Path of Exile 2
PoE 2
Release Date: December 6, 2024 Early Access
RPG, fantasy, hack'and'slash, free-to-play, isometric view, online, for 2 players, co-op, action RPG, splitscreen, games as a service, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
OpenCritic
Steam
A full sequel to Path of Exile, a 2013 free-to-play hack'n'slash. Path of Exile 2 features a new story campaign with 7 acts, revamped visuals, redesigned mechanics, 19 new Ascendancy Classes and cross platform coop with both Internet and local support.
Last Update: November 28, 2024
PoE 2 Guide
Path of Exile 2 guide is the best tips for getting started, advice on mechanics, combat, exploration. We describe bosses, bugs, system requirements, language versions, platforms.
December 3, 2024
Games of December 2024 - Indiana Jones and the Searchers of Lost PoE2 on the Trail of Soul Reaver Remastered
We're ending the year quietly but in pretty good style. Path of Exile 2 will appear in Early Access, we will also get Marvel Rivals and Delta Force. There will also be no shortage of other games to choose from.
February 3, 2021
Not Just Diablo - 12 Best Upcoming Hack'n'slash Games
Lovers of chopping and slashing hordes of monsters have so far been grouped mainly around two games: Diablo III and Path of Exile. The upcoming contenders for the throne of hack'n'slash will try to change this balance of power.
Videos and Screens
[2:40] Path of Exile 2 Early Access Gameplay Trailer
[4:58] Path of Exile 2 Opening Cinematic
The Outerhaven Productions: 5 / 5 by Keith Mitchell
I was never the biggest fan of Path of Exile—its overly complex systems always scared me off. But with Path of Exile 2, Grinding Gear Games has done the unthinkable. The changes to systems that bothered me from the first game. They’ve crafted an ARPG that’s not only more accessible but also improves on everything from the first game. It dials the experience up to 11, making it nearly impossible to put down. This is an enjoyable and approachable ARPG that practically begs to be played.
But Why Tho?: 9.5 / 10 by Kate Sanchez
Path of Exile 2‘s difficulty, combat, art, and map designs are something that keep pulling you in. No matter how many times you die, or how many times you have to adjust your build, you just keep coming right back. This is a game that is firing on absolutely all cylinders and shows no signs of slowing down.
Kakuchopurei: 80 / 100 by Jonathan Leo
Despite technical & network issues, Path of Exile 2 is clearly set on being the de facto soon-to-be-free-to-play (getting in now requires you to fork out RM130+) action RPG of whichever year it fully releases. The Early Access is already packed with so much to do and a lot to strive forward to, with multitudes of builds for the available 6 base classes, the passive skill trees they're situated on, and the many Skill Gems, Support Gems, and other buffs & powerups that lead to crazy builds limited by your imagination and time constraints. The levels are brutal, the boss fights will test you, and you will savour every punishing moment of it while you strive to gear up and play better.
The main pros of the game
- Nostalgic Feel: Many players express that the game brings back memories of classic ARPGs like Diablo 2, with a dark atmosphere and challenging gameplay.
- Engaging Combat: The combat is described as purposeful and tactical, requiring players to think strategically rather than just mindlessly clicking through hordes of enemies.
- Visuals and Sound: The graphics, animations, and sound design are praised for their quality, contributing to an immersive experience.
- Skill Tree and Build Variety: The skill tree is seen as complex yet accessible, allowing for diverse builds and customization.
- Challenging Boss Fights: Players appreciate the difficulty of boss fights, which require learning mechanics and skillful dodging.
- Co-op Gameplay: The game supports cooperative play, enhancing the fun with cross-class combos and teamwork.
- Developer Engagement: The developers are noted for being responsive to community feedback and continuously working on improvements.
The main cons of the game
- Technical Issues: Many users report frequent crashes, particularly on Windows 11, causing frustration and hardware concerns.
- Endgame Balance: The endgame content is criticized for being tedious and unbalanced, with some players feeling that it punishes them too harshly for dying.
- Loot and Progression: There are complaints about poor drop rates and the feeling that progression can be slow and unsatisfying, particularly in the endgame.
- High Respec Costs: Players find the costs associated with respecing skills to be excessive, making it hard to adapt builds after nerfs.
- Difficulty Level: While some enjoy the challenge, others feel that the game is overly punishing, especially for new players.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Offline Mode: Many players express a desire for an offline option to avoid connectivity issues that disrupt gameplay.
- Improved Loot System: Suggestions include enhancing the loot experience to make drops feel more rewarding and relevant to players' builds.
- Better Endgame Guidance: Users want clearer direction for navigating endgame content and more agency in map selection.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Some players suggest that the game could benefit from better crafting mechanics and general usability enhancements in menus and skill selection.
Summary
- Overall, while Path of Exile 2 has received significant praise for its nostalgic feel, engaging combat, and immersive atmosphere, it also faces criticism for technical issues, endgame balance, and some design choices that could be improved. The game is viewed as a promising addition to the ARPG genre, particularly for fans of the original Path of Exile and classic titles.
Summary generated on:
Path of Exile 2 Description
- Plot
- Gameplay - general outline
- Combat system
- Character classes
- Character development
- Co-op
- Graphics
- Microtransactions
Path of Exile 2 is the second installment in the hack'n'slash series, which began in 2013. It competes with the Diablo series, Last Epoch and other big representatives of the genre. It is distributed in a free-to-play model with microtransactions. Grinding Gear Games team from New Zealand is behind it, and has been developing this brand from the beginning.
Plot
The action of Path of Exile 2 takes place on the dark continent of Wraeclast. Although it is home to representatives of various cultures and hides ancient secrets, at the same time one can encounter dangers there. The greatest of these, the so-called Corruption that consumes all life, was long ago considered destroyed. When it returned again, pale fear fell upon the residents of the continent. We have to face this threat during the game.
Gameplay - general outline
In Path of Exile 2 we watch the action from a bird's eye view. The game provides us with a world that we can explore on foot or on horseback. The continent is procedurally generated in the game.
The pillar of the game is the story campaign. Completing it is required to gain access to the endgame phase, which consists of dedicated maps, boss fights and special modifiers influencing the gameplay.
Combat system
The battles with opponents are the essence of the game. We encounter numerous opponents, whose greatest strength is their number, as well as bosses who are significantly more powerful.
Fights in the game require us not only be constantly on the move and avoid attacks or block them with a shield (making use of the new mechanics), but also observe adversaries in order to detect their weak points and gaps in defense. The developers focused on improving the controls, allowing computer players to control characters using the W, S, A, and D keys, as well as refining the handling of gamepads.
Character classes
Path of Exile 2 offers the following character classes:
- Marauder;
- Warrior;
- Ranger;
- Huntress;
- Witch;
- Sorceress;
- Duelist;
- Mercenary;
- Shadow;
- Monk;
- Templar;
- Druid.
Each class is a result of three selected parameters: strength, dexterity and intelligence. In addition, they were differentiated in terms of preferred weapons and combat style, as well as Ascendancy specializations for each of them, available in the later stages of the game.
Each class is dedicated to a specific play style. There's something for everyone - both those who enjoy engaging in close combat and those who prefer ranged combat or bombarding enemies with combat spells. Nevertheless, they only constitute specific starting points. Nothing prevents us from obtaining character skills associated with other classes as we progress, thus creating a kind of hybrids.
Character development
There are several hundred socketable skill gems to discover, each of which is tied to a specific active ability, as well as support gems that modify the former in various ways. The creators decided to modify the skill tree (which is less overwhelming than the one from the first game) and move the management of gems to a separate tab. The icing on the cake are the passive skills, which can be assigned to various sets. They can activate in different ways, for example when wielding a specific weapon.
And speaking of weapons - we can equip our character with both melee weapons, such as swords, spears or battle axes, as well as ranged weapons, led by crossbows. Moreover, various traps are waiting to be tested here, which we can set for enemies.
Co-op
Path of Exile 2 allows for single-player gameplay, but it spreads its wings in online cooperative multiplayer mode, designed for up to 6 players.
Graphics
Path of Exile 2 stands out from the first part of the series thanks to its refreshed graphics. The authors focused on both the models and their animations, as well as the lighting and physics.
Microtransactions
Path of Exile 2 is distributed in a F2P model. Although microtransactions have been implemented in the game, they only concern cosmetic elements, just like in the first installment of the series.
Last updated on May 29, 2020
3
GAMES
in Path of Exile Game Series
Game Series
Path of Exile Series
A series of free-to-play distributed hack'n'slash action RPGs that competes with, among others. Diablo. Cycle Path of Exile was created by New Zealand-based studio Grinding Gear Games, which has been in existence since 2006 and has focused on developing its brand since its inception.
3 video games
Path of Exile 2 Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Grinding Gear Games
Publisher: Grinding Gear Games
Age restrictions: 18+
Path of Exile 2 System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i7-7700 3.6 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 2500X 3.6 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 960 / 4 GB Radeon RX 470, 100 GB HDD, Windows 10
Recommended: Intel Core i5-10500 3.1 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 3700X 3.6 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce RTX 2060 / Radeon RX 5600 XT, 100 GB HDD, Windows 10
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PoE 2 player accounts target of mysterious hack. Devs at GGG released new details
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PoE 2 devs returned after Christmas break and presented plans for coming days
Path of Exile 2 developers have returned after the Christmas-New Year break and expressed eagerness to get to work. The plans include bug fixes and a restart patch.
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Get Ingenuity Belt from The King in the Mists in PoE 2. You won’t regret it
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Are you puzzled by the phrase venerate a Maraketh shrine in PoE 2? We will tell you what it means.
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