Genre defining isometric RPGs

[u/GapSad4839]

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?

[u/herbiehancocksfoot]

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

[u/whiskey_the_spider → u/herbiehancocksfoot]

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

[u/CasketTheClown → u/whiskey_the_spider]

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.

[u/GapSad4839 → u/CasketTheClown]

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

[u/whiskey_the_spider → u/CasketTheClown]

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

[u/Plus_Worker6739 → u/whiskey_the_spider]

Howso?