Overslept Path of Exile 2 Review

Path of Exile 2 Review: The Dark Souls of ARPGs You Didn’t Know You Needed Rating: 10 out of 10.0 Path of Exile 2 is like getting dropped into a fantasy world where everything wants to kill you, and your only hope is an absurdly massive skill tree that feels like it was designed by a caffeinated mathematician. It’s part dungeon crawler, part “guess what this loot does,” and 100% committed to making you question your choices—both in-game and in life. The combat is methodical, the bosses are mean, and the maps are procedurally generated to make sure you’re always a little bit lost. Imagine Diablo went goth, and decided it wanted to be a souls-like game. It’s brutal, brilliant, and addictive, but only if you like your RPGs served with a side of masochism. This is only early access but all the hours and signals are telling me this is an all time great in my library. Pros: "Skill Trees and Boss Screams" + Gorgeous Graphics, Grittier Setting: The game’s world is dark, moody, and dripping with atmosphere—a perfect backdrop for your inevitable deaths. + Boss Fights That Stick: Unique, challenging, and borderline evil. Unlike Diablo 4’s spell-cluttered chaos, these battles require actual strategy. Yes, you’ll die. A lot. But the frustration is weirdly fun, addicting, and satisfying. + Character Diversity & Skills: Deep skill trees, diverse classes, and abilities that keep the gameplay fresh and encourage experimentation. Six playable characters in early access with 6 more to come on release! Love that they're not playing the D4 angle with a small playable roster and annual 1 character releases for the price of this early access + Isometric Suspense: The classic camera angle builds tension beautifully. Every corner feels like it’s hiding your next mistake. The isometric genre was wearing thin on me at one point recently until I picked this up and fell in love with it again. + Voice Acting: Surprisingly strong performances breathe life into a minimalist narrative. + Right Kind of Hard: The difficulty hits that sweet spot where every death feels like your fault (even if you’ll swear otherwise). It’s punishing but rewarding. + Free-to-Play on Release: Seriously, how is this free? It’s too polished and content-rich to not cost a dime. I was willing and more than happy to pay for the early access which has more content than some AA/AAA games these days. + Microtransactions That Don’t Hurt: So far, they’re not intrusive, which is a small miracle in today’s gaming world. + Dodge Roll FTW: The simplicity of a single button that adds layers of strategy is executed so, so well. You’ll dodge death by inches and feel like a genius for it. Cons: "Dying, Loading, and Cringing" - Weak Story Delivery: The narrative leans heavily on text and voiceovers, lacking a strong cinematic punch you might expect. Don’t come here for Game of Thrones-level storytelling. - Lag and Technical Issues: Early access jitters. Understandable, but still frustrating when it interrupts the flow. - Daunting Passive Page: The skill tree is a star map of confusion for the uninitiated. It’s a strength for hardcore fans but a headache for newbies. - No Newbs Zone: The game is unapologetically complex, leaving new players floundering. Between skill gems, support gems, and the labyrinthine passive skill tree, expect to feel utterly lost for hours—and even after 20+ hours, you’ll still be learning new mechanics. This is not a pick-up-and-play experience. Neutral: "It’s Not D4, But It Is" +/- Slower Pacing: Compared to Diablo 4, things move at a more deliberate speed. Some will love it, others may find it sluggish. +/- Loot Philosophy: Drops are stingy but intentionally so. If you’re expecting a shower of legendary items, adjust your expectations—or embrace the grind and the journey! +/- The D4 Comparison Trap: It’s impossible not to compare, and Path of Exile 2 often feels more focused and polished. But let’s be fair—both games scratch different itches. +/- Groundhog Day: From bosses to random mobs, nowhere is safe, and death is always lurking. You’ll despise it at first, but eventually, you’ll respect its unforgiving nature. However, if the souls-like "die-learn-repeat" formula isn’t your thing, this might push you over the edge. Verdict: "An Early Access Masterpiece" Path of Exile 2 feels like what happens when Diablo 2 and Dark Souls meet at a hardcore RPG convention and decide to raise the most complex, brutal, and rewarding child imaginable—under the watchful eye of a surprisingly generous free-to-play fairy godmother. Sure, the story’s a little flat, and the occasional lag spike will make you want to throw your mouse, but the sheer quality and depth here are undeniable. For both newcomers (good luck) and veterans (you're going to die too), this is shaping up to be a genre-defining RPG. If Diablo 4 left you with that nagging “meh,” Path of Exile 2 will scratch the itch you forgot you had—and it scratches hard. The inevitable Diablo 4 comparisons will rage on for years, and honestly? Fair. I played D4, I liked it, but I never loved it. Path of Exile 2 doesn’t just fill that void—it plants a flag in it and claims it as its own. Is it perfect? No. Does it matter? Also no. So, play it. Suffer through it. Love every punishing second of it.