Isometric video game graphics

Isometric video game graphics are visuals employed in video games and digital art that produce a three-dimensional (3D) effect through parallel projection; which angles the viewpoint to reveal facets of the environment that would otherwise not be visible from a top-down perspective or side view. Despite the name, isometric computer graphics are rarely truly isometric; i.e., the x, y, and z axes are not necessarily oriented 120° to each other. Instead, a variety of angles are used, with dimetric projection or a 2:1 pixel ratio being the most common. The terms "isometric 3D", "3/4 perspective", "3/4 view", "2.5D", and "pseudo 3D" are also sometimes used, although these terms can bear slightly different meanings in other contexts.

Once common, isometric projection became less so with the advent of more powerful 3D graphics systems, and as video games began to focus more on action and individual characters. However, video games using isometric projection—especially computer role-playing games—saw a resurgence in the 2010s within the indie gaming scene.