When it comes to isometric games, a lot of the most important ones of all time appeared on PC platforms. Dungeon Siege is an important franchise, for example, but it, like many, eventually died out. Then there are console series or one-offs that died off too, like Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest.
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So, when it comes to isometric action games, there are a lot to choose from, both accessible today and not. Besides the following ten, some runner-ups include Alienation, Darksiders Genesis, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, and Victor Vran. If those games didn’t make the list, then what did? Let’s find out and rank them based on importance, if they hold up, and how good the action is.
Tunic
Follow The Guide
Tunic
- Released
- March 16, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Andrew Shouldice
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Tunic gives players more than just a standard isometric action-adventure game; they get something that goes beyond the realm of video games. As a tiny fox hero, players will explore an overworld, go into dungeons, fight enemies, and solve puzzles. This can be challenging enough because this cute-looking game is not playing around.
Eventually, players will learn they need to look into the game’s manual for context clues on how to open up the world. It can be hard to read at first, but with others online to get hints, it should start to click into place in how Tunic is a meta game.
The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)
An Updated Classic
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
- Released
- September 20, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Fantasy, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening first hit store shelves in 1993 before getting a color version in 1998, followed by a big overhaul in 2019 via this remake. Visually, it’s one of the most stunning Zelda games of all time, and that includes The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Switching between isometric perspectives and 2D displays also keeps the game more varied than other entries. It’s a standard Zelda adventure that is short, less complicated than other entries, but still a classic.
Bastion
A World In Tatters
Bastion
- Released
- July 20, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10 For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Bastion was the first game from Supergiant Games, and they hit it out of the park on their first try. As a silent hero, players will go through dungeons that are unfinished because of a calamity, meaning that as players explore, the dungeons will finish themselves.
It’s a cool aesthetic, besides the cool watercolor design of the overall world, but what players remember the most is the narrator. From punching enemies to taking a break, he was always there. The game also has a nice variety of weapons, and each new unlock was a treat.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Diablo For Consoles
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
- Released
- December 2, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, unlike its tactical cousin, is all about hack-and-slash action. Players can choose to play as an Archer, Fighter, or Sorceress, all of which will level up and find loot in dungeons to equip.
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It’s a more active action system, but nothing as fast or fluid as an action game like Devil May Cry. It’s a simple, straightforward adventure that’s more about the loot grinding alone or with friends than it is about the story. Thankfully, old-school fans now have a remaster to enjoy on modern consoles.
Torchlight 2
Pet Perfection
Torchlight 2
- Released
- September 20, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Torchlight was an unapologetic indie homage to the Diablo formula, complete with a similar layout between health and magic pools. What set it apart were the pets that each character class got, and the ability to send items back with pets to town to sell off unwanted gear was ingenious.
The same design and pet perks return in the sequel, Torchlight 2, which is an improved concept in almost every area. Instead of cramped corridors, players can explore more open environments, filled with plenty of quests, loot, and lore to gather amidst the growing throng of monsters. At the heart of it all are the pets, as cute and cuddly as they are resourceful in combat without teammates around. With the more colorful aesthetics akin to World of Warcraft than the current Diablo, Torchlight 2 is a good looter RPG for a younger crowd.
Children Of Morta
Stick Together
Children of Morta
- Released
- September 3, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dead Mage
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Children of Morta is part RPG, part roguelike, and all about family. As different family members from the Bergsons, players can dive into dungeons below their homestead. Once one is completed, it’s onto the next, and the nice thing about dungeons is that players can choose a section to dive in, negating a lot of the negatives about the genre.
Some example heroes include John, who uses a sword and shield, or Kevin, who is a dagger-wielding rogue. Combat looks impressive and flows naturally, plus there is co-op, leveling up, and many permanent upgrades to make it more enticing as a roguelike RPG.
X-Men Legends 2: Rise Of Apocalypse
Mutant Mayhem
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse
- Released
- September 20, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
It’s not like there are a lot of great X-Men games out there to compete with, but it stands to reason that X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse is the best of the bunch. Unlike the first game, which was a typical Xavier vs Magneto scenario, this time, a bigger threat is looming, prompting the two and their teams to work together.
Players can take four heroes or villains into missions at a time, freely able to swap between all four at any time. This can make the corridors feel a bit cramped at times, but it’s easier with four players engaging with this action RPG simultaneously. Deadpool, Gambit, Wolverine, Juggernaut, and so many more classic heroes and villains are waiting, and it’s just a shame it’s locked away in a physical vault somewhere.
Path Of Exile
The Gods Are Calling
Path of Exile
- Released
- October 23, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Nudity, Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
As an isometric action RPG clearly trying to frame itself after Diablo, the one thing Path of Exile has going for it, beyond the free-to-play model, is that it’s completely customizable in the class department. The sheer volume of skills makes the map look like the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy 10, and the gem combinations players can make on gear are enormous.
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It would be shocking to find two characters who are alike unless someone followed a build guide online for a specific type of melee, magic, or ranged fighter. Path of Exile 2, currently in Early Access, will probably outdo the original someday, but for now, in terms of what it accomplished for a free-to-play game, Path of Exile opened up loot-based RPGs for a new generation.
Hades 2
Move Over Brother
Hades 2
- Released
- September 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Hades 2 is the latest game by Supergiant Games, and it shows how far the company has come since Bastion or even the original Hades. The storytelling is more gripping, the arty style is more imaginative, the characters are likable, and the action is the best part. As Melinoe, players will start with a magical staff, and as they get temporary upgrades on their run, they can change how they attack.
Fire or water damage may be added to an attack, for example, so each of her weapons beyond her staff could have hundreds of combos, giving players a lot of builds to think about. With responsive controls and a good progression system, Hades 2 is easily one of the new gold standards for isometric action games and roguelikes.
Diablo 2
The King Of Isometric Hell
Diablo 2
- Released
- June 28, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
While the Diablo series has come a long way and there are faster-paced action games out there, Diablo 2 still remains one of the most important games of all time, even going beyond its perspective. It was a big leap ahead of the original thanks to the new classes, equipment system, and bigger world.
It was Blizzard firing on all cylinders, and it just kept getting better with updates and expansions. Anyone who had a PC played Diablo 2, whether alone or with friends, because the gameplay loop was too hard to resist. Diablo 2: Resurrected is a decent update of the classic, but for many, they would rather have a straight port to feel that nostalgia all over again.
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