Path of Exile 2 offers deep character customization with over 1,900 unique skills, a Dual Specialisation system that allows seamless switching between different skill types, and nearly 450 Skill and Support Gems for flexible combat abilities. Combined with 12 character classes, each with three Ascendancy specializations, the game delivers an extensive range of build possibilities to suit diverse playstyles.
With Diablo IV releasing just a year and a half ago, it’s probably not too surprising to discover that a good number of players are already becoming somewhat tired of what Blizzard’s latest stab at the dungeon crawler genre has been offering up. Thankfully then, the long-awaited Path of Exile 2 from Grinding Gear Games has arrived at just the right time, providing Diablo players with the sort of alternative that hasn’t been around in a long time. If you’re sick of Diablo IV here’s why you should give Path of Exile 2 a shot.
Endless Customisation And Speccing Possibilities
Though Diablo IV isn’t particularly lacking in the customisation and speccing stakes – it has had three prior games and an avalanche of patches to get it right, after all – it arguably falls some way short of what Grinding Gear Games has achieved with Path of Exile 2. Certainly, just a glance at Path of Exile 2’s trademark passive skill tree which has been inherited from the first game, reveals an abyssal depth of character customisation that far outstrips any other entry in the dungeon crawler genre.
An Overwhelming Cast Of Varied Enemies And Bosses
Path of Exile 2 features over 600 unique monsters and 100 bosses, each with distinct abilities and patterns, making combat highly strategic. Boss fights are more reminiscent of Dark Souls than traditional dungeon crawlers, requiring careful planning and precise execution, which matches the game’s deep character customization and adds significant challenge and depth.
A Much More Worthwhile, Content-Packed Endgame
Path of Exile 2’s endgame expands significantly beyond Diablo IV’s, featuring over 100 unique maps with bosses, modifiers, and challenges drawn from past leagues and new content. Centered around the Atlas hub, players unlock maps, battle powerful enemies, discover rare loot, and encounter helpful NPCs, making for a rich and dynamic endgame experience.
Path of Exile 2’s endgame is divided into seven systems—Breach, Delirium, Expedition, Ritual, Pinnacle Bosses, Trials of Chaos, and Sekhemas—each offering unique mechanics, challenges, and rewards. Players earn points in each system (e.g., Breach, Delirium, Ritual, Expedition) by completing specific tasks, which can be reinvested into the Atlas Tree to unlock tougher encounters and greater loot, making the endgame both strategic and highly replayable.
The Pinnacle Boss encounters are the standout feature of Path of Exile 2’s endgame, requiring players to defeat faction bosses to collect keys and unlock a fortress containing extremely challenging battles. These high-stakes fights reward skilled players with Atlas points and top-tier loot, showcasing a more complex and rewarding endgame than Diablo IV.
Reactive And Transparent Developer Support That Shapes Everything Going Forward
Even before Path of Exile 2 dropped into early access this year, one key area where the game has sought to separate itself from Diablo IV is in how its creators interact with the community. Put simply, developer Grinding Gear Games has been responding to queries, issues and suggestions from the community on an almost daily basis. Whether it’s questions about the Path of Exile 2 roadmap, updates on server bandwidth or responding to low-level queries about balancing, loot drops and more, Grinding Gear Games always appears present, transparent and ready to help in a timely fashion as Path of Exile 2 barrels its way through early access.