Diablo 4’s journey over the last year or so has been quite transformative. When it first dropped in June 2023, Blizzard embarked on a mission to overhaul the game. They made sweeping changes to key aspects like itemization, the leveling process, difficulty settings, and even the endgame framework.
Over time, the game has grown immensely, with one expansive update, six seasons, and numerous patches that have smoothed out most of the kinks players initially faced. Honestly, the Diablo 4 you’re diving into now, towards the end of 2024, feels worlds apart from its summer 2023 counterpart. And here’s the thing—I was already a massive fan from the get-go. Even with all the criticisms it faced upon release, it ticked the boxes of what I cherish in an ARPG.
Yet, it might be time for Diablo 4 to catch its breath because Path of Exile 2 seems poised to draw in Diablo’s casual base—arguably, the lion’s share of its players.
That classic formula of isometric action RPGs—filled with loot, heavy narratives of apocalyptic events, and ideologies crumbling—that’s my go-to. I keep up with announcements in this genre; however, none keep me hooked for too long. Often, I find their gameplay lacking excitement, and inevitably, I get pulled back to Diablo.
Earlier this year, during one of Diablo 4’s challenging phases, we saw Last Epoch finally hit its full release. It wasn’t a bad game. The mechanics functioned well enough, but it clearly catered to endgame enthusiasts—an area I seldom dive into. It felt designed for its die-hard fans, implementing systems and fixes for issues that many of us likely wouldn’t notice. It came, made an impression, yet only truly captivated its hardcore community.
As a result, Diablo 4 stayed unshaken at the top, bolstered by Blizzard’s relentless updates that continued to attract its avid fanbase. However, that dominance is now facing a real contender with Path of Exile 2 stepping into the ring.
Honestly, I never saw the original Path of Exile as a rival to Diablo. The thought of it putting a serious dent in Blizzard’s vast, casual audience seemed far-fetched—like imagining Call of Duty toppling to a niche game like Arma.
Yet, Path of Exile has persevered among its peers. I’d find myself loading it up every now and then, putting in several hours before stepping away. I could manage its cramped inventory spaces, its labyrinthine skill tree, the intricacies of its gem system, and even its odd approach to item identification. However, its combat always felt a bit off—lacking the fluidity and satisfaction I craved.
The team behind the game, Grinding Gear Games, recognized these shortcomings and tried to address them some years back. It drew me back to give it another shot, though I didn’t stick around for long.
While I haven’t played Path of Exile 2 just yet, everything I’m hearing, seeing, and reading suggests that GGG is targeting Diablo’s audience—those who revel in gratifying action, alluring loot, and top-tier game production.
As someone who consumes ARPGs regularly, I’m pretty attuned to the nuances of character movement, attack animations, and the general feel of combat better than most. That’s where I’ve noticed the most improvement, and visually, it resembles Diablo’s pace more closely—particularly that of Diablo 4.
Sure, Path of Exile 2 remains a more complex beast than Diablo 4. Recently, the developers spent a solid hour unpacking new features and systems—mostly catered to the endgame—even though the early-access build only covers a slice of the core campaign. It seems more approachable now, but let’s be real, GGG won’t be ditching its core fans anytime soon.
I can still spot some of the presentation issues that nagged me in the original PoE lingering in the sequel. I know I’ll be longing for certain features from Diablo 4 that PoE2 might not offer. But this time, I’m genuinely excited to jump in: to guide my character, engage with its world, and relish the crunchiness of combat. Whether that’ll be enough to overlook its complexities is up in the air.
However, my gripes about combat nuances aside, it’s undeniable—the arrival of Path of Exile 2 is a testament to the thriving state of the ARPG genre. We’ve moved beyond the days where one game exists strictly to knock another off its pedestal. There’s plenty of love for both, with ample space for more games in the mix. Secretly, though, I worry Path of Exile might turn me into one of its diehard advocates, jumping to its defense at the slightest jab, emphatically beginning with, “You just don’t get it.”
Prepare your systems: Path of Exile 2 lands on December 6, available for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
