Path of Exile

Given its initial similarities to the Diablo series, it's no surprise that Path of Exile's players so frequently compare it to Diablo III, game they treat with much disdain. This always-online games chat channels are often filled with statements like "This is the sequel to Diablo II I always wanted," & developer Grinding Gear Games clearly looked to Blizzard's classic for inspiration: the dark and arcane continent of Wraeclast recalls Sanctuary's murkiest regions, and the skeletons & wildlife...

Some good ideas, but the progress is too slow and the lategame is meh.

I found more joy here than in Grim Dawn and other contemporaries, but fundamentally it's still a insubstantial time waster.

great game

This game is great for people who love the number-crunching, grinding, optimization, and min-maxing of Diablo games and their clones, but it is too intense for me. I love that this game is out there, and especially that it's free, but I am far too casual to play it at length.

A Diablo clone. And it plays, and gets boring, just like a Diablo clone. More fun when playing with others, obviously.

My opinion of this has changed now that I've revisited it. I used to love the skill slot mechanic but I think it dampens the excitement of looting, which isn't that satisfying to begin with because the loot is pretty lame. I still love the skill tree, one of my fave progression systems in all of gaming (thanks FFX). Lots of depth to the game ultimately but it does have a lot of jank, and while you can get through without paying, the prices are so high and not paying means less charm.

I keep resolving not to play it anymore, because it's a Skinner's box, but the immaculate game mechanics and the massive, completely free content expansions keep pulling me back. Still can't decide if I love it or hate it.