As Path of Exile 2’s review score continues to plummet, another ARPG overtakes it on Steam

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As an ardent fan of Action Role-Playing Games (ARPGs), I can’t help but be thrilled about the buzz surrounding Path of Exile 2! This anticipated sequel has made waves in the ARPG community, setting new records for the franchise after its Early Access launch in December last year.

A lot of us, including myself, were thrilled with the comeback of PoE. It managed to amass over half a million simultaneous players on Steam and reigned as the top-selling game on the platform for several weeks. Much like other early access titles, player numbers dropped until a new content update was rolled out.

In this updated version 0.2, we witnessed a significant increase in the number of players, nearing around 250,000. Yet, along with more players, there were numerous reviews shared about the game.

What’s happening with Path of Exile 2

Players of PoE 2 were disheartened by the modifications Grinding Gear Games implemented in the game. The progress rate is now as slow as a snail’s crawl when compared to other Action Role-Playing Games (ARPGs), even slower than its predecessor, Path of Exile 1.

The overall power levels of all builds have been reduced, bringing excessive ones in line, but previously average abilities are now essentially useless. In numerous cases, basic attacks inflict more damage than any skill combo, making weapons like spears and crossbows the preferred choice for players, who can simply click their way to victory.

1. “The gameplay loop feels unbalanced and repetitive.”
2. “Despite the beautiful graphics, the game’s mechanics are flawed and frustrating.”
3. “The grind for resources is tedious and not worth the rewards.”
4. “The lack of variety in missions and objectives is a major letdown.”

In the latest “Dawn of the Hunt” update, I’m finding the entire experience grueling. Each boss battle seems to last much longer than necessary, and most abilities deal minimal damage at best. Although they mentioned wanting to slow down gameplay, it seems like I won’t even manage a week in this league given its current state. To add salt to the wound, the game frequently crashes or runs unstably, making progress nearly impossible. It’s a massive hurdle if you can get the game to run smoothly at all – Hellexion (200 hours played)

“This fails to understand what makes video games fun.” RustedHeroes (263 hours played)

I’ve noticed that the recent update seems to have affected the game negatively. If you enjoy pouring time into a seemingly fruitless endeavor, this game might be just what you’re looking for right now.
Docholliday211 (831 hours played)

It’s clear that these individuals are not rookies freshly entering the game. If someone has been playing for more than 30 days, I’m open to their suggestions.

The Last Epoch capitalizes at the right time

At an opportune moment, Last Epoch is experiencing significant success with the launch of season 2. In mere hours following the season 2 release, Last Epoch surpassed Path of Exile 2’s active player base by a substantial 40%. This impressive feat is noteworthy considering that Last Epoch emerged from Early Access in February of last year.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but share the excitement as the massive influx of players has led to some login challenges. Yet, despite these occasional hiccups, it continues to garner an impressive recent rating, with many praising it as a standout game often compared to Path of Exile.

After spending over a hundred hours in the current POE2 0,2 league, I took a break to give it a try. I’m really glad I did! It reminded me of how enjoyable and satisfying playing an ARPG can be from the very beginning, not just during end-game challenges when things get tough and sometimes seem unfair.

For me, this game ranks high alongside Path of Exile 1 in terms of entertainment, and its crafting system is exceptional. – Redactor Rex (266 hours engaged)

“More Loot in 10min than 1hour of POE2” – Glairmark (122 hours played)

Last Epoch excels at streamlining the complexities typically encountered by dedicated Path of Exile 2 veterans, focusing more on the player’s entertainment rather than the difficulty of the gameplay.

While both projects possess their strengths, it’s evident that overemphasizing self-identity might lead to a loss of connection with the gaming community. In essence, the heart and soul of any game lies in its players.

Down but not out, Grinding Gear Games continues to make improvements

After the launch of version 0.2, the creators of Path of Exile 2 have been progressing steadily. They’ve taken on board user suggestions and implemented numerous adjustments, yet these alterations haven’t been sufficient to offset the unfavorable opinions with a surge of positive reviews.

Players continue to express dissatisfaction, stating that even though adjustments have been made, many improvements need to be undone completely. The fundamental gaming experience has become chaotic following the significant 0.2 update.

In their upcoming 0.2g update, Grinding Gear Games intends to tackle the primary loot issues that have been raised about the game. Although their 0.2f update was just released, it is the upcoming patch that will focus on resolving these concerns.

“On their Steam page, they mention three key adjustments to enhance gameplay:

1. To minimize frustrating runs with bosses in the campaign due to unlucky streaks, they’re planning to elevate the minimum quality of items dropped by these bosses.
2. The quality of drops from all bosses will be improved overall for a more rewarding experience.
3. Lastly, the drops from monsters controlled by Azmerian Wisps will also see improvements.”

Despite varying opinions about the present condition of Path of Exile 2, it’s heartening to observe them promptly tackling feedback and implementing rapid enhancements. Their readiness to adapt demonstrates their commitment to crafting an improved gaming environment for all players!

Blizzard coming in at the right time, too. Diablo 4’s Season 8 is a little over a week away

Despite not being available on Steam yet, the upcoming season for Diablo 4 is drawing near. Regardless of the differences between these games, it’s clear that this new development will attract players to the original Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG) king, Diablo.

In an exciting twist, the upcoming season of Diablo 4 is expected to resonate strongly with players, as they reintroduce the iconic boss, Belial, who was featured in Diablo 3. This news alone has piqued my interest, making me consider a comeback to the world of Sanctuary, even though I’m not a die-hard Diablo 4 fan.

Additionally, they’ve incorporated the feature to use boss powers and introduced a fresh boss challenge. In this event, you’ll encounter ten randomly selected bosses one after another. The series concludes with the appearance of Belial himself at the end.

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2025-04-18 00:40