If you are a loyal ARPG player or often pay attention to relevant information, you will definitely find that as the two most popular ARPGs recently, the competition between Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 is particularly fierce.
There is no doubt that the reason they can compete with each other must be because these two games have their own unique advantages. Although in terms of rough combat mechanisms, both require you to fight various enemies to obtain Diablo 4 Gold or POE 2 Currency required to play the game, there are still many differences in some game details.
Based on this, we will introduce to you the aspects in which these two games are superior to each other, so that you can choose the one you like more to experience.
Storytelling
In terms of the presentation of game stories, in fact, not only POE 2, but Diablo 4 is even better than most ARPGs on the market, and this mainly depends on the first-class cutscenes and character dubbing in the game.
Whether it’s the destruction of World Stone or the fall of Malthael, Diablo has a lot of legends to show from its inception to the present. And with the addition of Lilith in Diablo 4, you will be able to fully experience the battle of Mother of Sanctuary through beautiful cinematics and excellent voice acting, keeping you engaged throughout the campaign.
In contrast, Path of Exile 2 is more about piecing together the plot through environmental narratives and scattered dialogues. Although it has improved compared to POE 1 overall, it is still lacking compared to Diablo 4. So if you focus on the storytelling of the game, then Diablo 4 will be more suitable for you.
Combat Experience
If you want to use your strategic thinking in the game to challenge the complex and interesting combat system, then POE 2 can definitely provide you with focused and satisfying gameplay.
Facing the battle of Path of Exile 2, you need to stay focused enough and have reliable operating skills, because a minor mistake can cause you to be crushed by the boss or blown up by the soldiers. Dodge rolling is the key to winning the battle.
The combat experience provided by Diablo 4 is relatively simple and may not meet your needs for challenges in the endgame stage. It is worth noting that level-scaling plays an important role in this experience in Diablo 4.
Character Building
POE series has always been known for its complex passive trees, which allow you to fully explore and customize the abilities of your game characters, and this is even more true in Path of Exile 2.
It allows you to use highly personalized passive tree mechanisms to build a game character that reflects the style of play you want. Whether it is a Monk with a crossbow or a Sorceress with a huge two-handed mace, you have the freedom to build it as you wish.
In contrast, Diablo 4 will tie your game progress closely to Legendary Aspects and class identity. If you like a more open character building style, this may make you feel limited, so Diablo 4 will be slightly inferior to Path of Exile 2.
New Player Comfort
If you are looking for a more accessible and timesaving gaming experience, Diablo 4 will be more suitable for you than POE 2. After all, the former has long catered to most casual ARPG players with its simple mechanics and forgiving gameplay. Diablo 4’s mechanic design allows you to get a wonderful experience in a shorter game time, which is very suitable for time-constrained situations.
In contrast, Path of Exile 2’s mechanics are complex. Although it provides richer content, it also means that you may need to invest more time to fully immerse yourself in it. In POE 2, the campaign alone takes 45 hours to complete, and the endgame time is longer and more difficult. Therefore, Path of Exile 2 is more suitable for hardcore players and is not as friendly to new players as Diablo 4.
Visual And Audio Design
In terms of graphics and sound design, I believe that POE 2 can impress you with its detailed and exquisite environmental depiction and eye-catching audio design. For example, the realistic cracks when ice shards are broken, and the theme soundtracks are exclusive to each boss. And the overall exquisiteness of the game is also a big step higher than the first game, which greatly enhances your experience.
It can be said that POE series has never had such excellent graphics and sound effects, not to mention compared with most other ARPGs. Although Diablo 4 also provides undeniably high-quality visuals, in the end Path of Exile 2 is slightly better with its more realistic art style and satisfying audio.
Endgame Content
If you are looking for a lot of end-game content that can provide long-term engagement, POE 2 can do it even during early access. From Breach, Ritual, Delirium, etc., POE 2’s end-game system has always been committed to ensuring that you always have a channel for progress by providing continuous content. In contrast, Diablo 4’s end-game content lacks sufficient depth, especially if you haven’t played Vessel of Hatred expansion.
Although both games have their own advantages, I believe you have discovered that POE 2 stands out in terms of the richness of combat content. But if you’re looking for a smoother casual gaming experience, Diablo 4 will be more suitable for you.
