Path of Exile

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2202 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,641 out of 2202
  2. Mixed: 258 out of 2202
  3. Negative: 303 out of 2202

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  1. guruMarkB
    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.    … Expand
  2. Bouldergore
    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?
  3. Bouter
    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.    … Expand
  4. Mittsies
    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.    … Expand
  5. Hamz
    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.    … Expand
  6. untested1
    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!    … Expand
  7. Lord174
    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.    … Expand
  8. d4haxor
    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?
  9. NCPereira
    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!
  10. thechest4
    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!
  11. DeadlySphinx
    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.    … Expand
  12. logicsense
    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.
  13. Mordread
    Oct 25, 2013
    6
    Truly one of the best ARPG games to have ever been created. Awesome skills tree, great features and unique concepts. Unfortunately this game has one huge drawback. The game is online only. While this is not necessarily a negative thing, Path of Exile suffers from terrible latency and desync issues (especially if you live in a country which is not near a server). What makes it worse is thatTruly one of the best ARPG games to have ever been created. Awesome skills tree, great features and unique concepts. Unfortunately this game has one huge drawback. The game is online only. While this is not necessarily a negative thing, Path of Exile suffers from terrible latency and desync issues (especially if you live in a country which is not near a server). What makes it worse is that the game is quite intense and often even a small lag spike or desync can get you killed. Certain bosses have abilities that can 1 shot most characters, these are easily avoidable unless your latency is over 200ms. If your latency is too high you cannot fight certain bosses without a party.
    So to sum it up PoE is one of the best games I have played in years plagued by one of the worst ideas games have had in years (online only). A simple addition of offline play or more servers around the world could easily make this a 9 or 10 out of 10 game.    … Expand
  14. Janny_A
    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
  15. Gensou
    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.
  16. Krehlmar
    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     … Expand
  17. CouLesKy
    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.    … Expand
  18. VLValy
    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!
  19. dentagram
    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..
  20. Schlachtviehh
    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
  21. Fuz
    Nov 3, 2018
    3
    What a shame, a potentially excellent game dragged down by nearsight.
    PoE would be nice if it wasn't so anachronistically obtuse. Apart the fact that it's way overcomplicated and unnecessarily punishing (things like no ah or that it has a such a huge and complex skill tree and so little respec possibilities), I stopped playing when I started receiving XP penalities for deaths. NOPE,    What a shame, a potentially excellent game dragged down by nearsight.
    PoE would be nice if it wasn't so anachronistically obtuse. Apart the fact that it's way overcomplicated and unnecessarily punishing (things like no ah or that it has a such a huge and complex skill tree and so little respec possibilities), I stopped playing when I started receiving XP penalities for deaths. NOPE, that's the 90's. Not even the first Diablo had that.

    Play Grim Dawn instead.    … Expand
  22. Pewpewlazors99
    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.
  23. Get_Fukt
    Apr 7, 2019
    1
    Path Of Exile is boring, overrated, laggy, RNG infested mediocre trash. The only good thing about it is that it's free so I didn't have to worry about waste my money on more incompetence.
  24. dryerlaw
    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.
  25. nomemory
    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.    … Expand
  26. Heldrin
    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.    … Expand
  27. jseph1234
    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.
  28. Pacattack
    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
  29. sucktackular
    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.    … Expand
  30. LGFTW
    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.
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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best PC Game of 2013
18
#18 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. RPGamer
    May 9, 2014
    100
    Grinding Gear Games has created something special here, and given it gratis to the world.
    Read full review
  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. PC Gamer
    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.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »