Isometric Video Games - A Comprehensive Compilation (1981-2023)
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- Опубліковано 22 січ 2022
- 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.
Video conceived, compiled, and edited by Horia Dumitra. Thumbnail is an original artwork by Horia Dumitra, titled Isometric Dizzy: heyoka.myportfolio.com/
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 - Розваги
![Evolution of Final Fantasy Games [1987-2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AO-GpvhXzJ4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Evolution of Final Fantasy Games [1987-2024]](/img/tr.png)
The isometric style is so visually satisfying to me, I don't know why.
You are not alone.
The pre-rendered look was just amazing. The immersion in the late mid-late 90s / early 2000s was next level for these games.
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
Excellent video! Thanks.
23:18 - this game looks quite unique, can't say I've ever seen quite the same perspective and rendering style before.
Awesome list thank you
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.
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.
Thank you. I found some new todo's. Life can wait.
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.
Knight Lore, and GunFright by Ultimate Play the Game, as well as Snake Rattle and Roll when they switched to Rare
@@Naedlus Of course Knight Lore is in the video, as well as Snake Rattle'n'Roll. Gunfright and a slew of other ZX Spectrum games I didn't include, due to there being too many of them and them being quite similar to each other, but I did include the ZX Spectrum ones that are most unique in style and also well known.
nox (2000) isometric rpg fun :D try it out man
Excellent work! I would also add:
Strike Force Cobra (c 64, spectrum),
Warhammer Space Crusade,
Centurion,
Lords of Magic,
Darkstone,
Hexplore,
Septerra Core.
Some more I still remember:
Dusk of the Gods, Twilight 2000, Metal Marines, This means war, Offensive, Horde, Dinki Smallwood, Ancient Evil, Revenant, Enemy Infestation, Laser Squad Nemesis, Abomination the Nemesis Project, Wages of War, Soldiers at War, Gender Wars, Lionheart legacy of the crusader, Celtic Kings, Deadline, Bedlam 1&2, Konung 1&2, Project Overkill
great video man ty
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.
20:07, that remainded me so much of Starcraft 1 terran missions!!
It probably was part of their inspiration
at least a video with isometric that is real isometric, and not 3D with camera on top
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.
Era isso que eu estava procurando, para meu jogo no futuro
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.
I bought a game from Bookman's when I was 11 years old, a great age to be interested in barely-dressed people and also be unmedicated. I hated the game, it was unlike anything I've ever seen and was difficult to wrap my tiny brain around. Now, 20 years later, I have only a vague memory of the fantastical box art and a mental snapshot of some dumpy guy wielding a cudgel in a grassy field. I hope it's here and that I can recognize it so I can give it a second chance.
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!
Blast Corp for the N64
Nice, only omissions I can think of are the first Spindizzy. and Crystal Castles
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.
Im searching something like Shadowrun SNES, this game is amazing and so unique...
Was hoping to find thise few horror survival game similar to the upcoming Aliens Descent...
I can't recall the name of those game, but definitely wanna give them a try again (2000ish games)
you took this of an emulator? what filter you use to achieve that look?
There's a couple different ones, but they're all CRT effects. Among them I saw:
- a triad shadowmask
- NTSC emulation (color artifacting and bleed, bloom, scanlines)
- just scanlines
Searching for a isometric game of the 90s.
You play in the human immune system running on blood lines (I guess). It is a puzzle game and you have to unlock your path.
Pretty sure it was a DOS game, maybe shareware. But I can't find it.
12:53
damn light crusader outdates diablo! with better movements and jump buttons!
9:15 that green fish looks like a pepe 🐸
While I appreciate the inclusion of Desert Strike and General Chaos, I can't help but feel slighted by this "comprehensive" compilation that doesn't include Jungle Strike or Urban Strike.
Thanks, a nice list (and many games I never heard about)))
But some of these -- are not "isometric". For example, Settlers. And most of racing games...
also missing:
don't starve
path of exile
warcraft
You forgot sonic labrinth
Please whyyy using those horrible filters to blur out the nice original graphics?
Ah, sorry, I thought those filters were the most faithful reproduction of how I remembered those games as a child. I chose them carefully based on that. Sorry you don't like them, but those games were best experienced on CRT screens and not as bare pixel art.
Cathode-ray-tube NERD!
The move to 3D was the downfall of gaming. The games became ugly and non immersive. It stayed that way for more than a decade. It became a bit better later on but it never reached the level of art and craftmanship and overall feel of this golden era
you forgot:
postal 1:1997
postal redux:2015
hatres:2015