2024 is a great year for everyone who loves hack ‘n’ slays. With Diablo 4, Path of Exile, and Last Epoch, you currently have a brilliant selection, but each of these games is different and good in its own way. MeinMMO explains which is the right action RPG for you.
Diablo is still regarded as the gold standard for hack ‘n’ slays. Anyone interested in the genre cannot overlook the series. Since 2023, Diablo 4 is the latest installment, played by millions of players since then.
2024 saw the release of Last Epoch, a new competitor that took off on Steam immediately. The new action RPG promises more depth than Diablo, while not being as complex as the biggest challenger so far: Path of Exile.
So, there are currently three major titles for anyone wanting to get started in the genre or just check it out. MeinMMO presents Diablo 4, Path of Exile, and Last Epoch, giving you tips on when which game is worth it for you.
You can find the best alternatives to Diablo in our list including older and smaller titles, if you want to get an even better overview. 2024 also sees the first expansion coming to Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred:
Diablo 4 – For Casuals and “Gamer Dads”
Diablo is the game when it comes to an easy entry into the genre. No action RPG is easier to understand and plays more straightforwardly. If you don’t want to read into many mechanics and just want to play, Diablo 4 is exactly your game.
Since its release, Diablo 4 has especially gained popularity with one player group: middle-aged or older men with jobs, families, and little time, the “Gamer Dads.” However, since its release in the Game Pass, Diablo 4 is also attracting new players, some of whom have never played Diablo before:
Even critics have to admit that Diablo 4 is the pinnacle in terms of gameplay and visuals in the genre. All classes play excellently, smoothly, and uniquely, the skills look great and feel powerful.
Biggest drawback: Diablo 4 ends relatively quickly. After a few dozen hours, you won’t have much to do besides the grind for new gear unless you want to play through all classes.
This is what makes Diablo special:
- The best entry into the genre, very easy to learn
- Visually impressive, the most beautiful graphics of all current ARPGs
- Enormously large community with many helpful players – but also many who just complain
- Cinematics are among the best in gaming ever, Blizzard’s trademark
- Available not only on PC (Steam and Battle.net) but also on PS5 and Xbox
Is it worth starting Diablo 4 now? Generally yes, at least to get to know the game. However, Season 4 starts on May 14th. If you want to play the season, you need to start a new character. Until then, you can use the time optimally for preparation.
Here you can see the trailer for Diablo 4 – featuring the presenter from the Tagesschau in the lead role:
Last Epoch – If you want to invest more time
The newest challenger in the genre is Last Epoch. Similar to Diablo 4, the entry here is quite easy, but the game quickly becomes more complex. Last Epoch is aimed much more at players whose dedicated hobby is gaming.
Casuals will still find joy here. Because in Last Epoch, you can’t go wrong much. If you just play and do what feels right, you usually get through the campaign and can also grind a bit in the endgame.
The complexity comes later in the game. Here you can then discover the enormous variety of builds, engage with the guilds for better items, and perfect your character.
If you want to do more in a hack ‘n’ slay than just slay enemies, Last Epoch is the right choice. You have a refined trading system and especially crafting that goes incredibly deep. Some veterans of the genre say: Last Epoch’s crafting system is the best ever.
This is what makes Last Epoch special:
- Large class selection from 5 basic and 15 advanced classes
- Enormous build diversity, as pretty much everything can work in some way
- Perhaps the best crafting system in the entire genre
- Significantly more mechanics than Diablo 4, without being overly overwhelming
- Clear campaign that introduces you to the game in 10-20 hours
Is it worth starting Last Epoch now? Definitely. The game has just fully launched after several years in Early Access in 2024, and you will get plenty of help from other players if you need something. The developers are working diligently on polishing it and already have ideas for upcoming content.
Here you can see the trailer for Last Epoch:
Path of Exile – The Master’s Study of ARPGs
If gaming is your only hobby and you really want to invest a lot of time, you should check out Path of Exile. The game is known for its absurdly large talent tree and so many mechanics that no one can use them properly without external tools.
Anyone who enjoys working with Excel sheets and wants to dive deep into the subject (that is, all those who like to play EVE Online) should choose Path of Exile as their hack ‘n’ slay. The community is enormously active and engaged.
Compared to Path of Exile, both Diablo 4 and Last Epoch are pure “casual games.” Path of Exile is absolutely aimed at core gamers and does not hide that. If you want to achieve something here, you have to be committed.
However, this does not mean that you cannot have fun just by playing. The bosses emphasize: Whoever just plays without caring about being the best can still progress far without the variety of mechanics. Nonetheless, the entry barrier is high due to the sheer amount of mechanics, skills, and talents.
This is what makes Path of Exile special:
- Skills as socket stones, instead of being inherently tied to classes
- A “League” system instead of seasons, where new mechanics are added each time
- Enough content to keep you occupied not just for hundreds, but for thousands of hours
- Good selection of endgame content
- Strong community support: Experts and players have a guide ready for almost everything (which you usually need)
Is it worth starting Path of Exile now? Conditioned. Right now is an ideal time to start playing Path of Exile, but the game remains complex.
Path of Exile has aged and that is exactly the problem of the game, says the boss. There is too much content that can overwhelm especially new players.
However, it might be worth checking out the game. Path of Exile is free, and you can get a feel for whether it’s worth it. Then you can start with experience in the beta of Path of Exile 2 by the end of 2024, the upcoming sequel.
Currently, the Necropolis league is running in Path of Exile:
Bonus: No Rest for the Wicked
If none of these games appeal to you or you want to wait for new content, there is a new genre representative on Steam: No Rest for the Wicked. However, it has a particular twist.
Instead of just bashing monster hordes like usual, No Rest for the Wicked relies heavily on tough boss fights like in Dark Souls or Elden Ring. That’s why it’s often referred to as the “Dark Souls Diablo”. Here’s the trailer:
No Rest for the Wicked is a purely single-player title, unlike the hack ‘n’ slays listed here. It is therefore aimed more at role-playing game fans who enjoyed soulborne games, and less at pure ARPG players – although even they can still have fun here.
Currently, according to voices from the community and experts, the campaign is especially worthwhile in No Rest for the Wicked. The endgame is said to not offer much more. Here’s the GameStar test:
At the moment, you can only play No Rest for the Wicked alone. A 4-player co-op is expected to be released with the first update, but there’s no release date yet.
In general, 2024 is a good year if you are fans of action RPGs or want to start. New and good titles are coming out constantly, some even smaller indie projects that are still worth it. Additionally, major names in the genre are gearing up for major updates. It hasn’t looked this good in 20 years: 2024 is the best year if you love games like Diablo
