titles.
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, though, you will absolutely love this game.
Last Epoch
What if Diablo, Chrono Trigger, and Path of Exile had a crossover game? Well, it would look a little something like Last Epoch. It’s 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 otherworldly gods that give it somewhat of a Lovecraftian edge.
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. 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.
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. The game follows Wiktor Szulski, a detective with the special ability to tame mythological demons called Salutors to use against enemies in turn-based combat.
And since you’re a detective, you must also solve a few mysteries in between all the combat with Russian imperialist authorities. This 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.
Diablo 4
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.
Transistor
The Transistor 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 slain 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.
