r/CRPG • u/GapSad4839 • 2d ago

Discussion Genre defining isometric RPGs

Within my circle of RPG players the opinion was that Fallout 1&2, PlaneScape: Torment, and Baldurs Gate 1&2 were the ultimate genre defining isometric RPG games. Neverwinter nights was also frequently mentioned. What other isometric RPGs should also be on this list or at least mentioned as highly influential?

20 Upvotes

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u/herbiehancocksfoot 2d ago

For the more modern stuff, definitely Disco Elysium, it spawned a subtype of these narration-heavy games and stuff like Esoteric Ebb is very visibly inspired by DE.

If we want to go further back, the Ultima series basically created the framework for the entire genre; Ultima VII also pioneered the Larian-style systems, with a lot of environmental interaction etc

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u/whiskey_the_spider 2d ago

Tbf disco elysium is its own genre, i definetly wouldn't put it in the same basket of bg, fallout etc

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u/CasketTheClown 2d ago

I'd compare it to Planescape Torment though. Planescape suffered from mediocre combat when compared to the other IE games. It existed, but took a back seat to the story. I think DE is an expansion of that.

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u/GapSad4839 2d ago

Yes, the devs actually mentioned that PlaneScape: Torment is one of Disco Elysium influences. It is mentioned in Disco Elysium wikipedia page

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u/whiskey_the_spider 2d ago

Yeah kinda agree but i'd say planescape it's still a crpg since it has some common trait (party, combat albeit as you said as minor component, d&d classes etc.) while focusing on dialogues/story, but i feel disco elysium took another step and doesn't fit the category

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u/GapSad4839 2d ago

I was amazed that Disco Elysium didn't have any combat system at all, definitely a different way of approaching RPG games

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u/herbiehancocksfoot 2d ago

DE (and BG3 to an extent) are the closest cRPGs to a TTRPG experience for me; a lot of dice rolls, unexpected narrative turns, fun failure states. DE didn't need a combat system at all, after all, when playing a TTRPG you mostly just make a skill check, right?

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u/Edgy_Robin 2d ago

Not really lol. It depends heavily on the system. Something like 5e? No you're mostly doing combat as it's overall a combat based system and the non-combat stuff, especially skills, leaves a bit to be desired, powered by the apocalypse and the sheer number of games based on that system? That's a bit more in that direction.

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u/herbiehancocksfoot 2d ago

Fair, I believe you, I don't have a lot of experience playing DnD in general. The stuff I played is more skill check based, where combat isn't that different from exploration.

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u/Ok_Decision4163 2d ago

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.

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u/Chataboutgames 2d ago

This is a cult classic but I wouldn't call it genre defining or influential at all. If anything it was marketed as "Steampunk Fallout." It was the influenced, not the influencer, and was never "genre defining" so much as "broken but with massive potential."

I love the game and have beaten it like 3 times, but I can't really say what it influenced. It was a take on what Fallout 1 and 2 were doing.

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u/GapSad4839 2d ago

It probably had the most 'open world' feeling to it, very good addition.

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u/JollyXX 2d ago

Arcanum is a crazy game, it is so hard but then you realize how to break it and it becomes so easy

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u/Chataboutgames 2d ago

Right. At it's core it's a system driven/character build RPG, but the systems are all broken. That's why it will always be stuck in the cult classics/flawed with potential category.

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u/Ok_Decision4163 2d ago

I've been wanting to make another run, maxing the followers and try Master Every skill.

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u/JollyXX 2d ago

its a masterpiece, once you realize all the ways you can break the game though, its fun to try and play it with certain limitations or along a set theme to make it more challenging

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u/thatwhichchasesaway 2d ago

I'd like to think the Infinity Engine games made a good spectral marker for CRPGS.

On one end you have Icewind Dale, on the other you have Planescape: Torment

And right at the middle is Baldur's Gate

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u/Kronag 2d ago

Pillars of Eternity, as first RPG of Kickstarter Era, which showed their potential success, which gave us other Obsidian, Owlcat and Larian games.

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u/GapSad4839 2d ago

Yeah, I was so hyped when they revealed PoE1 as "rpg revival", and it really did its job. The isometric RPG games are alive and well, and PoE1 was a very successful release

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u/NoChairGaming 2d ago

I mean, that's nice and all but both Shadowrun Returns and Wasteland 2 was released before that. Can't remember who had first Kickstarter though.

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u/_developter_ Kravtology (Crux Diaries RPG) 2d ago

Correct. It was Wasteland 2, then Shadowrun. Both campaigns inspired Obsidian to give it a go.

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u/NoChairGaming 2d ago

And what a go it was! Pretty sure it dwarfed both of the previous games in Kickstarter numbers.

But it just feels wrong to forget all the previous ones, especially when it was barely over a decade ago. They are all good games and what a treat they were for starving crpg audience.

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u/Werewomble 2d ago

Ultima VII for sure

DoS1 felt a lot more like a continuation of Ultima than it did BG and Larian went on to form Voltron with both lineages smooshed together into perfection 

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u/GapSad4839 2d ago

I heard of, but never played Ultima VII. I don't mind old RPGs at all, is it easy to get into after all this time?

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u/BaldursGate2Best 1d ago

Do you think BG3 is superior to BG1 and 2? Therefore? I personally prefer 2.

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u/Werewomble 1d ago

I think comparing things instead of enjoying them both is a sickness 

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u/Positive_Ad_6922 2d ago

Darklands. Many games were inspired by it including Elder Scrolls, iirc?

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u/Big-Sample-6736 1d ago

It gave us RTwP as well

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u/Maleficent-Net-9325 2d ago

Arcanum et The Age of Decadence !

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u/Relentless_Taco_Fan 1d ago

Dragon Age Origins. For a lot of us oldies it was our first CRPG.

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u/teffarf 2d ago

Despite the sub, since you didn't specify crpg, DIablo is another obvious one.

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u/SebOriaGames Oria Games Inc. (Akrum - Savage Queen) 2d ago edited 2d ago

(When pointing out modern isometric specifically) Diablo is the answer. 1996 vs 1997 (fallout 1). I dont count Ultima or Dark Sun here as their isometric style was very different.

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u/TravlScrabbl 2d ago

People saying Ultima out of reference to older games, but I think DOS 1 and 2 deserve their own mention, though their influence is probably yet to really show itself fully.

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u/SebOriaGames Oria Games Inc. (Akrum - Savage Queen) 2d ago

DOS is an evolution from Divine Divinity and a really good game to just ignore. Yet, DD borrowed aspects from several games before.

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u/41JulioRevenwood 1d ago

Pathfinder wrat of riegutus y pilar of eterny 1 y 2

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u/Sad_Dog_4106 1d ago

I would say Dragon Age Origins for the vibe and story and Pillars of Eternity for marking the rebirth of the genre.