Isometric Video Games - A Comprehensive Compilation (1981-2023)

An exhaustive list showing the entire history of isometric games.

Ever since playing Fairlight as a kid, on the ZX Spectrum, I've been fascinated with isometric graphics, they all look like eye-candy to me and have been a feature of some of the best games ever made, like Little Big Adventure, Super Mario RPG, Diablo, Final Fantasy Tactics, Breath of Fire III, Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment, Hades, Disco Elysium, and many 80s classics.

List of games featured:
Treasure Island
Zaxxon
Q*bert
Congo Bongo
Ant Attack
Return of the Jedi
The Scrolls of Abadon
Knight Lore
Marble Madness
Fairlight
Alien 8
Nightshade
Highway Encounter
Lode Runner's Rescue
Molecule Man
Glider Rider
Pyracurse
The Great Escape
Fairlight II
Nosferatu the Vampyre
Movie
Batman
Airball
Hydrofool
La Abadía del Crimen
Head Over Heels
Amaurote
Airborne Ranger
The Last Ninja
Pac-Mania
R.C. Pro-Am
Where Time Stood Still
Inside Outing
Marchen Maze
Zany Golf
Hlípa
Treasure Trap
Vendetta
Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters
Populous
Snake Rattle'n'Roll
Solstice
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Cadaver
The Immortal
Final Zone
Gauntlet III
Bill & Ted's Excellent Video Game Adventure
D/Generation
Heimdall
HeroQuest
Populous II
Altered Space
The Adventures of Robin Hood
RPM Racing
Rings of Power
Desert Strike
Spindizzy Worlds
Legend
Landstalker
Viewpoint
Zen the Intergalactic Ninja
General Chaos
Veil of Darkness
Shadowrun
Haunting Starring Polterguy
Syndicate
The Settlers
Rock n'Roll Racing
SegaSonic the Hedgehog
Equinox
SimCity 2000
Monster Max
Heimdall 2
Dungeon Magic
X-Com: UFO Defense
Ultima VIII
Theme Park
Transport Tycoon
Mystic Towers
Whizz
Kirby's Dream Course
Little Big Adventure
Skeleton Krew
Front Mission
Crusader: No Remorse
Caesar II
SteamGear Mash
Icebreaker
Light Crusader
Tactics Ogre
Spot Goes to Hollywood
Super Mario RPG
Lady Stalker
Captain Quazar
Civilization II
Princess Clara Daisakusen
Dark Savior
Sonic 3D Blast
Faery Tale Adventure II
Diablo
Theme Hospital
Little Big Adventure 2
Final Fantasy Tactics
Slayers Royal
Breath of Fire III
Fallout
Age of Empires
The Reap
Shining Force III
StarCraft
Sanitarium
Anno 1602
Commandos
Lode Runner 2
Fallout 2
Baldur's Gate
RollerCoaster Tycoon
Jagged Alliance 2
C&C: Tiberian Sun
Age of Empires II
Age of Wonders
Planescape: Torment
The Sims
Breath of Fire IV
Record of Lodoss War
Icewind Dale
Diablo II
Baldur's Gate II
C&C: Red Alert 2
Dark Eyes: Battle Gate
Mega Man Battle Network
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Spyro: Season of Ice
Shining Soul
Age of Wonders II
Icewind Dale II
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The Incredible Hulk
Jet Grind Radio
Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand
Onimusha Tactics
The Temple of Elemental Evil
CIMA: The Enemy
Max Payne
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Beyond Divinity
Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge
Generation of Chaos
Animaniacs: Lights, Camera, Action!
Titan Quest - Iron Lore Entertainment
Scurge: Hive
Mega Man Star Force
Mr. Robot
Eschalon: Book I
Steal Princess
Torchlight
Eschalon: Book II
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Magicka
Bastion
Torchlight II
Game Dev Tycoon
Shadowrun Returns
Project Zomboid
Shadowrun: Dragonfall
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls
Transistor
Wasteland 2
WAKFU
Lords of Xulima
Pillars of Eternity
Magicka 2
Shadowrun: Hong Kong
Lara Croft Go
The Age of Decadence
Underrail
Grim Dawn
The Abbey of Crime Extensum
Lumo
Tyranny
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
Into the Breach
Tower of Time
Pillars of Eternity II
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Atom RPG
Druidstone: The Secret of the Menhir Forest
A Short Hike
Kind Words
Untitled Goose Game
Disco Elysium
Beautiful Desolation
Minecraft Dungeons
Hylics 2
An Interesting Journey of Monsieur PAF
Wasteland 3
Hades
Torchlight III
Subverse
Death's Door
Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness
Cozy Grove
Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Death Trash
Boyfriend Dungeon
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Encased
Gamedec
If On a Winter's Night, Four Travelers
Bonfire Peaks
Unpacking
Len's Island
Mechajammer
Sands of Salazaar
Tunic
Triangle Strategy
Midnight Fight Express
Songs Of Glimmerwick
Realms Beyond: Ashes of the Fallen
Witchbrook
Miegakure

[deckofcards]

The isometric style is so visually satisfying to me, I don't know why.

[koppy]

The pre-rendered look was just amazing. The immersion in the late mid-late 90s / early 2000s was next level for these games.

[BuzzKirillD]

23:18 - this game looks quite unique, can't say I've ever seen quite the same perspective and rendering style before.

[Lethabrainzblo]

90s to early 2000s was peak isometric graphics imo. Just the right balance between detail and stylization. The current fascination with attempting to make everything super realistic just doesn't hit the same.

[tomislavkosanovic]

Thank you. I found some new todo's. Life can wait.

[shdywyz]

This video was amazing, I saw a lot of my old favorites and a bunch of new games I really want to check out! Thanks for putting this together, this is one of my favorite perspectives, if not my favorite

[Heyoka]

A few omissions:

3-D Tic-Tac-Toe - Atari, 1978 (A2600)
Crystal Castles - Atari, 1983 (arcade)
Paperboy - Atari, Feb 1985 (arcade)
Panther - Sculptured Software, 1986 (C64)
Desert Falcon - General Computer Corporation, 1987 (A2600)
Professional Ski Simulator - The Oliver Twins, 1987 (C64)
H.A.T.E.: Hostile All-Terrain Encounter - Vortex Software, 1989 (ZX, C64, CPC, ST)
Ironman Ivan Stewart's Super Off-Road - Leland Corporation, 1989 (arcade)
Globulus - Innerprise, 1990 (Amiga)
Voodoo Nightmare - Zippo Games, 1990 (Atari ST)
Murder! - Creative Materials, 1990 (Amiga)
Brat - Foursfield, 1991 (Amiga)
Escape from Colditz - Digital Magic Software, 1991 (Amiga)
Shadowlands - Teque London, 1992 (Amiga)
Shadoworlds - Teque Software, 1992 (Amiga)
Rome A.D. 92 - Firstlight, 1992 (Amiga)
Wizard Fire/Dark Seal 2 - Data East, 1992 (arcade)
The Adventures of Pinocchio - Bit Managers, 1993 (GB)
FIFA International Soccer - Extended Play Productions, 1993 (Genesis)
Darkmere - Zero Hour Software, 1994 (Amiga)
Dark Half - Westone, 1996 (Snes)
Energy Breaker - Neverland Co., 1996 (Snes)
Blast Corps - Rare, 1997 (N64)
Ottos Ottifanten: Baby Brunos's Nightmare - Bit Managers, 1998 (GB)
Sylvester and Tweety: Breakfast on the Run - Bit Managers, 1998 (GBC)
Die Maus - Bit Managers, 1999 (GBC)
Ogre Battle 64 - Quest, 1999 (N64)
Radikal Bikers - Bit Managers, (unreleased) (GBC)
Nox - Westwood Studios, 2000 (PC)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - Vicarious Visions, 2001 (GBA)
Disney Sports Skateboarding - Konami, 2002 (GBA)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Eurocom, 2002 (GBA)
Catwoman - Magic Pockets, 2004 (GBA)
Racing Gears Advance - Orbital Media, 2004 (GBA)
Juka and the Monophonic Menace - Orbital Media, 2005 (GBA)
Back to Stone - Hidden Floor, 2006 (GBA)
Monument Valley - Ustwo, 2014 (PC)
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris - Crystal Dynamics, 2014 (PC)
Immortal Planet - teedoubleuGAMES, Jul 2017 (PC)
Monument Valley 2 - Ustwo, 2017 (PC)
Melkhior's Mansion - BitGlint Games, 2020 (PC)
Westen House - Santiago Ontañón, 2021 (MSX)




Credit to Kieren Hawken and Ale Castañeda for pointing some of them out.

[mdg]

Thank you for such a wonderful list of isometric game. As a indie game developer who is currently working on the isometric 3d game, this is great reference for the development. Hopefully my game would be a great addition in the future.

[alfonsoesteves]

20:07, that remainded me so much of Starcraft 1 terran missions!!
It probably was part of their inspiration

[DR---]

Awesome list and thanks for sharing. Saw a lot of cool games to try. I don't think the quiz sailor moon arcade game was listed though... But I could be wrong I didn't watch the whole video.

[GuTOHGT]

isometric maps looks bigger... and its like a mystery because you cant see the horizon

[charcoalPanda]

I was looking for a game which I remember as Fairy tale, but it turned out it was actually Faery Tale Adventures. Google couldn't find anything about it. Thanks!

[frechjo]

Some of those games are purely isometric. Some are 3d with an isometric camera, so I have no problem calling those isometric too (but it's a stretch, since many of those let you rotate the view, and they stop being isometric).

But many games here are not even using an isometric projection, they're 3d with a perspective projection, they just use a similar camera angle. While they go for a similar style, I don't think the term is correctly applied to them.

[Bushido_x]

Some great games on here. Thanks for the list. If you ever make a part 2, I’d love to see super mario RPG, and the dark seal games for arcade

[segundocavaleiro]

Era isso que eu estava procurando, para meu jogo no futuro

[Alianger]

Nice, only omissions I can think of are the first Spindizzy. and Crystal Castles

[AmbersKnight]

Good list although I was surprised at the omission of Sweevo's World (or its 128K expanded version Sweevo's Whirled). I was surprised all the more by the fact that you put in its sequel, Hydropool. Also, as others have said, Darkmere is missing.

[BuzzKirillD]

I'm always amazed at what early game developers were able to accomplish with the limited software and hardware they had. Now, it seems we have almost unlimited capabilities, but that kind of absolute freedom can be staggering and counter-productive, I feel like... but maybe I'm just making excuses.

[woodoo]

at least a video with isometric that is real isometric, and not 3D with camera on top

[mantovannni]

There was a Robin Hood themed arcade game from the 1980's that was Isometric I am sure but I cannot remember it's name.