Path of Exile 2: A Deep Dive into the Dark and Daring ARPG Set to Surpass Its Predecessor – Hands-On Preview

Certain games have a knack for consuming your time without you even realizing it. They lure you in with captivating gameplay, dazzle you with stunning visuals, and test your resolve with battles that are as challenging as they are addictive.

After spending about seven hours diving into Path of Exile 2 at a preview event—right through the entirety of Act 1 and a substantial part of Act 2—I can confidently say this game is the ultimate time-stealer. It’s the perfect weekend distraction waiting to happen. As I mark December 6 on my calendar for its release, I can’t help but feel that we’re all in for some sleepless nights.

Grinding Gear Games has taken everything that made Path of Exile 1 exceptional and transformed it into a more polished, contemporary masterpiece. Don’t worry, though—the complexity and challenge are as formidable as ever. Instead of watering down the essence, they’ve revolutionized it. It’s easier to jump into, yet the game invites you to experiment. Even seasoned players will find plenty of unexpected twists.

You might think you’re prepared, but you’re not. Path of Exile 2 introduces 12 distinctly different classes with a mesmerizing array of skill customizations, ensuring that your gameplay style and mine will diverge significantly. Move over, Diablo.

This rings true even if we choose the same base class. For instance, my Warrior could revolve around totems, triggering explosive area-of-effect blows. Meanwhile, yours might favor fire attacks, using war cries to set foes ablaze and boost your strikes. Perhaps you’ll find a unique weapon that enhances bleed damage? If so, you can reconfigure everything to craft a character that excels magnificently. Factor in support gems and the colossal passive skill tree, and creating a character in Path of Exile 2 feels akin to thrifting for clothes—stumbling across a piece that completely reinvents your look.

While this aspect parallels Path of Exile 1, where it sets itself apart is in the newcomer-friendly experience. The complexity of the series is daunting, but Path of Exile 2 charted a clearer course. Skill gems, whether active or support, offer selections sorted into classic categories and weapon types. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can deviate from the norm. The streamlined approach allows players to comprehend the mechanics by the end of the campaign—no labyrinthine guides necessary.

With all these skills and strategies, where does this adventure take you? You plunge into a realm teeming with a mind-boggling variety of monsters and adversaries in intensely satisfying combat. It’s one thing to talk about the customization in Path of Exile 2, but it wouldn’t matter without impressive execution. Thankfully, the combat is spectacular. Your assaults release a visual spectacle, sending enemies scattering in gruesome fashion.

Path of Exile 1 has made noteworthy strides in enhancing combat scenarios recently, but Path of Exile 2 takes a giant leap forward. The boss battles stand out the most—not just the major ones, but regular encounters dotted throughout. These confrontations come with numerous phases and a plethora of attacks, eager to challenge you. It’s invigorating to face such intensity, even before the endgame.

And there’s more—a unique tone permeates the game. Even in the early sections, the various biomes possess such distinct characteristics that monotony is never an issue. The abundance of enemy types means you rarely face the same foes twice throughout your journey. This variety extends to bosses as well—each zone presents fresh challenges to overcome. The entire experience is cloaked in a sense of foreboding. Following the trail of the antagonists, you witness the lingering malaise they leave behind.

Moreover, the zones are sprinkled with surprises. Those boss fights I mentioned aren’t just superficial obstacles; they’re genuinely engaging. In Act 1, I stumbled upon a boss named Crowbell—a three-phase battle that traversed the map with unique attacks. It was the sort of encounter you’d expect from a significant side-quest or mini-boss, yet it was just there to discover. A delightful surprise, indeed.

There’s still much of Path of Exile 2 I haven’t explored—I only ventured into a slice of Act 2, with Act 3 remaining a mystery. While I haven’t experienced the endgame personally, I’ve seen glimpses through a pre-play presentation. Even so, the buzz around Path of Exile 2 is palpable. It genuinely feels like a true sequel, refining aspects while retaining its strong foundation. I urge any ARPG enthusiast to try it next month, and even those with a slight penchant for complex, intriguing games will find something to captivate them.

Look out for Path of Exile 2 when it launches on December 6 for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. My hands-on experience came courtesy of a special Grinding Gear Games preview event, with travel support provided by the developers.