Hey there guys, I'm sure this is the best place to ask if anyone knew of any top-down, isometric futuristic rpgs out there? Similar gameplay to anything that Black Isle made at the end of the 90's but in a grimy cyber punk setting? Ive had a look over GoG and couldnt seem to conjure anything.

Thanks

Fallout games are probably as close as you can get.

Shadowrun, a 1993 SNES release that really manages to capture the cyberpunk feel.

The Shadowrun games for the SNES and Genesis are the only two things that are remotely close I can think of. Both are action RPGs, though curiously both are entirely different games.

I've found that the MegaDrive (Genesis) version has aged a lot poorer than the SNES version. The SNES version is more story focused, and has considerably better sound, while the Mega Drive version tries to create a more free-form experience (but sadly feels rather repetitive).

Hey thanks guys, I just checked Shadowrun on youtube and its the exact thing I was looking for. Shame the only copies available are NTSC and damn expensive. Perhaps a job for Zsnes.
+rep

I definitely agree that the SNES one is better, but I enjoyed both of them at the time. And both fit the OP's request fairly well.

That is super hard to find, reputedly one the best SNES titles, period, though. I've never had a chance to play it due to never finding a copy, I may just "acquire" one at some point until I can find a copy (I definitely want one).

Arcanum is Steampunk if that's close enough for ya:)

Xenosaga might be "close" enough. The first one is definitely the best, the second might be worth a miss.

Finally, it's not isometric, but Phantasy Star II (the best one of the 4 part series) is really, really, really good. It's definitely a futuristic tech RPG with an evil AI as a boss (Mother Brain, iirc).

It's not an RPG, it's an adventure game, but if you like the setting, you should check out Gemini Rue. It's quite cheap, and well worth it.

All you guys are awesome, thanks!

Agreed, i was lucky enough to buy the game when it first came out, can't tell you how many hours i played it

I managed to get me a copy from a friend, its a pretty sweet game. Just a shame they had to rehash it into a second rate FPS, much like what has just happened with Syndicate.

The shadowrun games are the best fit and they've already been mentioned.

The only remotely similarly themed games I can think of offhand (SaGa Frontier, Digital Devil Saga, Fate Extra) are still slanted towards general fantasy/scifi and are nothing like what you are looking for gameplay wise.

Perhaps not as grimy as you are looking for, but Mr. Robot isn't too bad.