User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2202 Ratings

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  1. Jun 14, 2023
    10
    I have 10k hours in this game and love it. Best game I have played in 5 years. Played D4 for a couple weeks and it shows, the gap on how much better this game is large. Cant wait for next season.
  2. Jul 9, 2023
    10
    Without a doubt the absolute pinnacle of ARPG genre.
    Complex character builds & crafting systems, can spend hours upon hours just planning your character and what gearing you should be aiming for.
    High character power cap, you can min-max until you're deleting whole screens of mobs and feel like a literal god. Huge and working economy. You build your wealth and spend it on the gear you
    Without a doubt the absolute pinnacle of ARPG genre.
    Complex character builds & crafting systems, can spend hours upon hours just planning your character and what gearing you should be aiming for.
    High character power cap, you can min-max until you're deleting whole screens of mobs and feel like a literal god.
    Huge and working economy. You build your wealth and spend it on the gear you need. Dropped an awesome item you don't need for yourself? Go sell it, you just got rich, congratz.
    Incredible music.

    These devs release content every 3 months. Completely free.
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  3. Jul 21, 2023
    10
    PoE took Diablo 2 as a base and became a new standard of the genre. Not everything is great - handling of character can be better. But it is best almost at everything else - a lot of interesting mechanics, build and skill diversity, huge potential of customizing your character (passive tree, jewels, skill gems and skill support gems), trade and economics, great crafting system.

    In PoE
    PoE took Diablo 2 as a base and became a new standard of the genre. Not everything is great - handling of character can be better. But it is best almost at everything else - a lot of interesting mechanics, build and skill diversity, huge potential of customizing your character (passive tree, jewels, skill gems and skill support gems), trade and economics, great crafting system.

    In PoE you can do everything you want - you just need to learn how

    About Free to Play - I prefer PoE over Diablo model of monetisation. With equal money that you pay for Diablo you can buy here everything you need a few times. In reality you need around 30-40$ for tabs and you're very comfy, without them it's ok to play as well - I played at least first 500 hours without them. In Diablo I quit 70$ game after 300 hours. Also I personally like what PoE designers can do with shop skins. And skins for skills are just too tier. You can play the same build for years but feel it different just by buying other skins.

    PoE have one of the best development teams. They release a lot of content very often and with minimum bugs. Maybe GGG managers and designers make wrong decisions some time, but overall they hear players most of the time and doing good job at supporting one of the biggest and complex games of RPG genre.

    PoE may confuse you sometimes, but I think that it's better when it's not easy to master the game. I prefer to learn something new after 1000 hours of the game. Good job, GGG. Just listen to your players a little bit more and all will be great
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  4. Jul 22, 2023
    10
    The best sandbox for the hardcore gamer. There are plenty of opportunities to do something interesting. Of course, I would like to see more opportunities to play content on long-forgotten and nerfed builds, but that's what we have.
  5. Oct 27, 2013
    9
    Just stumbled across this piece of art while checking metacritic.
    Played for several hours now and really enjoy it. It has that great dark feeling, as the setting is really well chosen, interesting and new (to me). I just love being able to game a real badass. (Not someone who got captured and didn't do anything...)
    Hack 'n Slay at it's best. Also fine that you're not forced to game
    Just stumbled across this piece of art while checking metacritic.
    Played for several hours now and really enjoy it. It has that great dark feeling, as the setting is really well chosen, interesting and new (to me). I just love being able to game a real badass. (Not someone who got captured and didn't do anything...)

    Hack 'n Slay at it's best.

    Also fine that you're not forced to game it 'multiplayer' (my zombie minions are enough company to me ;))

    So, if you like hack 'n slay, want it diablo-style but diffrerent, you really should give it a try. I mean... hey, it's free.
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  6. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Since the first time I played this game in early beta, it felt like the game that Diablo 3 should have been. I'm not talking about slick graphics.. I'm talking about gameplay. The skill system. The item system. The level design. This game feels like the TRUE heir to the Diablo throne, not that bastardized half-wow monstrosity Blizzard churned out. POE is fun, exciting... and hell... evenSince the first time I played this game in early beta, it felt like the game that Diablo 3 should have been. I'm not talking about slick graphics.. I'm talking about gameplay. The skill system. The item system. The level design. This game feels like the TRUE heir to the Diablo throne, not that bastardized half-wow monstrosity Blizzard churned out. POE is fun, exciting... and hell... even if you don't like it.. no harm done because it's FREE. Imagine that. A company makes an awesome game, listens to the community, and the game is free. Expand
  7. Oct 28, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing and I have a feeling it will only get better. Hopefully with the money they make through micro transactions they are able to make it even more amazing which I'm sure they will. Grats to grinding gears for making the real diablo 3. Thank you!!
  8. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Quite daunting at first with the skill tree and system, and also quite a difficult game in general knowledge is power in this game. Been playing it a few months and still learning new things! So many different variations of builds and I love finding me some good loot! I also love the philosophy of the developers and how much effort they put in with new patches and how they communicateQuite daunting at first with the skill tree and system, and also quite a difficult game in general knowledge is power in this game. Been playing it a few months and still learning new things! So many different variations of builds and I love finding me some good loot! I also love the philosophy of the developers and how much effort they put in with new patches and how they communicate with the community. Awesome! Expand
  9. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    So good I uninstalled D3 and renamed my Path of Exile launcher to Diablo 3 instead!

    Try this game if you're not a little runt that likes the rainbow level in D3.
  10. Jan 25, 2014
    10
    For a free game, the developers deserve as much credit as they can from fans of arpg's as this game is not only beautiful to look at, but is addicting as well as fun to keep you coming back. Remember it is free!
  11. Jan 14, 2018
    10
    Looking for something more modern in a Diablo 2 mold, I thought this might be worth a try. Didn't have high hopes being a free-to-play, but it is very impressive. While quite different to a Diablo II, it creates it's own systems that really work and draw you in. F2P model is great, you can actually play it for free and not notice. Any fan of an ARPG must play this.
  12. Oct 25, 2013
    9
    From the very beginning the game has a mood, nice music, voice over everywhere. It it worthy successor of Diablo 2, even though it copies it in so many aspects.
    Skill tree is enormous and awesome customisation all the way. Bartering instead of simple gold system is fun, random maps is what makes this game repeatable and fun to run again the same areas, instead just remembering the way
    From the very beginning the game has a mood, nice music, voice over everywhere. It it worthy successor of Diablo 2, even though it copies it in so many aspects.
    Skill tree is enormous and awesome customisation all the way. Bartering instead of simple gold system is fun, random maps is what makes this game repeatable and fun to run again the same areas, instead just remembering the way and all the locations.
    There are few minor flaws, like displaying map over you view makes it impossible to run (in D2 map was more transparent) and perhaps colors should be bit more varied, because sometimes it is hard to discern one object from another.
    Overall, game is hack-and-slash fun
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  13. Apr 4, 2014
    10
    I really don't know which part of game I need to start, cause whole game is outstanding. Replayability, variativity, mix of planning and gambling-like hopes that next item would be treasure for you. Brilliant solution for trading with currency items instead of gold which lose value from start of servers.
    After all it's hardcore and oldschool. Instead of buying DLCs you need to play, to
    I really don't know which part of game I need to start, cause whole game is outstanding. Replayability, variativity, mix of planning and gambling-like hopes that next item would be treasure for you. Brilliant solution for trading with currency items instead of gold which lose value from start of servers.
    After all it's hardcore and oldschool. Instead of buying DLCs you need to play, to open additional character. Yeah, no expirience boosters and other crap in f2p shop. Only way to success in game - play it! You just can't find other game like this nowadays.
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  14. Oct 26, 2013
    9
    I really think this is the best ARPG that has been made in the past 10 years. There are hundreds of viable builds for every class and the itemization is great. Combat is fun and the environments and monsters are diverse. Oh and did I mention that the game is free?

    My only real criticisms of the game are aesthetic: the story and soundtrack leave a lot to be desired. Anyone who is a
    I really think this is the best ARPG that has been made in the past 10 years. There are hundreds of viable builds for every class and the itemization is great. Combat is fun and the environments and monsters are diverse. Oh and did I mention that the game is free?

    My only real criticisms of the game are aesthetic: the story and soundtrack leave a lot to be desired.

    Anyone who is a major fan of Diablo 2 or the ARPG genre in general must check out this game.
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  15. Oct 25, 2013
    9
    Path of Exile is an online Action RPG, free to play, not in any way pay to win. Cosmetic purchases are available, including skill effects, weapon effects, etc. Also storage of saved items can be expanded with purchases of additional stash tabs.

    The gameplay definitely evokes the addictive nature of Diablo 2, in a great way. Massive amounts of customization is built in to the game. There
    Path of Exile is an online Action RPG, free to play, not in any way pay to win. Cosmetic purchases are available, including skill effects, weapon effects, etc. Also storage of saved items can be expanded with purchases of additional stash tabs.

    The gameplay definitely evokes the addictive nature of Diablo 2, in a great way. Massive amounts of customization is built in to the game. There is a mind-bogglingly large passive skill tree... which provides truly endless possibilities for making a custom built character that will be yours alone.

    There are 7 playable 'classes', (one of them being unlockable after completing the game in Normal difficulty). It may take some new players a bit of time to get used to the idea that selection of starting class doesn't define what overall skills you will be using. Instead it is simply determines the starting point on the passive skill tree. So when you decide to build a character that will deal ranged damage with a bow, you are not forced to start from a dexterity based starting point. With a little bit of imagination and theory-crafting, your bow-wielding character from any of the seven possible starting points will give you fun and addictive gameplay.

    The crafting system is amazing in the amount of options available. Find a starting tutorial video or two, then jump in and make a character. Don't expect your first built to dominate... just think of that first one as your introduction into the game... and regardless, will be gaining resources that can be used to make your next characters stronger!

    Grinding Gear Games is sooo on top of maintaining this game. The small size of the company allows them to respond to the player community and keep the game fun, relevant, and constantly updating.
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  16. Oct 24, 2013
    9
    Really loved Diablo 2. Then D3 came out and I was really disappointed. Then I found Path of Exile and I have been sucked in ever since. The level of customization with the skill map, the skill gems and the dark goth feel and quality voice acting for an rpg is impressive. This is not an arpg for people who want to whirlwind through content. The game at higher levels will challenge you. TheReally loved Diablo 2. Then D3 came out and I was really disappointed. Then I found Path of Exile and I have been sucked in ever since. The level of customization with the skill map, the skill gems and the dark goth feel and quality voice acting for an rpg is impressive. This is not an arpg for people who want to whirlwind through content. The game at higher levels will challenge you. The dev team is good with communicating with the playerbase to which is a bonus. Only reason I don't give it a 10/10 is due to "some" rubber-banding issues. Expand
  17. Oct 25, 2013
    9
    To put it simply, Path of Exile is one of the most addicting and rewarding Action Role Playing games to date. It features an extensive passive tree with over hundreds of possibilities with extreme character progression and builds. There are a variation of monsters, each who drop differing loot to keep players constantly killing.

    If you are a social player, there is tons to do with an
    To put it simply, Path of Exile is one of the most addicting and rewarding Action Role Playing games to date. It features an extensive passive tree with over hundreds of possibilities with extreme character progression and builds. There are a variation of monsters, each who drop differing loot to keep players constantly killing.

    If you are a social player, there is tons to do with an easy UI for joining parties and progressing through the story together or, you can take to battle with Player vs Player action. This is coupled with a great chat box which players can help each other out or sell in game items.

    The game features 7 different classes each with their own unique abilities and play styles which caters to any individuals type of play-through, whether you are a brute tank (The Marauder) or a necromancer witch who can use arcane magic and call upon the dead for help. The game features a unique gem system which is essentially a skill that is constantly leveled as you use the ability to kill. This is an excellent approach to character development as the player constantly feels rewarded for their actions.

    The best feature of the game is that it is free to play! There are in-game purchases but they're merely cosmetic items which don't effect the balancing of the game as the developers have been strict on making a fair game.

    The game itself is nice to look at, however, it is not the prettiest game but credit goes to the developers who have been working on it for 7 years. Also, some end game items don't look as bad-ass as they should but hey, that's just my opinion.

    All in all, I highly recommend playing this game, its free, you have nothing to lose besides the countless and addicting hours you will put into the game.
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  18. Mar 20, 2014
    9
    POE é um dos melhores RPG de ação que já joguei. No melhor estilo de Diablo, são horas de jogo em um mundo sombrio e macabro que ainda é possivel jogar com os amigos ou com qualquer pessoa do mundo.
  19. Oct 25, 2013
    9
    Great game. Graphics aren't impressive, but the depth, challenge, and just endless possibilities make it amazing. It's closer to what D3 should have been and it's FREE!
  20. Oct 26, 2013
    9
    I don't often play video games. When I do, it's either an RPG, Tetris, or a random indie game that was on sale. I've tried to pick up others, but I'm slow to learn and need my hand held most of the way. The only other aRPG I've ever played is Bastion.

    So yes, I'm a filthy casual, but I feel like I should boost this game's rating anyway because no one I know plays it and I think I'm in
    I don't often play video games. When I do, it's either an RPG, Tetris, or a random indie game that was on sale. I've tried to pick up others, but I'm slow to learn and need my hand held most of the way. The only other aRPG I've ever played is Bastion.

    So yes, I'm a filthy casual, but I feel like I should boost this game's rating anyway because no one I know plays it and I think I'm in love. Really. It's engaging, fast-paced and free-to-play, not to mention addictive! My only quarrel is that it's a bit hard to pick up. There's no help bar as far as I can tell, so you basically have to learn by doing. That's fine as I said, I'm a slow learner, so if I can figure it out, anyone can. Great game thus far, would recommend.
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  21. Oct 27, 2013
    10
    PoE is really the Diablo 3 game I had hoped for.
    The business model is not at all in the way, and the game has much depth. The game also allows you to really chose what you want to be.

    I haven't really gotten into the story, but overall atmosphere makes up for this.
  22. Oct 28, 2013
    9
    Path of Exile is a dreamsend for the cerebral ARPG player. However, the drawback of having the decisions you make during character building matter in combat is: the decisions you make during character build matter in combat. If you want to just dive into PoE and proceed directly to the slaying, the game will punish your subpar build mercilessly, perhaps not by repeated deaths but insteadPath of Exile is a dreamsend for the cerebral ARPG player. However, the drawback of having the decisions you make during character building matter in combat is: the decisions you make during character build matter in combat. If you want to just dive into PoE and proceed directly to the slaying, the game will punish your subpar build mercilessly, perhaps not by repeated deaths but instead the boredom of an accidentally self-imposed lack of combat options, leading to static and boring play.

    Which means: PoE is a brilliant game for a niche audience, very similar to Dark Souls, but not well-suited for the casual audience, and thus decidedly not for everyone.

    Pros:
    Amazing systems for meaningful choice in creating builds and maximizing skill effectiveness
    Innovative "goldless" currency and crafting system
    A variety of play modes, from hardcore to 4-month ladder to PvP to 1-hour race events
    Lore and music are simultaneously excellent and non-invasive
    Astonishing replay value due to a variety of viable options
    Cons:
    The game demands commitment from players to achieve even moderate success
    Failure usually leads to long periods of boredom before eventual, often equally boring death
    Lackluster netcode leads to desyncs
    Lack on in-game trading tools leads to reliance on forums and third-party sites
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  23. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Path of Exile is the definitive ARPG of our time. It's the only game since D2 to give me a similar feel and response to gameplay. The combat is exactly what you'd expect and top notch, ignoring the de-sync which isn't a part of it. The loot is on par with D2, if not better, and will easily become better over time as they're adding new loot every two weeks or so on top of bigger patches.Path of Exile is the definitive ARPG of our time. It's the only game since D2 to give me a similar feel and response to gameplay. The combat is exactly what you'd expect and top notch, ignoring the de-sync which isn't a part of it. The loot is on par with D2, if not better, and will easily become better over time as they're adding new loot every two weeks or so on top of bigger patches. The monsters are diverse and full of challenge for almost every build at some point, and in the endgame you have to think about all of your defenses being properly balanced. By far the best part of the game though is the constant change of ladders and events. There are race seasons constantly going in and out, which are temporary leagues ranging from an hour to a week or even a month, where you race to the top of the experience ladder for points.

    On top of that you have temporary 4-month leagues that come with new loot, monsters, mods and challenges. This is great for people who enjoyed the ladder resets of D2, as this essentially fills that role and adds more to the game on top of it. For instance, in these new leagues, they've added a new shrine mechanic to one and tougher monsters with unique mods to the other, changing the game completely. This level of attention to their game is what sets it apart from other ARPGs it's going to be constantly changing towards the better, and may very well be the next D2, something we play for 10+ years.
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  24. Oct 25, 2013
    9
    Probably the best dungeon crawler I've ever played, and I have played most of them stemming back to Diablo I and Balder's Gate I. As one of the many who got sucked into Diablo 3 just to be severely disappointed, I can honestly say Path of Exile erased my terrible memories of D3 and replaced them with pleasant memories of Path of Exile. Now this surely is not the game for people who wantProbably the best dungeon crawler I've ever played, and I have played most of them stemming back to Diablo I and Balder's Gate I. As one of the many who got sucked into Diablo 3 just to be severely disappointed, I can honestly say Path of Exile erased my terrible memories of D3 and replaced them with pleasant memories of Path of Exile. Now this surely is not the game for people who want to be able to quest their way to the gravy train without any grind. But since the gear drops are so high and the fact that it is fairly easy to turn bad gear into good gear even if you are having bad luck with drops.... it really makes the grind a lot more fulfilling. The graphics, while not top notch are very fitting and acceptable to the Dungeon Crawler genre. The combat starts off a bit sluggish, once you get to the end of act I in normal it starts ramping up a lot. Leveling occurs rapidly. Late game replay value is high due to the companies intensive thought into late game gameplay. Sound quality is great. One of the biggest complaints is there is no key bindings for control, so you gotta use the mouse. But for this reviewer, that is no issue at all as I prefer to use the mouse to move. Everything else can be keybinded. The learning curve is moderate, you will surely need to do some trial and error with the skill tree. I personally recommend just aiming for what you need at any given time that you get a skill point... and worry about what builds are "OP" later. partially because no builds are overwhelmingly OP compared to others. If you screw up severely that is really the only way you'll feel totally unsatisfied with a build. But there are very few "wrong" builds. You are also not bound to class.... any class can have traits of any other class, although each class does START at a specific part of the skill tree so in the beginning you are SOMEWHAT bound to class. Pay 2 Win does not exist at all, which is a rare plus. Really my biggest complaint about the game is with the chat and social features.... which are functional and complete, but need to be upgraded to modern standards.

    Gameplay 10
    Graphics 7
    Sound 10
    Gear Diversity 10
    Build Diversity 9
    Monster Diversity 9
    Combat 9
    Skill Tree 9
    Pay 2 Win (0 being P2W and 10 being totally free) 10
    Lag 7
    Replayability 10
    Community 6
    Cash Shop Prices 7

    8.6, rounded up to 9.
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  25. Oct 24, 2013
    9
    Absolutely love this game. Quite steep learning curve for newcomers to the genre but once you have the basic idea it is so much fun figuring out the best and most efficient ways of eliminating all that sand before you. A classic ARPG experience. A huge skill tree and skill gems allow you to tweak you build just how you want it. It's free to play and has no pay to win elements at all. AnyAbsolutely love this game. Quite steep learning curve for newcomers to the genre but once you have the basic idea it is so much fun figuring out the best and most efficient ways of eliminating all that sand before you. A classic ARPG experience. A huge skill tree and skill gems allow you to tweak you build just how you want it. It's free to play and has no pay to win elements at all. Any purchases available are for vanity puproses only such as skin transfers and non-combat pets. Expand
  26. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Path of Exile is the without any doubt the deepest, most interesting and player-creativity-encouraging RPG I've ever played. It challenges you to not only react fast, not only to be constantly vigilant---for there are monsters to counter every character build--but to be creative, use math, use strategy, use your trading skills, and design your own completely unique hero, then try him byPath of Exile is the without any doubt the deepest, most interesting and player-creativity-encouraging RPG I've ever played. It challenges you to not only react fast, not only to be constantly vigilant---for there are monsters to counter every character build--but to be creative, use math, use strategy, use your trading skills, and design your own completely unique hero, then try him by fire in a hardcore league with only 1 life. It's pure hardcore gaming heaven! I've been playing it for a year now and still loving every minute even more than when I started.

    I'm having so much fun that it's really hard to avoid wanting to spread the word!
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  27. Oct 26, 2013
    9
    It's tough to write anything negative about a game that you pay absolutely nothing for and provides as much content as Path of Exile has. The artwork is gorgeous for the environments, gear, and enemies, and the grittiness contributes greatly to it. The 1000+ options in the skill tree makes for many unique builds (although not all are truly viable depending on the league/difficulty). It'sIt's tough to write anything negative about a game that you pay absolutely nothing for and provides as much content as Path of Exile has. The artwork is gorgeous for the environments, gear, and enemies, and the grittiness contributes greatly to it. The 1000+ options in the skill tree makes for many unique builds (although not all are truly viable depending on the league/difficulty). It's difficult to believe this is done by such a small studio who's only income is cosmetic items and player funding. Without diving too deep into an item by item review suffice to say that this is a must play for any hack'n'slash fan.

    The most scathingly negative critique I can provide is that network glitches/lags can be lethal. This has a (majorly) negative impact on Hardcore characters, which are relegated to the Default league. My other knock is that rebuilding your character's skill tree is extremely costly, you must used hard earned in game currency to do so. This is done intentionally by the developers but if you are new the game your mistakes early are costly later.
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  28. Sep 29, 2017
    8
    This is a pretty good ARPG with a steep unforgiving learning curve. It is nearly mandatory to play this multiplayer as difficulty spikes from various bosses make this more or less impossible to beat without other players. Most builds will rely on only two type of attacks and maybe one skill to increase mobility. Having a clear idea about what you want to build and what gear you need isThis is a pretty good ARPG with a steep unforgiving learning curve. It is nearly mandatory to play this multiplayer as difficulty spikes from various bosses make this more or less impossible to beat without other players. Most builds will rely on only two type of attacks and maybe one skill to increase mobility. Having a clear idea about what you want to build and what gear you need is also required to make it to the end game. The currency system is pure bartering, making selling and trading items a bit of a guessing game. Online play can also have lag, especially at peak times. Still, if you can get past the eccentricities, the game can be surprisingly deep. Unique items and highly varied skills create a huge variety of viable builds, making battles into fascinating spectacles. Expand
  29. Jun 13, 2016
    10
    As a dungeon-crawler veteran and enthusiast, PoE is the game that this category deserved, and was waiting since Diablo 2.
    It has its flaws to certain eyes, ok. But this is how a 10/10 free2play game should look like.
    It's a slap in the face of Blizzard and this greedy market full of bad habits. GGG team made a top notch game, rewarding, with infinity replayability and fun as f***. For
    As a dungeon-crawler veteran and enthusiast, PoE is the game that this category deserved, and was waiting since Diablo 2.
    It has its flaws to certain eyes, ok. But this is how a 10/10 free2play game should look like.
    It's a slap in the face of Blizzard and this greedy market full of bad habits. GGG team made a top notch game, rewarding, with infinity replayability and fun as f***.
    For free. Free. In the most true sense of word: free.

    I'm sorry for the comparison, but If only Diablo 3 was as half as good...
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  30. Apr 4, 2016
    9
    Path of Exile is the best diablo-style action rpg I've played since, well, diablo2. It has the dark theme and atmosphere, an interesting skill tree, and the devs took a risk trying something new by tying abilities to socket-able items and avoiding currency in favor of item exchange. It takes a while to get used to but it really works, and creates a different experience with each play through.
  31. Jun 22, 2016
    8
    Imagine yourself exiled to a grimdark fantasy Australia where nothing stays dead and you start with a rusty sword or a driftwood club or the like. Welcome to Wraeclast, land of darkness, crappy loot and addictive, ARPG gameplay. To some, Path of Exile is merely regarded as the anti-Diablo 3. While it is true that it takes a very different route in the evolutionary path of the ARPG, to callImagine yourself exiled to a grimdark fantasy Australia where nothing stays dead and you start with a rusty sword or a driftwood club or the like. Welcome to Wraeclast, land of darkness, crappy loot and addictive, ARPG gameplay. To some, Path of Exile is merely regarded as the anti-Diablo 3. While it is true that it takes a very different route in the evolutionary path of the ARPG, to call it a better game, or a worse one, or even the "real Diablo 3" all fail to accurately describe it, though that being said the similarities to Diablo 2 are noticable, down to minute details like the scrolling NPC dialogue boxes and the translucent map overlay. In terms of combat difficulty Path of Exile is actually roughly analogous to Diablo 3. Where it greatly defers in its character progression. Where in Diablo 3 you unlock skills and passives in a linear fashion and can swap them around freely, Path of Exile has a unique, wide-open and very daunting system based around active skill gems and web of passive skills. I was actually scared away from the game at first simply because I didn't think I had the smarts for it. Path of Exile defies several common mechanics of Diablolikes. There is no limited item durability, but most uniquely there is no money: items are instead traded for crafting ingredients, with scraps of identify scrolls representing the lowest denomination of value. Each of the game's seven character classes have no actual abilities- these are instead tied to the skill gems, which in the style of Final Fantasy's materia crystals are slotted into color-matched slots on your gear, all of which has at least one of these slots. None of these gems are dependent on class but they are dependent on one of only three core stats: strength, dexterity or intelligence, each color coded and tied to an elemental damage type, fire, ice or lightning. Equipment drops you find will usually be of the lowest quality (anther contrast with Diablo 3, which in its current state makes a point of giving you good, class-flavored equipment drops), but any piece of equipment can be modified to a usable state using crafting items- that being said, you will eventually be required to do this as the ratio of good quality, level-appropriate drops starts out ♥♥♥♥♥♥ and only gets worse as you progress, and it will frustrate you. Potions are not stacked the disposable ton but are equipment unto themselves, slotted into your belt with random stats of their own, and charged by defeating enemies- making Path of Exile the only ARPG I know of to have legendary-quality potion bottles! By far the most interesting feature is the skill tree, which is really more of a skill spider web, with all passive abilities earned in the game tied to nodes on the web. Each of the seven classes begins at a certain point on this web near nodes flavored to them, but each can eventually be built in virtually any way you want, to use any weapons, gear and skill gems in the game. Your character does not gain attribute points automatically on a level up, merely a single skill point, which can be spent on a +10 boost to an attribute or something flashier, like attack speed, life drain. The web is laid out as sort of a highway with exits leading to cul-de-sacs, which often contain powerful capstone passives that add things like 20% faster mana regen, but require an investment of skill points to unlock the nodes leading to them. You will need to strike a balance between raising your stats and obtaining critical passive skills. This is where the hidden challenge of the game comes in, though: while virtually any build works just fine for Normal difficulty, on higher ones the game outright punishes you for any poor build choices, though thankfully respecs are plentiful enough that you have at least some room to experiment. I have played through each of the classes at least once, on Normal difficulty, as the game follows the Diablo 2 style progression where beating the game on one difficulty allows you to progress to then next in a linear fashion. I found myself enjoying each in their own way, but found myself most comfortable using a Duelist (the strength/dexterity hybrid class) built for fast, hard attacks with two-handed swords. For a free game, the depth of customization, quality of music, sound and voice work, the developer's commitment to non-pay-to-win cash shop items and the overall quality of the game in general is remarkable. The game has received a number of large content updates since launch, all free, including end-game random dungeon generation, a number of NPC crafters with reputation missions, and most notably an entire fourth story act bringing the game to a spectacular, blood-soaked conclusion. If you love ARPGs but perhaps crave more stat-crunching, min-maxing, and build challenge then Diablo 3 can provide, Path of Exile may be just what you're looking for. For me, it offered exactly what I loved most about Diablo 3- non-stop, click-mashing action in a dark fantasy universe with plenty of zombies, skeletons, monsters, misshapen horrors and some truly despicable villains I could really, really hate. Take a journey into nightmare, and walk the Path of Exile with me. You won't regret it. Expand
  32. Jul 5, 2016
    10
    Path of Exile is definitely NOT a Diablo copy. The game we've got here was released 3 years ago and still keeps growing fast. A lot of expansions are being released along with lots of new stuff that keep entertaining all of us.
  33. Jul 25, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. No doubt Diablo was a revolutionary game, create an entire style of games Diablo II is even more famous, but after it everyone was waiting for the new addictive dungeon crawler that would be able to keep its legacy. I have to say that not only Path of Exile is good enough for that, but was the best game I played in this style. The incredible amount of builds we can do, the skill allocation method, importance of equipment synergy gave this game great depth.

    I have some issues with its story, but the story was never the hallmark of those games. This was one of the games I played the most in my life, I just kept creating characters and playing it again. Not to mention the game is free to play and its cash shop doesn't give any special advantage to any player. I hope they find the energy to make a sequel, maybe selling it this time, so they could put even more energy into it.
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  34. Dec 22, 2019
    9
    I approach POE like a single player game. And it a very fun diablo-style game. Even after the release in 2013, the game feels very actual. The story is very slow but also very long in scope. So I don't know if it's any good but there is a lot of variety in the quests. It's easy to find where you have to go but without giving you too much either. Fighting with a witch and minions is aI approach POE like a single player game. And it a very fun diablo-style game. Even after the release in 2013, the game feels very actual. The story is very slow but also very long in scope. So I don't know if it's any good but there is a lot of variety in the quests. It's easy to find where you have to go but without giving you too much either. Fighting with a witch and minions is a blast. However I did try with a warrior style player and found it too difficult. Love the items and upgrades. The character leveling is enormous. I give it a 90%. They should remove that game from the online only in my opinion. Expand
  35. Nov 30, 2017
    9
    I had very high expectations for this game as it was always referred to as the game Diablo sequels should have been. Path of Exile managed to lived up to my expectations, it is, however, hot as good as the original Diablo. Dinosaurs of gaming have fond memories of Diablo, regardless of what they think of the ARPGs of modern gaming. What made Diablo special was the atmosphere, not reallyI had very high expectations for this game as it was always referred to as the game Diablo sequels should have been. Path of Exile managed to lived up to my expectations, it is, however, hot as good as the original Diablo. Dinosaurs of gaming have fond memories of Diablo, regardless of what they think of the ARPGs of modern gaming. What made Diablo special was the atmosphere, not really the looting system. Blizzard back then was a very respected developer and it was almost for granted that each Blizzard game will become a masterpiece. Blizzard chose a different path later on and imho became a company focused on how they can make profit from gamers.

    Leaving Blizzard aside, Path of Exile adopts the atmosphere of Diablo 1 rather well. It is not as scary, you also don't feel the despair as you go deeper into dungeons but it does have a pretty good atmosphere regardless. PoE does miracles in the department of sound/voice and the graphics are pretty good also. It has arguably the most impressive skill tree in the history of pc gaming and adding the fact that you can unlock new game modes and continue with your character, you can easily spend hundreds of hours on Path of Exile. And the game is for free... This alone makes me respect the developers enormously. Here is a superb Action RPG, with hundreds of hours of possible gameplay time and not even remotely pay-to-play. So if we talk about value, Path of Exile beats the **** out of almost every game.

    On the negative side, firstly, the genre itself :) I am not a fan of looting&grinding based ARPGs and for me boredom after a period is inevitable. Silver and Darkstone (aside from Diablo and Path of Exile) are the only games from this genre that I really like, both of which being very underrated. Also, although the writing for the NPCs is pretty good, the story not so much.

    In short, if you are into Action RPGs, do not miss Path of Exile. If you are not into this genre that much, give it a go anyway. Perhaps it will teach you to think twice next time you pre-order a game on full price and waste your hard earned cash.
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  36. Feb 12, 2020
    9
    Poe is the coolest action based rpg game. It's atmosphere is dark and astounding. There are a lot of active and passive skills. It's possible to use 8 of them at the same time, so the action never ends.
  37. Oct 11, 2019
    9
    Si te gusta el género , es un Must-Have, y más siendo gratis. Comunidad española grande.
  38. Feb 16, 2020
    10
    Amazing game, played for over 10k hours and keep coming back every league.

    I love that the game has an open economy, which means you can do whatever you want. I like to flip and play the economy game, rather than go out slashing monsters for loot, so there are so many ways to play the game!
  39. May 20, 2020
    10
    PoE is in truth of the best unkillable best slasher ever made. You can play for free and donations will only affect on customization of your character or hideout
  40. Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Just like Diablo but more in-depth. Wonderful experience. Highly recommend this game and it's free.
  41. Apr 23, 2020
    10
    Best free to play game ever it's not pay to win I have over 600 hrs in this game
  42. Oct 28, 2013
    10
    F2P done wright, no pay 2 win, it have something from all great arpg's, but reminds me a lot of Diablo 2,
    will recommend it to all that loves rpg's. So happy gaming...
  43. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing, I haven't spent this much time playing a game since WoW launched. The depth of the skilltree and ability to create any type of character you want is amazing. Highly recommend this game, and hey it's free to boot
  44. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    The graphics very nice for an aRPG and the overall presentation is A+. I've been gaming for over 30 years, and not many games actually pull me in and make me want to play them for more than a few hours. However the fresh take on ARPGs, coupled with the original ideas, complex skill/spell tree, and difficulty of the game made me keep coming back for more. You can basically forget D3 everThe graphics very nice for an aRPG and the overall presentation is A+. I've been gaming for over 30 years, and not many games actually pull me in and make me want to play them for more than a few hours. However the fresh take on ARPGs, coupled with the original ideas, complex skill/spell tree, and difficulty of the game made me keep coming back for more. You can basically forget D3 ever existed and consider PoE as the true successor to Diablo 2. The maps are very large, and sometimes it can take quite a long time to find the path through a dungeon. The bosses are not a cake walk, and will take a few tries and some thinking and planning to kill.

    Overall, 10/10 because this game has really impressed me in a day in age that games usually don't because they are so shallow. I feel bad giving it a 10/10 because most people just do it because they are fanboys or the game is overhyped, but PoE really is a true gem.
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  45. Oct 28, 2013
    10
    This game is truth. This game is light. This game is hope and love and freedom and peace in a world beset by dishonour, iniquity and dark portents. This game shows us that the triumph of the human soul is all but inevitable.

    This game is also really fun.
  46. Oct 27, 2013
    10
    Fantastic ARPG that has definitely earned its high user score, I downloaded immediately after seeing the massive skill tree on the trailer but the game really sunk its hooks in once I figured out how the skill system actually works. No gold or monetary system also makes for an excellent dynamic that I have never seen in a game like this before. There is also no aspect of pay to win itFantastic ARPG that has definitely earned its high user score, I downloaded immediately after seeing the massive skill tree on the trailer but the game really sunk its hooks in once I figured out how the skill system actually works. No gold or monetary system also makes for an excellent dynamic that I have never seen in a game like this before. There is also no aspect of pay to win it seems, you get what you play for, and for a game with a pvp element included I have to say massive props to the devs for sticking to that! Free to play. You'd be mad not to get this gem of a game if you're into the ARPG scene. Expand
  47. Oct 26, 2013
    10
    Greatest Hack and slash game ive ever played. Give it a try, but take your time with your judgment. Its BIG!!!! and COMPLEX! You can build near limitless different builds (and i dont mean it just with the passive points). You have TON of loot (and nearly everything is viable), you have TON of skills (they add every 3 weeks 2-3 new skills), you have TON of Uniques (every 3 weeks they add aGreatest Hack and slash game ive ever played. Give it a try, but take your time with your judgment. Its BIG!!!! and COMPLEX! You can build near limitless different builds (and i dont mean it just with the passive points). You have TON of loot (and nearly everything is viable), you have TON of skills (they add every 3 weeks 2-3 new skills), you have TON of Uniques (every 3 weeks they add a bunch of new uniqs), its free to play AND IT IS NOT PAY TO WIN! The item shop is just for cosmetic effects! Give it a try guys U will miss something BIG out Expand
  48. Oct 27, 2013
    10
    This is everything Diablo 3 should have been. It is awesome and really fun. It has perfect multiplayer and all that for free :D How can anything beat that?
  49. Oct 24, 2013
    10
    Path of Exile is exactly what the genre needed. I hardcore development team true to the game and it's idea's. Maybe it's just me but Diablo for example seemed to care more about it's revenue model then the game it's self.

    Also i would just like to add for the guy crying about his ATI 6800. I have the exact same card as you 6870 1 GB. Other than during the shadows off (You need to do
    Path of Exile is exactly what the genre needed. I hardcore development team true to the game and it's idea's. Maybe it's just me but Diablo for example seemed to care more about it's revenue model then the game it's self.

    Also i would just like to add for the guy crying about his ATI 6800. I have the exact same card as you 6870 1 GB. Other than during the shadows off (You need to do this in pretty much any game for ATI cards) i have perfect performance. You might want check your system for a virus etc...
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  50. Jan 16, 2014
    10
    For the longest time I've been awaiting an RPG adventure like this. Having to read the reviews on Diablo III and hear the many disappointments Blizzard incorporated into their franchise, Path Of Exile breathes new life into the genre.

    You get to choose your character and the level of difficulty. The customization stop there, though. The class you pick already has a predetermined male or
    For the longest time I've been awaiting an RPG adventure like this. Having to read the reviews on Diablo III and hear the many disappointments Blizzard incorporated into their franchise, Path Of Exile breathes new life into the genre.

    You get to choose your character and the level of difficulty. The customization stop there, though. The class you pick already has a predetermined male or female role. If you can't get over that and enjoy the game, you'll be missing out on an adventure.

    You don't have to go it alone. Once you get the basics down, which takes no time at all, you can either take the game on alone or quick join a party. Or, if you're stuck, create your own. You'll notice that your party will like to run through the level pretty quickly. So try not to fall behind.

    The story is nothing new and nothing surprising. This is another downfall of PoE. My guess is if the story were worse, players wouldn't care. Truly, the game can stand alone lacking a story.

    The environments are lush and detailed. The darker areas feel foreboding with a sense of danger at every turn. The music and environmental effects are rich. Headphone users will not be disappointed. Usually games I play, I turn off the music and play my own, but the score here is really well done.

    The replay is nice. You can keep playing the game again with tougher foes, though expect to die a lot if you don't party up at this point.

    Grinding Gear games also made this game FREE. People have the option to buy custom skins, but they can't buy anything that gives them a leg up over other players, making the PvP arena fair game.

    This is truly one of the best titles of 2013 and I look forward to see what Grinding Gear Games comes out with next.
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  51. Jan 20, 2014
    9
    Having played a lot of hack & slash - lots'o'loot games namely Diablo 2 & 3, Torchlight 1 & 2, Van Helsing, Titan quest and a few more - Path of Exile is one of the better ones. The classes are fun, the passive tallents and the way you can create any build is simply unique and amazing as well as collecting gems and leveling them up as your skills. And to top it all off... IT'S FREE! TheirHaving played a lot of hack & slash - lots'o'loot games namely Diablo 2 & 3, Torchlight 1 & 2, Van Helsing, Titan quest and a few more - Path of Exile is one of the better ones. The classes are fun, the passive tallents and the way you can create any build is simply unique and amazing as well as collecting gems and leveling them up as your skills. And to top it all off... IT'S FREE! Their microtransactions is not pay to win and they don't hold any content back. One play through from level 1 on normal mode should give you about 25 to 28 hours. Expand
  52. Nov 17, 2013
    10
    Excellent game. initially seemed a little basic and boring, but scratch beneath the surface and there is wonderful depth to the game. Repeating content is not an issue because for me its all about the builds. have taken 3 character to level 60+ now and i still have at least 5 or 6 other builds that i want to try

    And the best thing is: Ive spent 200+ hours on this game so far and not had
    Excellent game. initially seemed a little basic and boring, but scratch beneath the surface and there is wonderful depth to the game. Repeating content is not an issue because for me its all about the builds. have taken 3 character to level 60+ now and i still have at least 5 or 6 other builds that i want to try

    And the best thing is: Ive spent 200+ hours on this game so far and not had to pay a penny
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  53. Feb 2, 2014
    9
    If you enjoyed Diablo 2, this game will feel like a true sequel, i can see myself playing for years, definitely try it out.

    It is free to play, with a really fair micro-transactions!
  54. Mar 27, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Poe is classic "diablo game".Even its lack atmosphere from D1 it still offers a good game experience lets say differently.I have to admit developers for progressive aproach to the game. Well its not like starcraft 1 and 2 - u dont give new units graphics and thats it .. Sure its diablo clone - but with some new brave ideas, new gameplay systems.. lets see pluses and minuses of the game

    + Character customization it was never so complex in any other diablo clone game - skill three is so huge u will **** bricks and is biggest in diablo clone games so far.
    + Skills as gems this system is really revolutionary you can create your own skills - with complex skill tree that`s really kick-ass!
    + Currency system and crafting with orbs
    + it`s free completely
    + Constant updates from game developers side
    + Race modes where u can compete with other players usualy who gets faster experience

    - Desinc problem , well this is one of big issues of the game, you can die easy because of this lag and thats big problem for players who want to play hardcore mode
    - Leveling skills dosent feel rewarding especialy for weapon skills
    - Monsters dosent have a personality usualy u see them as hit points to get rid off no special tactics is needed maybe little on highier difficulties.Also u have to face skelletons just with more hit points and damage even in act 3, well thats quite bad cause u want that feeling what will be there when beat boss at end of act 2 and u see skeletons hmm...
    - 3 dificulty settings - well i know its diablo clone but cmon this is not the best way to increase game length i hoped for something better with such progressive atitude
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  55. Dec 3, 2013
    10
    jsut to start with i didn´t play diablo 3 so i will not comment on any of these two games being better or worse then the other. i just truly want to say THANK YOU to grinding gear games for developing such a title and make it free to play. i was surprised that all the stuff you can buy in the ingame shop is not necessary for having a fun game. in fact, most of the stuff is only cosmetic,jsut to start with i didn´t play diablo 3 so i will not comment on any of these two games being better or worse then the other. i just truly want to say THANK YOU to grinding gear games for developing such a title and make it free to play. i was surprised that all the stuff you can buy in the ingame shop is not necessary for having a fun game. in fact, most of the stuff is only cosmetic, there is not even an exp boost. thus this gem can be played for free completely without any disadvantage ..

    thanks.
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  56. Jan 10, 2014
    8
    I just played this for a couple of hours and it CREEPED ME OUT.
    The overall setting is so unnerving it makes you want to quit. Some might even do so.
    But after a few hours you're gonna be turning your PC on again. The graphics are a pleasant surprise -- or not. If you're faint hearted, avoid using Corpse Explosion. The game does not hesitate to show these gruesome moves as they should
    I just played this for a couple of hours and it CREEPED ME OUT.
    The overall setting is so unnerving it makes you want to quit. Some might even do so.
    But after a few hours you're gonna be turning your PC on again.
    The graphics are a pleasant surprise -- or not. If you're faint hearted, avoid using Corpse Explosion. The game does not hesitate to show these gruesome moves as they should be -- and sound: SPLOTCH.
    Extremely satisfying visuals (in contrast to other games that "hold up" on their best spell effects to use them on the max lvl skills) combined with harrowing scenery, hindered vision and relatively high skill cap, make for a game that can make you starve in your living room.

    If you want proof of how in-depth it is, take a look at its Passive skill layout. The sheer size of it is mind boggling. o_o
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  57. Aug 30, 2017
    9
    This is the current peak of ARPG's, look no further. It will shake you to your core and make you come back asking for more. It is visually well engineered and pleasantly dark in its concept. The skill tree contain more possible combinations than can be put in numbers. The Storyline creates a harsh reality that feels both alive and magical. You may play this game for a thousand hours andThis is the current peak of ARPG's, look no further. It will shake you to your core and make you come back asking for more. It is visually well engineered and pleasantly dark in its concept. The skill tree contain more possible combinations than can be put in numbers. The Storyline creates a harsh reality that feels both alive and magical. You may play this game for a thousand hours and still not get bored. I can boast having enjoyed Path of Exile for 400 hours and... I keep coming back asking for more. Expand
  58. Jun 2, 2019
    10
    Flawless game with branchy and friendly character pumping system: you can create a bum's grandfather, which will perfectly shoot with arches and raise dead friends of homeless people, for example.
    The assortment of active skills/spells generous: you want to be the queen of the elements, you want to suck life through ignoring the entire armor through the magic of chaos, you want to
    Flawless game with branchy and friendly character pumping system: you can create a bum's grandfather, which will perfectly shoot with arches and raise dead friends of homeless people, for example.
    The assortment of active skills/spells generous: you want to be the queen of the elements, you want to suck life through ignoring the entire armor through the magic of chaos, you want to superimpose effects of states. Fans of such farts will be satisfied, as well as I am.
    Also glad that after the main plot of the game you can not throw, and further develop your character, looking for him loot and steep stones skills - grindidy.

    Total: 10/10, better Diablo
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  59. Jan 9, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game for me, was a Diablo 3 alternative for being free, in my first hours of game, I found an empty game both in history and gameplay, but when I had access to all possibilities of skills, infinite builds and a tree of vast abilities, each different build, 10 acts are like the tutorial for maps that are something intricate, which takes a lot of time to finalize.
    The exchange system is incredible, there is a free market within the game, the price is based on the percentage of the rarity quantity and its status (life, damage, whatever).
    Strengths
    Free
    Free
    Cheaper than Diablo
    Free market
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  60. Nov 19, 2019
    9
    The game for me just got too repetitive. At first, it was fun, but it just became a grind and a chore after a while. I played 30+ hours, having one character complete Act 4, another complete Act 2, another complete Act 1 and starting games with others just to experiment. As a busy dad to a toddler, I don't have that much free time, but if the game was fun, I'd continue playing indefinitelyThe game for me just got too repetitive. At first, it was fun, but it just became a grind and a chore after a while. I played 30+ hours, having one character complete Act 4, another complete Act 2, another complete Act 1 and starting games with others just to experiment. As a busy dad to a toddler, I don't have that much free time, but if the game was fun, I'd continue playing indefinitely but unfortunately that was not what happened here.
    The first 3 Acts were very easy and suddenly in Act 4 the difficulty ramped way up and you better find some way of obtaining resistance to elements. Though easy, it was not that much fun. Boards were huge and sprawling but you are really killing the hordes of enemies the same way every time. I also found there was no incentive to upgrade your main equipments and weapons with orbs as a better version can be found eventually.
    What I liked; the flask system, gem-based skills, passive skill map
    What I disliked: have to be online, no respec, maps change when revisit, lack of waypoints in areas which result in wasted travel time, barter system, orbs not being useful, weapons and equipments with wrong colours and links, repetitive game play
    I would give it 8.5/10 and if I consider that it is free, give it a 9.3/10.
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  61. Feb 26, 2020
    10
    This game blew my mind when I first joined it in closed beta 2 years ago. Since then it was getting better and better only to become the masterpiece it is now. If you like hack'n slash games there's no excuse for you if you don't try this.
  62. Oct 28, 2013
    10
    PoE is the arpg that Blizzard should have made but failed badly with D3. We get the gritty killing and looting that we all expect from an arpg, with great animation, sound effects, background music, etc., PoE has it all. The 7 character classes combined with a passive skill tree with over 1400 nodes ensures an almost infinite number of builds are possible. PoE does take awhile to getPoE is the arpg that Blizzard should have made but failed badly with D3. We get the gritty killing and looting that we all expect from an arpg, with great animation, sound effects, background music, etc., PoE has it all. The 7 character classes combined with a passive skill tree with over 1400 nodes ensures an almost infinite number of builds are possible. PoE does take awhile to get comfortable with the pace of client input to server response timing but once you do it quickly becomes intuitive and easy. The concept of using spell gems that socket into gear with links that allow additional support gems to enhance the base gems function makes for wonderful combinations of physical and elemental attacks. This arpg actually has a story to tell (unlike D3 or TL2) that further enhances your total immersion into the world of Wraeclast that you have been exiled to for your crimes. GGG is stating a goal of new minor updates every 2 weeks, major new content every 4 months, and a new act every 9 to 12 months, so long term arpg playing is there in spades. If you got burned out of D3 or hate the cartoony look of TL2 then you owe yourself a favor and should take a serious look at this free to play arpg. Highly recommended for new and old arpg fans alike. Two thumbs up.

    ps. This game can not be judged in only a few weeks of play. The real fun is knowing that this arpg is going to take time to master and the journey you take from newbie to mastering PoE is a major part of the fun. So don't dismiss this arpg jewel after only a few hours of playing. Remember, raw diamonds are unimpressive looking too until they are polished.
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  63. Oct 23, 2013
    10
    This is such a great game. It has an absolutely massive and in-depth skill tree, lots of different skills you can use and alter with support gems. there are several leagues with different rules to keep the game fresh as well. All this and you can play for absolutely free. What more could you want?
  64. Oct 24, 2013
    10
    Diablo 3 was my first ARPG. For some reason I never tried ARGP games in my long gaming history. I thought that Diablo 3 was already quite entertaining for the first 100 hours or so, but after that I got extremely bored.

    Then I tried PoE, mainly because people were comparing it with the 'legendary' Diablo 2 all the time. I'm now about 100 hours into the game, but I still have the feeling
    Diablo 3 was my first ARPG. For some reason I never tried ARGP games in my long gaming history. I thought that Diablo 3 was already quite entertaining for the first 100 hours or so, but after that I got extremely bored.

    Then I tried PoE, mainly because people were comparing it with the 'legendary' Diablo 2 all the time. I'm now about 100 hours into the game, but I still have the feeling the I haven't discovered the biggest part of the game. PoE has completely taken me by surprise with its extreme details in gameplay and gamemechanis, its dark gritty atmosphere, and its thrilling (hardcore) gameplay.

    I will not be suprised if I still will be playing this game from time to time after several years. Since only a few games have achieved this in 20 years of PC gaming, this game deserves a 10 rating. I have considered bringing this 10 down to 9 because of the desync problems that occur sometime, but I must admit that all online games I have played had their own specific technical problems. So the desync is more related to the current of technology then the game itself. Therefore the 10 is well deserved.
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  65. Jan 14, 2014
    10
    Diablo is my all-time favorite PC game, and I've logged thousands of hours into Diablo 2. In my opinion, Path of Exile is the best Dungeon Crawler ever created because it is took everything I loved about Diablo 2 and improved on the formula, took everything I disliked and removed it, and left me with nothing but near-flawless gameplay. The developers are absolutely top-notch, they could beDiablo is my all-time favorite PC game, and I've logged thousands of hours into Diablo 2. In my opinion, Path of Exile is the best Dungeon Crawler ever created because it is took everything I loved about Diablo 2 and improved on the formula, took everything I disliked and removed it, and left me with nothing but near-flawless gameplay. The developers are absolutely top-notch, they could be huge one day if they continue like this.

    Incredible game. Worth every penny -- oh wait. IT'S FREE.
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  66. Oct 26, 2013
    10
    This game has held me in thrall far longer than any other ARPG out there. The many exciting build possibilities are enabled by the massive skill tree, the wide selection of different kinds of skill gems and the uniques that provide very interesting abilities. I have been playing this since closed beta and I haven't gotten bored with it so they're doing a lot right.

    The new areas and
    This game has held me in thrall far longer than any other ARPG out there. The many exciting build possibilities are enabled by the massive skill tree, the wide selection of different kinds of skill gems and the uniques that provide very interesting abilities. I have been playing this since closed beta and I haven't gotten bored with it so they're doing a lot right.

    The new areas and monsters provide a stiffer challenge and the ending boss fight certainly didn't disappoint. Many will be caught with their pants down (as I and my friends were) at the unexpected abilities of the end boss. However it was a fun fight and we had lots of laughs about it afterwards.

    The graphics convey a gritty grim feeling but make no mistake this is a gorgeous looking game that looks better than its triple AAA competitors.

    The devs promise constant updates and constant balance and bug fixes.... and all this for absolutely free. This is not a P2W game... don't take my word for it and try it.
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  67. Oct 28, 2013
    9
    Man, this game this game so good.

    The visuals are good enough to enjoy the game. They're not the best, but they make it so that the game runs even on older PC's well enough. The music in the game is extremely good. The sound effects are good and they'll remind you of the good, old Diablo 2 games. On top of that you'll come across the same addictive potential Diablo 2 had to offer.
    Man, this game this game so good.

    The visuals are good enough to enjoy the game. They're not the best, but they make it so that the game runs even on older PC's well enough.
    The music in the game is extremely good. The sound effects are good and they'll remind you of the good, old Diablo 2 games. On top of that you'll come across the same addictive potential Diablo 2 had to offer.
    The atmosphere is top notch, the enemy variety is there and there is even a great story behind, if you pay attention at the game. Talk to the NPC's, learn more about them. You won't regret it.

    And the best thing about the game: It is totally free. Download it, play it, enjoy it.

    There is only one "problem" I have with the game and that's the difficulty factor. The game can be merciless to newcomers. You will probably have to delete your character sooner or later, because you will realize that you messed the skill tree up, which can be quite overwhelming at the beginning. You will realize that some classes like the summoner or a good specced marauder have it easier than other classes. To avoid frustration I would recommend you to start with the summoner as the first class and concentrate on your demons to do the work for you. It will make it a lot easier at the beginning and you will learn the game better.

    Enjoy!
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  68. Jan 13, 2014
    10
    Hi, since Diablo 2, I never found a game where I can have that deep instinctual desire to play and a feeling of well-being in a hack and slash world of dark fantasy (just because the game is so perfectly giving you that thrill). I'm not an emotional person by nature, but by discovering Path of Exile, I lost a lot of nostalgia related to my childhood. After playing hundreds of online games,Hi, since Diablo 2, I never found a game where I can have that deep instinctual desire to play and a feeling of well-being in a hack and slash world of dark fantasy (just because the game is so perfectly giving you that thrill). I'm not an emotional person by nature, but by discovering Path of Exile, I lost a lot of nostalgia related to my childhood. After playing hundreds of online games, I give Path of Exile, for the moment, a score of 10/10.
    Thank you very much founders of the game.

    I'm lvl 37. But also I know how to recognise talent !
    Few people complains about that it is hard to find good items in the League ("Ladder"). For the "hard to farm items part" I don't know for you but in Diablo 2 I had to do Mephisto runs for maybe more than 5 months to compete in pvp with good gears (in the patch 1.10+). So it depends of the player to have a negative or positive point of view (it depends how much you are used to work in a game maybe). If you want easy items anyway don't go "Ladder".

    It is very easy to enjoy the content while the atmosphere is so perfect, the hack and slash very good, the party system very good and the game is free too. THE SKILL TREE IS AWESOME!

    Give it a try, you won't regret it unless you are a troll.
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  69. Nov 8, 2013
    10
    This game is the true successor to Diablo 2. Dark, gritty graphics, old school action, and a phenomenal skill and talent system make this game miles ahead of its competition. Its even free to play! Whats not to love?
  70. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Best game ever! No doubt about it.

    It beats any other ARPG in every single aspect.

    Not only that, but Grinding Gear Games are also the best developers ever!
  71. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Path of Exile is a great game for Diablo lovers. The environment is dark and gritty, the mechanics are shallow enough to get started but deep and complex for advanced users to customize their builds, and the action is visceral. Innovative, deep, and free to play, Path of Exile is a game any hack and slash fan should try!
  72. Oct 25, 2013
    9
    Truly a terrific dungeon ARPG. The skill system is simply amazing, giving you so much versatility and so many options it's staggering. For first time player's it can be a bit overwhelming, but with the new tutorial feature things are explained quite clearly.

    The gem-skilling feature is quite an innovation as I've never come across a game with something similar, and allows you to create
    Truly a terrific dungeon ARPG. The skill system is simply amazing, giving you so much versatility and so many options it's staggering. For first time player's it can be a bit overwhelming, but with the new tutorial feature things are explained quite clearly.

    The gem-skilling feature is quite an innovation as I've never come across a game with something similar, and allows you to create some very interesting combination of skills and abilities, while the skill tree helps further augment those skills and your character as a whole.

    Gameplay wise its a fun, smooth and interesting foray of monster slaying. And given how different each character you make can be, it'll take quite a while for things to become repetitive.

    The graphics are terrific for an ARPG, especially a free one at that. The dev team have worked hard on the lighting and shadows and the results speak for themselves.

    Try it out, you won't be disappointed.
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  73. Oct 29, 2013
    10
    Pure brilliant game. Extremely deep and extensive replay value. As people write; what Diablo 3 never became and what all Diablo II-players really wanted. Will play this for ages just as I did with D2.
  74. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    The best ARPG game so far, unseen depth and diversity and constant updates, some completely reinventing the game and at the very least the vast majority of the builds in it. 10/10
  75. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    One of the best ARPGs I have ever played. Complex passive tree, deep combat, many variations, polished graphics, amazing developers. It's everything you could possibly ever want from this sort of game and it's ALL F2P.
  76. Oct 23, 2013
    9
    There's some people complaining about the economy in PoE. Let me tell you why they are wrong in short and simple terms.

    Diablo 3 (yes, ofcourse it has to be mentioned) had the Auction House, problem with this was if you didn't play for a week or two all your stuff usually fell in price drastically making you useless. Having to stay up at night or set alarms to try and win auctions. PoE
    There's some people complaining about the economy in PoE. Let me tell you why they are wrong in short and simple terms.

    Diablo 3 (yes, ofcourse it has to be mentioned) had the Auction House, problem with this was if you didn't play for a week or two all your stuff usually fell in price drastically making you useless. Having to stay up at night or set alarms to try and win auctions.
    PoE economics are based on a lot of currencies, the thing about these is that they are ALL USED in the crafting and usage of everyday items/maps in the game. What results is that there is hardly any inflation. Where in Diablo 3 your 1 million gold was worth a lot at launch and now useless, my items and currencies I got over half a year ago in this game are still largely the same in worth.

    What this evolves to is that PoE has a stable economy that lets people play for a few hours, days, or whichever, leave the game, and return later and still feel engaged and fresh! You always feel like you are making progress towards the bigger hole.

    As for the gameplay, remember in Diablo II how people could come up with these quarky builds and make them work?! I remember a duel-wield potion-throwing barbarian. Now in Diablo III there was nothing of the sort, pretty much every class had a "best" build (at least in HC).
    In PoE there are nearly limitless builds and combinations, every class can do everything.

    Want to be a two-hand melee witch (the frail magic caster)? You can make it work.
    Want to be a huge maurader specialized on traps or minions? Go for it!

    HOWEVER; There are some drawbacks to this, you usually need some tips on how to build a good character (the forums, reddit etc) and you should be prepared that during some levels of your build you will be pretty bad, just like in Diablo II there is a dead zone before your plan goes into fruition.

    That said, this is the spiritual and evolved successor to Diablo II in my opinion.
    Is it perfect? Not at all. But it's worth giving a try, especially with friends
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  77. Oct 23, 2013
    10
    This is the first aRPG in a long time that takes some risks and really pushes out some fresh ideas. The currency system, the passive skill tree, the cosmetic items, the different leagues with different mods, guilds, and a constant barrage of updates from a developer that truly cares about its player base.

    Regardless of your views, there's no arguing that this game is a milestone in
    This is the first aRPG in a long time that takes some risks and really pushes out some fresh ideas. The currency system, the passive skill tree, the cosmetic items, the different leagues with different mods, guilds, and a constant barrage of updates from a developer that truly cares about its player base.

    Regardless of your views, there's no arguing that this game is a milestone in free-to-play games as well as aRPG's. Path of Exile is a game to watch out for that will have a player base that will last for years to come.
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  78. Oct 24, 2013
    10
    This is everything diablo 3 should have been and more. The skill tree is huge, I would call it the skill forest, great endgame maps and most of all, it's FREE!
  79. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    i dont plat diablo 2,im started with diablo 3,played it for 2000 hours on my barbarian,and POE came out.. and yeah,i tried it,and then i realised,and then i know why so many people mad at diablo 3,POE is way more better... im playing POE since 23 jan,12 hours a day,for fun and for life..
  80. Oct 26, 2013
    10
    Have been playing games vor over 20 years. This is one of the very best games i ever played. Very balanced, very outlasting in regard to endgame content ans so on. An dthe best thing is that the developers will add content continously. You really should give it a shot or a hack+slay
  81. Oct 25, 2013
    9
    I'm sure this has been said already. But this is what I wish Diablo 3 was. Its a great ARPG that actually have unique character design! Unlike the trending "everyone has to be the same" PoE truly lets you design your own character.
  82. Jun 14, 2018
    10
    Latecomer here.

    There is so much content in this game, it's staggering. Literally thousands of skills permutations to try out with the gems system. And so many world events to maximize replayability. Diablo 3 RoS felt unfinished compared to this.
  83. Feb 9, 2015
    9
    It's 2015, and I still play this game. True, I am not playing with the same intensity as I did back in 2013, but from time to time I allocate some time to finish a high level map with old characters.

    Why ? It's fun, and playing the game on Hardcore (permanent death) gives you a feeling of pressure and attachment to your character. Others have said this is the spiritual successor of
    It's 2015, and I still play this game. True, I am not playing with the same intensity as I did back in 2013, but from time to time I allocate some time to finish a high level map with old characters.

    Why ? It's fun, and playing the game on Hardcore (permanent death) gives you a feeling of pressure and attachment to your character.

    Others have said this is the spiritual successor of Diablo 2. I do not agree. There are too many innovations and mechanics that are original and specific to PoE, that's hardly a D2 clone. The only things that can remind of you D2 are the graphics which are gloomy and less cartoonish than for example Torchlight and D3.

    What I love about the game:

    - The skill tree : in theory it's immense. Unfortunately you won't be able to pick everything you like, so in order for your build to be viable in the end game you will need to make "sacrifices" and "decisions", for example sometimes you need to sacrifice a little bit of your damage in order to increase your life.

    - Items: There's a nice synergy between the items and the skills. Basically you can have builds that only work if you posses a specific Unique item(s). Also there are builds that can be augmented by possessing items with certain stats. So when you create your build you need to think in anticipation.

    - Crafting: The game currency in the game are Orbs (there's no money in the game). Orbs can be used to augment your items: add new properties, increase the number of sockets in your items, etc.

    - End game: This is one of the few RPGs that have a nice end-game: Maps. I won't explain in detail how Maps works, but trust me, they add a lof of content after you will finish all the chapters in the game.

    There are a lot of things that make PoE shine, but I let you discover them.
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  84. Jan 12, 2015
    8
    A worthwhile ARPG, definitely worth trying if you're a fan of the genre.

    Complex skill systems, lots of different builds to create, varied loot with different ways to upgrade items. You can even make health potion flasks with differing stats. There are races/ladders, a thriving economy with constant trading, and pvp. The devs update content and are engaged. POE can be difficult,
    A worthwhile ARPG, definitely worth trying if you're a fan of the genre.

    Complex skill systems, lots of different builds to create, varied loot with different ways to upgrade items. You can even make health potion flasks with differing stats.

    There are races/ladders, a thriving economy with constant trading, and pvp. The devs update content and are engaged.

    POE can be difficult, you have to make correct decisions regarding your character build. If youre looking for an optimal character your first play through, you may want to read up on game mechanics and builds. Also, at some point you're probably going to have to do some trading if you want great gear.

    Desync is unfortunately an issue. Occasionally the game client and the server don't communicate correctly. This did not effect me at all, for some people it's a legit hindrance.

    It's free to play with a cash shop full of cosmetic stuff and frills. You can't pay for more powerful characters, or max level characters, or experience boosts, or any of that garbage. The game is not pay to win.

    I played POE for a while and then moved on, but I may be back some day. It's a cool game from a small but dedicated team.
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  85. Nov 27, 2018
    9
    I have nothing but positive things to say about this game. While only being a casual player of it, the amount of devotion and work that went into it and continues to go int o the development by Grinding Gear Games is to be applauded.
  86. Oct 28, 2013
    10
    Good in-depth playing system. Colossal skill tree and wide character customization. The AI isn't overly powerful and unstoppable. Many weapons to fight with, only made better with the power of magic. No overly powerful weapons, monsters loot many weapons that you can sell for a fair price. Several classes to chose from. Many kinds of monsters, cannibals, zombies, giants, just to name aGood in-depth playing system. Colossal skill tree and wide character customization. The AI isn't overly powerful and unstoppable. Many weapons to fight with, only made better with the power of magic. No overly powerful weapons, monsters loot many weapons that you can sell for a fair price. Several classes to chose from. Many kinds of monsters, cannibals, zombies, giants, just to name a few. So, what's the catch? There is none! The game is free, so I would suggest you try it out, there's nothing to lose. Expand
  87. Nov 18, 2013
    8
    I could go on about everything that is amazing about this game, but instead, I'll tell you why I'm not giving it a 10 (like many others mistakenly have). It is flawed. It isn't fatally flawed I plan on playing it for months (or maybe even years) to come however, there is definite room for improvement. On the bright side, the developers are amazing and responsive, and I'm sure there willI could go on about everything that is amazing about this game, but instead, I'll tell you why I'm not giving it a 10 (like many others mistakenly have). It is flawed. It isn't fatally flawed I plan on playing it for months (or maybe even years) to come however, there is definite room for improvement. On the bright side, the developers are amazing and responsive, and I'm sure there will be fixes that address the flaws as the game matures. On to the bad stuff.

    Desync. Left-clicking to attack; attacking through doorways; walking through doorways; walking in confined spaces; melee attacks; leap slam. From what I understand, these things and more can all affect how the server predicts your character's movement. As a result, the server predicts that you will be standing ion one spot, while your local client displays you as standing somewhere else. This can and will lead to death, unless you're very careful. This hasn't been noticeably worked on since I started playing during the closed beta, and is extremely infuriating, but is not extremely worse than other online aRPGs with "rubberbanding" (like you-know-who). This major point takes off 1.5 from my score.

    Balance: Some classes, skills, and skill combinations are much more powerful and useful than others. This is only a small issue, as the developers frequently add new skills and rebalance the skills. In the past year, they've added a new class, many new skills, rebalanced much of the ranger tree, rebalanced physical bow attacks, rebalanced melee, rebalanced life nodes, and much more. Balance is a moving target, but I think GGG is doing an excellent job of addressing it. Until the game is completely balanced, I'll just take .5 off for this.

    I really have no complaints about the game besides these 2 things. Everything else is practically perfect.
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  88. Nov 24, 2013
    10
    Dark, gritty, atmospheric. Fantastic fun both solo and multiplayer. Intriguing race event system. Interesting dynamic skill (gem) system, and the passive tree is spectacular. The only things I don't particularly like about it are the currency system and the respec system, but these are just personal preferences and shouldn't stand in the way of you trying out this gem of a game.
  89. Nov 28, 2013
    10
    Path of Exile is amazing in so many ways that i dont even know where to start. Its truly f2p, has incredible build diversity, a great crafting system and a very rewarding endgame.

    On top of that GGG improved some of the more lackluster features of its spiritual predecessor Diablo 2 in very smart ways. For example, you can reset areas without leaving the game. You cant fill your
    Path of Exile is amazing in so many ways that i dont even know where to start. Its truly f2p, has incredible build diversity, a great crafting system and a very rewarding endgame.

    On top of that GGG improved some of the more lackluster features of its spiritual predecessor Diablo 2 in very smart ways. For example, you can reset areas without leaving the game. You cant fill your inventory with potions and spam them nonstop, only recharge the ones you have when you kill monsters or visit a town.

    The "real" endgame consists of so called maps, areas based on specific areas from the campaign, but with semi-random monsters. You can improve those maps with various currency items, which makes them significantly harder but also increases the amount of loot.
    The lower tier maps are easy to come by and cheap to roll, but going all the way to the top tier maps requires serious commitment, research, and lots of currency. However, once you get there it may well be worth it, since virtually every other item you find in those maps will sell for a decent amount (and ofc those maps themselves are worth a lot).

    So,in conclusion, i rate POE 10/10.
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  90. Nov 30, 2013
    10
    This game surprised me, the gameplay seemed strange at first, but over time it is easy to pick up and still giving to play with a friend. With nothing cloying and very addictive phases, besides the beautiful graphic!
  91. Dec 3, 2013
    10
    I actually had to make an account on metacritic to give this game a review. I've used steam for years and read the metacritic review on many games...the 85 Path of Exile has received did not sit well with me. This is a free to play game similar to Diablo 3, yet has what D3 lacked for me....customization of your character. The skill tree is amazing, and you will spend a large amount ofI actually had to make an account on metacritic to give this game a review. I've used steam for years and read the metacritic review on many games...the 85 Path of Exile has received did not sit well with me. This is a free to play game similar to Diablo 3, yet has what D3 lacked for me....customization of your character. The skill tree is amazing, and you will spend a large amount of time planning the path your character will take on it. The skill usage in this game is also a unique aspect to me, every skill is able to be augmented in some way, want an extra projectile on that skill? You've got it...want extra magic find on that skill? You've got it. This game has 10+ all over it and I want everyone using this review site to know it! Expand
  92. Dec 26, 2013
    9
    Firstly, I only tried this game because of the reviews and critic scores I seen, here on Metacritic, and I am happy I did. It's free to play. Simple as that. Yes the ingame store can be very expensive, but they are only cosmetic items and don't affect the actual game and the developers claim they will never turn pay to win. If you are a Diablo fan, and you don't like the direction DiabloFirstly, I only tried this game because of the reviews and critic scores I seen, here on Metacritic, and I am happy I did. It's free to play. Simple as that. Yes the ingame store can be very expensive, but they are only cosmetic items and don't affect the actual game and the developers claim they will never turn pay to win. If you are a Diablo fan, and you don't like the direction Diablo III has gone (like myself) you should love this. Yes the graphics aren't spectacular, but they are meant to be playable on a wide variety of systems (as its tells you on the website) which is good as not everyone can have a great, expensive gaming system, but now they can enjoy this great game! Expand
  93. Mar 3, 2014
    9
    I can't say enough about how good this game is. I love how the passive talent point system works to diversify your character from other players and how according to what gems you slot bases what abilities you have. I'm an old Diablo fan boy myself and Diablo 3 was some what of a let down for me. That's why I'm glad I discovered this title it actually does what D3 was supposed to do.I can't say enough about how good this game is. I love how the passive talent point system works to diversify your character from other players and how according to what gems you slot bases what abilities you have. I'm an old Diablo fan boy myself and Diablo 3 was some what of a let down for me. That's why I'm glad I discovered this title it actually does what D3 was supposed to do. For those seeking a challenge it has plenty. For those who like it casual it has that too. All things you purchase on the Market are mostly cosmetic character effect and vanity pets. This will be one of the best games you've ever downloaded and it won't cost you a Dime to play. I have yet to buy anything myself but as much as I love it that'll probably change. Expand
  94. Apr 5, 2014
    8
    This game is a pretty good hack and slash game and gives players a good single player and multiplayer experience. However, I do not think this game is to be considered the best hack and slash game. The customization is deep, and the dark, moody setting gives it a "Diablo" feel to it. Oh and lets not forget, ITS FREE TO PLAY.
  95. Nov 18, 2016
    10
    The skill tree of this game is amazing all the possibilities and builds you can do are amazing. The game takes a lot of memory and updates are frequent but its free to play.
  96. Jan 25, 2017
    10
    i love the game but i need a better computer to run most of the game and most of my bilds it does suck only haveing 384 mb of graphics i need to get a new compter otherwise its a good game and yes ive been playing this game at 1-15 fps some times crashing or the game freezes up and becomes unplayable keep up the work ggg keep doing what is necessary to improve the gaming experience for all users
  97. Mar 9, 2019
    10
    Great game, been playing for several years on and off and keep coming back at every other league and i'm always taken back by how great the game is.
  98. Feb 8, 2019
    8
    A great game, especially for the price.

    It is incredibly fun to mow down hordes of monsters with the numerous classes / abilities in this game.

    The only downside is the incredible depth can be daunting when first getting into the game.
  99. Jun 21, 2020
    10
    Been playing since beta, the game is great, gets regular updates,, has a huge variety of skills and is not class dependent.

    Graphics get updated with each league, and all expansions bring major improvements to the gane
  100. Aug 7, 2017
    9
    Obviously, this is an ARPG for fans of Diablo III, Torchlight II, and many others. But it is FREE (legit F2P), and equals Diablo 3 in quality in almost every way. Huge community, playerbase, and continued support makes you feel good about playing it. It was a lot of fun, and I'm sure I will return to it again, and again.
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. May 9, 2014
    100
    Grinding Gear Games has created something special here, and given it gratis to the world.
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 11, 2014
    88
    Hack & slash games are addictive because they follow a simple formula: kill, kill and kill some more. Path of Exile is no different in this regard. During your quest in the perilous continent of Wraeclast you need to slay thousands and thousands of monsters but it never gets boring because there are a plenty of fresh ideas like the very vast skill system and barter-based economy that differentiate it from other similar games. But it's not a perfect game. The story is weak and the difficulty level is too low in the beginning. [Dec 2013]
  3. Jan 13, 2014
    84
    An exceptionally generous free-to-play action-rPG. What it lacks in punch it makes up for in depth and value for money.