Summary
The isometric camera angle can be intimidating to some gamers.People often associate it with deep CRPGswith too many interweaving systems to count or turn-based strategy games where one wrong move can mean the end of an entire playthrough.
Gamers should not rob themselves of a great gaming experience out of fear, though. They are really more accessible than one might think. Anybody interested in isometric RPGs can get their feet wet with any of the games below. Once they do, they’ll find out the water is warm and end up diving right into a whole new world of magical RPG experiences.
Games without a fully fixed isometric view (with zoom and rotate, for example) will also be considered.
Considering the genre’s hardcore reputation, it is surprising to see how widespread theBaldur’s Gate 3love was when it came out in 2023. Even people not into such grand adventures were pulled in by the charming characters and world of endless possibilities.
Baldur’s Gate 3’scombat can be complicated and tough at first, but play on the easiest difficulty and it will be a breeze. After a few levels, most of the combat is trivial. Its popularity also means there will be plenty to talk about with friends and acquaintances who undoubtedly also played it. The game also offers both online and offline co-op through the whole campaign. Anybody particularly intimidated can always team up with a friend who is an expert in the genre.
Save often and keep a lot of different save files open.
It would have felt cheap to try and make a platformer out of a collaboration betweenSuper Marioand Ubisoft’sRabbidsproperty. Instead, they turned it into a turn-based strategy RPG in the vein ofXCOM. Fortunately, the game is a lot easier than its obvious inspiration.
It is forgiving and positive, and the systems are not complex enough to have players make wrong decisions. Perhaps equally as important, the game is just cute as heck and silly. It is hard not to love the Rabbids' wacky antics during their Mushroom Kingdom adventure.
Disco Elysiumcan be complex in a variety of ways. The best part about its complexity, however, is that a lot of it is under the hood and does not involve game-overs. The stats and the various skill checks involved in them have nothing to do with combat.
In fact, the game has no combat or battle system. Rather than traditional battles, it is all through dialogue, and failing skill checks does not initiate failure but simply leads to a different path. It is not always a bad thing either. With this in mind,Disco Elysiumis definitely for the reading type.
Final FantasyTacticsdefinitely offers a fair challenge, but the systems are a lot easier to understand than other similar games. It adapts thejob system from otherFinal Fantasygames and puts it into an isometric turn-based RPG.
Some of the story battles can be challenging, but it is simple to look up some great builds to work up to and make even the strongest enemies a piece of cake. It is a malleable progression system, so players can still feel free to have the type of party they want while still wiping the floor with the competition.
Diablo 4can feel like a big commitment with its seasonal content and complex progression. However, the game offers multiple difficulty levels that can be changed quickly during the game. Additionally, most builds for any particular class are completely valid as long as one is not going for the hardest endgame challenges.
Diablo 4can be extremely casual if one so desires.With friends, it is a breezy ride through a dark fantasy. It is also endlessly compelling to just see damage numbers go up as the character becomes more powerful.
New seasons inDiablo 4force people to start it with a new character, making it an even playing field for every player involved.
Shadowrun Returnsis the first in a trilogy of games that bring back theShadowrunname. However, it lacks a polish and certain streamlined qualities that were brought toDragonfall. This is whyShadowrun Dragonfallmakes the list instead.
This game is for anyone who is more into a cyberpunk aesthetic. Unlike the first game,Dragonfallactually allows players to save anytime, which is a must-have feature for any newcomers to the genre. Do not worry about being lost in the story, either. The narratives are mostly independent of each other.
Dragonfallactually started out as an expansion toShadowrun Returns.However,Shadowrun Dragonfall - Director’s Cutis a standalone title.
Older CRPGs can be especially tough for isometric RPG beginners. They are not all brutal and obtuse, however.Planescape Tormentshares a lot in common withDisco Elysiumin that there is almost no combat and the stats have a larger effect on the dialogue than on physical prowess.
This game does feature some battling, however. Depending on one’s stats, many of the fights can be avoided and most problems can be solved non-violently. LikeDisco Elysium, the game also starts with the protagonist waking up with no memory.
