A question many people ask—myself included. So, I’ll cut straight to the chase before I share my full opinion: the short answer is neither.
Now, I know plenty of people will disagree with me, and that’s okay. This is just my personal opinion after all. I make this claim because I genuinely enjoy both games for some of the same reasons—and for completely different reasons as well.
1. Art Style
Personally, I really enjoy the polished look that Diablo has incorporated, especially in Diablo 3 and Diablo 4. The more fantasy-inspired visuals feel more satisfying to me—whether I’m casting spells or watching spell effects unfold.
Now, don’t get me wrong—Path of Exile 2 has fantastic graphics, and I wouldn’t argue with anyone who said so. But from a personal preference standpoint, I’d choose Diablo as the winner in this category. I’d even go as far as saying that Diablo 3 had the best spellcasting effects of the three games. I was a long-time Diablo 3 fan, and when Diablo 4 came out, I was pumped—but I immediately noticed a difference.
The spells in Diablo 4 felt a bit… underwhelming. Not because they weren’t powerful, but because of how they looked. The visual effects leaned heavily into realism, and while that might appeal to some, I prefer a more dramatic, fantasy-driven presentation. I’m playing a game, after all. The bigger and more awe-inspiring the spell effects, the more captivated and entertained I feel.
Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 both have some impressive spells, but they share that same realistic touch, which makes me feel a little less like I’m controlling a mighty, powerful character.
2. Difficulty
Wow. Let me just say—I thought Diablo 4 was tough compared to Diablo 3… until I played Path of Exile 2. I was shook. That game is much harder than I expected, and that can be both a good and a bad thing depending on your perspective.
Does that mean Diablo 4 is easy? No, not exactly. It definitely has its challenges—especially compared to Diablo 3—but it does get progressively easier the longer you play. Eventually, you hit a point where enemies melt so quickly that combat feels a little meaningless.
Diablo 4 is harder overall than its predecessor, though. The developers made enemy crowd control (CC) far more effective and punishing, and boss fights can be pretty tough. That said, once you get a meta build and enough levels, it becomes a breeze—like most games at endgame.
Path of Exile 2, on the other hand, is straight-up punishing. The CC is brutal at times. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve died, not just during boss fights, but while simply running through regular zones. In Diablo 4, it’s common to get swarmed by enemies only to obliterate them in seconds. In Path of Exile 2, if you try that without proper preparation, you’re toast. The game forces you to manage enemy numbers carefully, or you’ll be overwhelmed and killed.
I will say, however, that Diablo 4 is faster and more generous with gear compared to Path of Exile 2. Grinding for gear in PoE2 requires more time and effort. Despite the difficulty, I enjoyed the challenge—it forced me to be more strategic and deliberate about my build and playstyle. A half-baked build simply won’t cut it.
In contrast, Diablo 4 is more relaxed. While a solid build helps with Torment-level bosses, you don’t need a perfect min-maxed setup to enjoy most of the game.
3. Items and Loot
As a long-time Diablo 3 player, I’m accustomed to the Diablo-style loot experience. In my opinion, they’re the best in the business when it comes to loot design. Seeing those glowing, golden-orange legendary beams shoot into the sky never gets old—except maybe in Diablo 4.
The loot system changed quite a bit between Diablo 3 and Diablo 4. Legendary items are far more common in the fourth game. It feels like they’re handed out like candy on Halloween. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Diablo 4 still has rarer, more powerful items, but the sheer abundance of legendary gear makes it less exciting over time.
Diablo 3 handled this better, I think. The introduction of Ancient Legendaries (with red, glowing loot beams) added an extra layer of excitement to the grind. In Diablo 4, the highest rarity beams are purple, which feels less impactful to me.
Meanwhile, Path of Exile 2 takes a very different approach to loot. The graphics and effects aren’t as flashy, and the pool of unique items is much smaller. Granted, that’s likely because the game is still in pre-release. The limited item variety does restrict build creativity a bit, but the gear you find has a more significant impact on your build than in Diablo 4. Crafting is more complex and impactful, but it’s also more resource-intensive and time-consuming.
So, if you like loot showers and immediate gratification, Diablo 4 wins this round. If you enjoy meaningful, strategic itemization and complex crafting, Path of Exile 2 might be more your speed.
4. Story
I’ll be honest—I’m a casual gamer when it comes to story. I usually play through the campaign once, just to know what’s going on, and then forget most of it while I focus on experimenting with builds and mechanics.
From that perspective, both Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 have solid, entertaining stories. Neither gripped me enough to go digging into lore videos on YouTube, but they serve their purpose well: setting the stage for fun, loot-filled, hack-and-slash action.
5. Price
Price is a huge factor when choosing a game. Personally, I play on Xbox with Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Diablo 4—so, for me, it feels like I got the game “for free.”
However, if you don’t have Game Pass, you’ll pay around $69.99 USD for the base game, with higher-priced editions available if you want cosmetics and premium currency. Is Diablo 4 worth $70? In my opinion—no. There’s just not enough content to justify that price tag, especially when you compare it to smaller indie games that deliver far more bang for your buck.
Path of Exile 2, on the other hand, will be completely free to play upon full release. Right now, it’s only available in paid early access. Once it fully launches, you’ll have access to all core content without spending a dime.
So, what’s the catch? Microtransactions. Path of Exile 2 starts you with very limited stash space, and expanding it costs real money. The game also offers a ton of paid cosmetics. While the base graphics are solid, the paid cosmetic effects are absolutely stunning. You can get by just fine without spending anything, but if you want that flashy aesthetic, be prepared to open your wallet.
Final Verdict
In the end, both games are fantastic and worth your time. They each have strengths and weaknesses, with Diablo 4 excelling in polish, accessibility, and flashy combat effects, while Path of Exile 2 stands out in difficulty, build depth, and long-term progression.
If you can, give both a shot! Diablo 4 goes on sale frequently—check sites like CDKeys or watch for discounts on Xbox Store and Steam. Meanwhile, Path of Exile 2 will eventually be free to play, so patience will reward you with a great game at no cost.
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment below and let me know which game you prefer! 🎮🔥
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