Highlights
- Top-down RPGs offer a unique perspective that enhances player awareness and strategic thinking in combat and exploration.
- Hyper Light Drifter is a retro-style RPG with stunning visuals and minimalist storytelling, showcasing the potential of indie gaming.
- Wasteland 3 provides immersive post-apocalyptic storytelling with rich world-building, impactful choices, and engaging turn-based combat.
Top-down RPGs stand out in the current gaming market due to their old-school, up-top viewpoint. The angle provides players with a unique perspective that provides greater awareness of their surroundings.
Such games frequently employ turn-based, strategic combat systems. Considering the overhead view provides a bird's eye view of the action, tactical, strategy-focused gameplay is a perfect fit, as players piece together the best way to progress forward in action. The perspective also lends itself conveniently to exploration and puzzle-solving, helping players to easily navigate intricate environments while uncovering hidden secrets and easter eggs. The PlayStation 5 currently has a variety of exciting top-down entries for players to discover, from remastered classics to brand-new members of the genre.
6 Hyper Light Drifter Provides An Immersive 2D Experience
This retro action RPG takes players to an unfamiliar game aesthetic in modern times by paying homage to 2D 8-bit and 16-bit video games. Players take control of the Drifter, a mysterious figure traveling through a post-apocalyptic world.
With colorful, neatly rendered pixel art, an atmospheric soundtrack, and surprisingly challenging gameplay, Hyper Light Drifter is among the most unconventional, memorable top-down offerings from the past decade. The game world uses impressively haunting visuals to immerse the player in the rich, post-societal environment on offer. The minimalist storytelling, meanwhile, makes it an easy game to pick up and enjoy, leaving plenty open to interpretation for players to have fun theorizing with. Overall, this is a fascinating, old-school gem that showcases the potential of indie gaming to provide players with unique entertainment experiences.
5 Bloodroots Is A Relentless, Payback Thriller
This bloodthirsty hack-and-slash is an underrated gem for Wild West fans. Taking players into a brutal revenge odyssey, Bloodroots sees player character Mr. Wolf kill just about everyone he encounters over the course of three, ultra-violent gaming acts.
Fast-paced and chock-full of high-octane action, players receive a score for each completed level, judging their brutality and overall performance. Considering his all-consuming quest for vengeance above all else, Mr. Wolf isn't exactly the most complex of player protagonists out there. However, his eccentric aesthetic and mastery of melee combat make him a fun action-centric character for gamers to progress as. The isometric viewpoint works neatly here in fleshing out the often bizarre, Western-influenced world the action unfolds over. With addictive gameplay and general intensity throughout, Bloodroots will likely attain cult favorite status in the years to come.
4 The Mageseeker: A League Of Legends Story Effectively Builds On The Popular Franchise's World And Lore
Providing players with a fresh perspective in the popular League of Legends universe, The Mageseeker boasts aesthetically pleasing visuals and immersive gameplay mechanics. The plot zeroes in on the titular Mageseekers and the escaped captive Sylas' quest for revenge against them.
With plenty of thrilling, surprisingly visceral encounters on offer, this League of Legends installment won over players and critics alike with its well-paced story and world-building. As players progress through the story, they uncover a litany of secrets and spells while engaging in a selection of thrilling battles. Artistically, the game's old-school, 2D pixel art style is nostalgic fun for longtime gamers, setting it apart from more conventional, modern game designs. For fans of the series, The Mageseeker's impactful narrative and lore make it an absolute must-play. For non-fans, this remains a thrilling top-down adventure thanks to its crisp, polished gameplay.
3 Wasteland 3 Provides Great Post-Apocalyptic Storytelling
Taking gamers into the atmospheric dread of post-apocalyptic Colorado, Wasteland 3 provides an engrossing plot focusing on two members of the Arizona Ranger Team November. Caught up in the plight of the area's leader, as well as resource shortages, players get a harsh, gritty story that follows perfectly from the highly acclaimed Wasteland 2.
The harsh, intricate terrain, coupled with a rich set of world-building and lore, makes for an immersive, engaging gaming environment for players to explore. The strategic turn-based combat is a perfect fit for the top-down viewpoint, keeping gamers thinking fast as they engage the many enemies on offer. A sense of agency is provided as well thanks to the game's wide-branching narrative and selection of impactful choices that need to be made. With sharp dialogue, witty humor, and a great cast of memorable characters, Wasteland 3 is a top-notch addition to the post-apocalyptic genre.
2 Hades Is A Thrilling Ride Through Greek Mythology
Supergiant Games' wild take on Greek mythology sees players assume the role of Zagreus, son of the titular ruler of the Underworld. From the get-go, this impressively crafted roguelike is immersive thanks to its fully realized underworld setting.
The gameplay does the game's escape-focused plot justice, keeping players on their toes with an effective blend of strategic decision-making and fast-paced, high-intensity action. As punishment for his plan to leave the Underworld, Zagreus finds himself on the run from a slew of monsters unleashed by his father. The suspenseful plot is bolstered by nicely written dialogue and well-developed character interactions. With its impressive visuals, rewarding storytelling, curious character progression system, and compelling gameplay, this is one of the most impressive modern takes on top-down gaming for fans of the style.
1 Baldur's Gate 3 Has An Old School Top-Down Option
For players looking for a more nostalgic camera angle, the long-awaited Baldur's Gate 3 boasts a top-down option for gameplay. Known as the tactical camera view, it's typically reserved for combat, but players can switch over to it anytime they like.
With a flawless blend of immersive storytelling, stunning visuals, and strategic turn-based combat, players are transported to the world of the Forgotten Realms for a deeply immersive gaming experience. Boasting an exceptional level of attention to detail, the game's complex character customization and vast dialogue options ensure a unique, personal gaming experience for each and every player. With engaging gameplay mechanics and consistently captivating storytelling, Baldur's Gate 3 has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting games of the year thus far.
