Hands-On Preview: Path of Exile 2 Promises to Surpass the Original with Its Rich, Dark ARPG Experience

Some games captivate us so thoroughly that they whisk away hours before we even notice. They lure us in with captivating gameplay and dazzle our eyes with stunning visuals, locking us into battles so enthralling that we simply can’t turn away.

After immersing myself for about seven hours in Path of Exile 2 at a preview event, where I journeyed through Act 1 and a good part of Act 2, it’s clear to me that this game is a master of time consumption. It’s that relentless weekend annihilator. With its release looming on December 6, I can already tell it’s going to take a good chunk of my life—yours, too, if I’m being honest. You’ve been warned.

What Grinding Gear Games has masterfully executed is an upgrade of the already brilliant Path of Exile 1 into an even more impressive, modern creation. Fear not, the depth and challenge remain robust. Instead of simplifying anything, they’ve turned the original into a stunning evolution. It’s easier to jump into yet urges experimentation, filled with surprises even for the veterans of the original game.

You might think you’ll resist, but trust me, you won’t. Path of Exile 2 offers an astonishing 12 classes, each vastly unique and featuring an intense level of customization. It’s almost certain your approach will diverge significantly from mine. Move over, Diablo—here comes Path of Exile.

Even if we start with the same class, the outcomes can be wildly different. My Warrior might focus on totems, triggering explosive area-of-effect attacks, while your Warrior could harness fire, unleashing war cries to ignite and empower. Or maybe you’ll stumble upon a unique weapon that amplifies bleed damage? If so, you can regroup and rebuild your character to leverage it fully. Add in the support gems and the famously expansive passive skill tree, and crafting a character feels like a hunt through a thrift store where you might discover a piece that completely reinvents your ensemble.

All this mirrors what Path of Exile 1 offered, but what sets the sequel apart is how it caters to newcomers, making the daunting complexity less intimidating. Path of Exile 2 seems to provide a clear route to mastering its intricacies. Active and support skill gems are categorized by classic and weapon types, offering beginners a guided experience through the complex game mechanics. Those more seasoned can chart their own paths. By the end of the campaign, players should have a solid understanding of everything, eliminating the need for extensive guides.

So, what’s the next step once you have all these skills at your disposal? You take them to battle against an incredible array of monsters, ghouls, and ghastly creatures in thrilling combat. Customizing abilities in the game is one thing, but they wouldn’t mean much if they fell flat in action. Thankfully, that’s far from the case. Each attack comes to life with vivid effects and impactful hits, sending enemies flying in dramatic, often gruesome fashion.

Path of Exile 1 had already taken strides to enhance combat, but Path of Exile 2 leapfrogs into exhilarating territory. Nothing showcases this better than its boss fights. These battles aren’t reserved for the end of an act either; they’re scattered throughout, each with multiple phases and attack patterns that can take you by surprise. This level of intensity early on ensures players are consistently engaged.

Another standout feature is the game’s atmosphere. Even in Act 1, the environments are diverse enough to keep players engaged, ensuring each zone and enemy type feels fresh. With a staggering variety of enemies, you’ll rarely encounter the same foe twice during the campaign—and that goes for bosses as well! Each area feels like a unique chapter in a story, adding layers of suspense and dread as you follow the antagonists’ treacherous paths, tainting every step of your journey.

Surprises abound in this world. The bosses aren’t just filler—they’re real challenges with unique designs and mechanics. For instance, during my playthrough, I stumbled upon a boss called Crowbell. The encounter involved three phases and offered a complex fight unlike any other, promising a delightful shock for players wandering off the beaten path.

There’s so much in Path of Exile 2 that I haven’t explored yet. I’ve only scratched the surface of Act 2 and haven’t had the chance to dive into Act 3 or the endgame. I’ve seen glimpses of how everything culminates via a presentation, but even without the full picture, my excitement is palpable. It genuinely feels like a sequel, bolstering what works and innovating where possible. For anyone with a penchant for ARPGs, it’s a must-try when it launches next month, and for those who crave a challenging, immersive experience, it’s poised to satisfy like few others can.

Mark your calendars: Path of Exile 2 drops on December 6 for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. This preview is based on a special event organized by Grinding Gear Games, with travel arrangements courtesy of the developers.