Theroguelikesubgenre ofrole-playing gamesis characterized by procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, grid-based movement, and permanent death of the player character. Inspired by the 1980 gameRogue, these games emphasize strategic decision-making, resource management, and high replayability due to their unpredictable environments and challenges.
Many roguelike games use flat 2D or evenpixel artto represent the player, map, and enemies. However, not all games take this simple approach. There are some great top-down, isometric roguelike games available. These range from simple “kill everything and survive the level” style games, to titles that merge multiple genres and introduce additional gameplay mechanics such as tower defense and co-op play.
Pure Explosive Chaos
Nuclear Throne
Nuclear Throne is Vlambeers latest action roguelike-like about mutants that spend their workdays trying to fight for the throne in a post-apocalyptic world. The radioactive waste in the world allows mutants to get ahead by mutating new limbs on the fly and the abundant availability of powerful weaponry makes the quest to become the ruler of the Wasteland one fraught with peril. All of this is really just an excuse for us to make a fun action game. Explore twelve playable characters with unique advantages, active and passive abilities across seven playable main worlds and numerous secrets to be found spanning deserts, frozen cities and underground labs.There are thirty ways to mutate your character, creating millions of interesting playable strategies and combinations. Don’t forget the 120 weapons ranging from the familiar machine-gun and shotgun to the screwdriver and ion cannon.Enjoy more than 15 tracks by LUFTRAUSERS musician Jukio Kallio, also featuring tracks and lyrics by Doseone & Eirik ‘Phlogiston’. Suhrke.
The first game on this is simply chaotic. In this isometric roguelike, the player fights on apost-apocalypticmap. The game world is populated by monsters and mutants, which the player needs to defeat as they progress through the wasteland. Combat is frenetic and often confusing, but a lot of fun.
The player can find equipment, mostly weapons, and can also accumulate radiation poisoning. When they reach a specific level ofradiation poisoning, the player can choose to mutate in some way, or unlock new special abilities.Nuclear Thronedeserves a place on this list simply for being so much fun, even though it is quite a simple game.
6MidBoss
Possession Is Nine Tenths Of The Law
MidBossis an excellent addition to this list, with its own distinct style and truly amusing gameplay features. Not least of these is the ability to possess the bodies of slain enemies and steal their powers. The game world inMidBossis termed a “death labyrinth” by the developers, and is a dark and fiery dungeon.
Playing as a small imp, the player is tasked with descending into the depths of the dungeon to defeat thefinal bossin this isometric roguelike. Picking up equipment and weapons on the way is a must, but watch out for those bothersome cursed items, which come with some negative traits.
5Dust & Neon
A Tough Robotic Challenge
As roguelikes go,Dust & Neonis one of the harder games of this genre. That being said, the difficulty doesn’t detract from the fun at all. It simply means that this game is no pushover. The player takes on the role of a gunslinger, hunting down and exterminating armies of robotic enemies, and tougher robot bosses.
There is plenty of equipment, weapons, and upgrades for the player to find and try out. Similarly, there are many upgradeable abilities that the player can unlock.Dust & Neonhas crisp and well-defined graphics, and manages not to clutter the game window too much, something that can be a problem with some isometric roguelikes.
Spends Some Time In Purgatory
West of Dead
Purgatory, Wyoming, 1888.A place of gun smoke and darkness, sin and damnation, wendigos and witches. A shifting, chaotic world that takes its form from the memories, culture or beliefs of the souls who pass through. When a dead man awakens with only the memory of a figure in black, he sets into motion a chain of events that have truly mythic consequences.Step into the boots of the dead man William Mason (voiced by Ron Perlman) and descend into the grim and gritty world of Purgatory in this cover-based shooter which combines the fluidity of twin-stick controls and tactical cover usage. Put your skills to the test - Dodge behind cover as you attempt to outgun your enemies in the unknown procedurally generated hunting grounds. The Wild West has never been this dark.Descend into the grim and gritty world of Purgatory in this cover-based shooter which combines the fluidity of twin-stick controls and tactical cover usage.
West of Deadis set in Purgatory. Not the biblical place of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners. Purgatory, Wyoming in 1888. Graphically,West Of Deadis unique, with its own visual style that is perfectly suited to the setting. Awakening with no memory of previous events, the player embarks on a quest to descend into Purgatory to uncover the truth.
This game leans heavily on theOld Westtrope, and throws in recognizable influences from American fantasy culture. This includes enemies such as wendigos and witches. The gunplay inWest Of Deadis intuitive and fun. It’s a great little isometric roguelike that any fan of the genre will no doubt enjoy.
3Liberte
Fight And Die In Paris
Based on the period of the French Revolution,Liberteis a slick, well-presented isometric roguelike with great graphics and fun gameplay. The player explores the dangerous area of Paris known as Rene, which is fought over by four separate factions.
The goal of the game is to build alliances with the four factions and progress through the dangerous streets of Rene. Players seek to uncover who Lady Bliss is, and how she is exploiting dimensional travel to influence the city. This is a well-polished, infinitely replayable roguelike that deserves a place high up on this list.
2ANVIL
Isometric Roguelike Influenced By The Fallout Franchise
There can be no doubt that games such asFallout 4had a huge impact on the concept behindANVIL. This is no criticism — the game is fun to play, and only treads on the toes of the venerableFalloutseries. In it, the player is a “Breaker” for ANVIL, an organization that is tasked with tracking down and exploring alien vaults. These vaults can be found dotted around the universe.
Gameplay revolves around locating fresh vaults, and fighting through them to uncover new powers and advanced equipment. The game’s gunplay is fun and rewarding, with a wide range of alien enemies to take on and bosses to defeat. It’s a fun sci-fi isometric roguelike with tons of replayability.
Although this is an isometric roguelike, it also brings in several other kinds of gameplay, such as tower defense and tactical decision-making. The name suggests thatEndless Dungeonrevolves around, well, exploring dungeons. However, the name is a bit of a misnomer, as the game maps are actually abandoned space stations. Players must fight through multiple levels to reach the Crystal Core.
Another fun aspect ofEndless Dungeonis itsco-op multiplayermode. This is where the tower defense mechanics come in, as the entire team is tasked with protecting their spawn crystal from wave after wave of enemies.
