Last Epoch is currently attracting hundreds of thousands of players on Steam, and almost everyone is excited about the new action RPG. It seems that people are not only coming from Diablo 4, but also from the competitor Path of Exile. Even players with thousands of hours are switching. Why?
This is how it goes for Last Epoch:
- On February 21, 2024, Last Epoch was released on Steam in version 1.0. Prior to that, it had been in early access for several years and was continuously developed.
- At its peak, the game has reached over 250,000 players since then (via steamcharts). Among fans, the general consensus is: Last Epoch is better than Diablo 4 and easier than Path of Exile.
- However, the release comes with problems, as the servers apparently cannot quite hold up. Players have to deal with long loading times and disconnections, which severely affect the reviews.
What makes Last Epoch so good? Nevertheless, there is enormous praise for Last Epoch, especially on Reddit and in other social media. Usually, this comes from disappointed Diablo fans, but for some time now, it also comes from PoE players.
In a thread on Reddit, user Raudelbur explains: After over 6,000 hours in Path of Exile, he now loves Last Epoch. What makes the new ARPG significantly better is the economy.
Path of Exile is based on the idea that you constantly have to trade for the best loot. In the end, it is somehow only about money. Sure, you can play differently, but that’s not really what the game is designed for. Especially since everything costs money somewhere.
Last Epoch doesn’t waste as much unnecessary time. Especially the crafting is extremely well done: you can simply create items and do not throw away money when you just want to try something.
“Last Epoch could become my new main game”
Other players agree with exactly this point. Crafting in Path of Exile was terrible, but in Last Epoch it feels great. It respects players’ time, and you don’t need a doctorate to understand it – like in PoE. After 5 minutes, you are in the material.
User biggreenegg99 claims to have spent more than double the hours in Path of Exile compared to the creator. He especially praises the factions in Last Epoch that support corresponding play styles:
- Those who prefer to play alone should choose the Circle of Fortune (engl:
Circle of Fortune
, short CoF). Ideal for “Solo Self Found” fans. - Those who prefer to trade with others will find themselves well at the Merchants Guild (engl.
Merchants Guild
, short MG) with their bazaar.
There is also praise for how Last Epoch works, the ideal balance between complex and understandable. biggreenegg99 says: “I could be ready to keep Last Epoch as my main game […] I don’t need a million mechanics to stay entertained.”
The user is not the only one. Many players are currently switching from Path of Exile or Diablo 4 to Last Epoch, at least temporarily. The transition from Path of Exile is likely significantly easier, as if you are coming from Diablo, you need to pay attention to a few things.
