8 Best Isometric Hack and Slash Games, Ranked

There are many kinds of action RPGs out there, from third-person games like The Witcher to immersive first-person open-worlds like Fallout or The Elder Scrolls. However, there is a genre that has stood the test of time starting from the late 90s to new titles in the current age with games like Diablo IV: isometric hack-and-slashers.

Rather than the camera being up close and personal, it is high above the action, allowing the player to view the battlefield from all sides, using strategy, and experiencing unique worlds from a high perspective. Many titles have taken on this style of gameplay, with some better than others.

8 Minecraft Dungeons

Provides Block Adventures To Save The Minecraft Universe

Multiple Minecraft spin-offs have come and gone, some more successful than others, with Minecraft Dungeons being a prime example. It is a simple concept: the player picks a hero and sets off on an adventure to save the Minecraft universe from the evil Arch-Illager, slaying every monster that gets in their way.

Though Minecraft Dungeons is far from complex, it provides a nice variety of weapons, armors, and artifacts to keep the gameplay engaging. As a bonus, the family-friendly nature of Minecraft‘s world turns the game into the best game to introduce younger players to the world of ARPGs.

7 Titan Quest

The Orignal Has Lived Across Multiple Generations

Despite being overshadowed by other big titles at the time, Titan Quest was still a strong entry in the genre when it was still in its infancy. Using the great mythologies of Greece, Egypt, and Asia, the player goes up against many incredible monsters and foes on a journey that has stood the test of time.

The gameplay of Titan Quest is considered easy to pick up for anyone familiar with the genre: running around as an Avatar, slaying everything in sight, leveling up, and defeating bosses. It’s simple in concept but is famous for being very difficult. However, it is still a beloved game that has lasted long enough to be ported to mobile, the Switch, modern PCs, PlayStation, and Xbox.

6 The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing

Allows Players To Take Control Of An Iconic Monster Hunter

When Diablo III first launched, it was rather divisive, so other companies attempted to steal the spotlight with their own ARPGs, including The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing. The famous vampire hunter from the Bram Stroker Dracula novel is pitted against a legion of vampires and other monsters in the world of Borgovia, mixing melee combat with guns.

As a result, The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing became a cult gem for fans of the genre, thanks to its similarities to addictive gameplay, variety of wildly designed monsters, and an uncanny similarity to Hugh Jackman’s Van Helsing movie. It spawned a whole trilogy that can be bundled together, making the journey last even longer.

5 Torchlight

A More Family-Friendly Version Of Diablo

During the long hiatus between Diablo II and Diablo III, Torchlight was a surprise release that helped fans cope until the big franchise returned. The team at Runic Games proved to be smart with their timing because Torchlight became the start of a new franchise that took the formula of Diablo games and put it in a brighter world with vibrant characters and environments.

Torchlight is more than just a clone with a little more emphasis on puzzles. It allows the player to have a pet with them on their journey and goes even further with the randomly generated worlds. Torchlight was lucky enough to get sequels, with Torchlight II often considered the best of the trilogy.

4 Grim Dawn

Return To Gothic Horror For Fans Of Lovecraft

While Diablo continued to embrace dark fantasy, Grim Dark lived up to its title by tossing the player into a gritty and dark gothic setting. With the apocalypse on the rise in the world of Cairn, the hero has to slay a plethora of monsters and, thanks to multiple expansions, Grim Dawn became yet another surprise hit.

Grim Dawn takes bits and pieces from all the different hack-and-slash games, from Diablo to Titan Quest to even Torchlight, and manages to execute all those elements without coming across as redundant. The many Eldritch horrors combined with gothic horror are a treat for fans of monsters while providing a challenge for even longtime fans of these types of games.

3 Path Of Exile

Free-To-Play Helped Turned It Into A Modern Classic

It’s always a gamble spending money on a new attempt at the hack-and-slash genre, running the risk of it being a disappointment. That is where Path Of Exile surprised gamers by being free-to-play on PC and consoles, allowing it to build a player base just by word of mouth, thus resulting in a massive success story with a highly-anticipated sequel on the way.

Not only did Path Of Exile impress gamers around the world at launch, but since it is a live-service title, it has had the chance to be continuously updated with consistent patches and new content. This allowed the already well-received gameplay to evolve and get better, turning it into a modern classic.

2 Hades

A Beautifully Animated Soulslike About Greek Mythology

Rather than a typical RPG like so many other hack-and-slashers tend to be, Hadestakes a page from Soulslike games like Dark Souls or Bloodborne, with currency gained by slaying monsters and difficult bosses but with a roguelike twist. As a result, Hades quickly gained a following due to its difficult learning curve combined with a colorful art style that looks straight out of an animated series.

The story has the player controlling Zagreus, the son of Hades, trying to escape the Underworld, no matter the cost. The simple concept and engaging gameplay have led to the outcome of Hades becoming a smash hit, even being labeled as an all-time great by certain critics.

1 Diablo 2: Resurrected

The Groundbreaking Game Remastered For The Better

There is a reason why Diablo games such as Diablo II: Resurrected are always referenced when it comes to ARPG games: they may not have invented the idea, but they revolutionized it. Mixing addictive combat with RPG elements and constant replayability to keep players wanting to play again and again in a dark fantasy world of Sanctuary that has become iconic.

Diablo II: Resurrected is the ideal game for newcomers. Not only is it readily available on most systems, but it also features fully remastered gameplay and cinematics to introduce gamers to the world of demons and magic, and should they enjoy it, they can move on to Diablo III and Diablo IV, which keep the formula going strong.