The action RPG Diablo 3 is still being played in 2021. Who is this title worth it for? We will show you the overview and explain what you can expect in the game.
What’s up with Diablo 3? This year, Diablo 3 is celebrating its ninth birthday. The A-RPG still gets regular updates, and players are wondering if it’s still worth jumping into the monster-slaying action.
In this overview, we will show you who will still be happy with Diablo 3 in 2021 and who should better stay away from it.
Is it worth starting anew with Diablo 3 in 2021?
What new players can expect: If you have never really played Diablo 3, prepare for a wide selection of classes and their corresponding builds. There’s something for everyone:
- Tank players
- Melee DPS
- Ranged DPS
- Wizards
- Wizards with minions
- Support characters
You can then customize the skill trees to suit you. Certainly, there are combinations that work better together, like a stun followed by a spell that hits stunned enemies harder. But no one tells you how you have to play.
Those who love seasons and grinding will get several hundred hours of gameplay here. You don’t just “finish” Diablo 3 and put it aside. For most, the game only really begins after the final boss of the story is defeated.
If you don’t want to sit in front of the computer for hours, you can also play Diablo 3 on the Switch. It was released in 2018. Ideal for a quick round when you’re lounging on the couch and want to bridge a break during a movie or are currently on the go.
Can the graphics still keep up? With its graphics and effects, Diablo 3 is still acceptable in 2021. Keep in mind that this is a hack and slay game, and your enemies usually burst quickly. Enemies that explode upon dying and take dozens of other creatures with them look nice and never get boring, even with older graphics.
What deters new players? A glance into the crystal ball promises no significant innovations for the future of Diablo 3. Basically, Diablo 3 is finished. No one expects major expansions anymore. Although there was once talk of a second expansion for Diablo 3.
Next, two points are on the agenda for the Diablo franchise:
- The release of Diablo 4, the major successor to Diablo 3
- And the release of the mobile game Diablo Immortal, which is also expected to provide intense monster-slaying on your smartphones
It should also be noted that grinding is what makes up the endgame of Diablo 3. Once you reach the maximum level, it’s all about improving your gear. Initially, it moves quite quickly from bad items to legendary ones. But then it becomes increasingly tedious, and the improvements become smaller.
Is Diablo 3 worth it for returnees in 2021?
Have you never played Reaper of Souls? The expansion was released in 2014 and brought important innovations to the game, including new areas in Act 5 and key features like Rifts and Greater Rifts. The Crusader class, Adventure Mode, and bounties have been available since the release. These contents form an important part of the endgame, which is no longer conceivable in the current game.
If you missed that, it is definitely worth checking out again.
- Rifts are dungeons with randomly generated levels where you farm loot and gold
- Greater Rifts are similar dungeons but timed. Loot only appears at the final boss, but it’s worth it
- With Adventure Mode, you can jump right in without having to replay the story
- Bounties make leveling in the open world more interesting and give you important materials you need for crafting
You love Necromancers? The DLC “Return of the Necromancer” was released on June 27, 2017, adding the Necromancer as a playable class. Many have been waiting for this, as they remembered it from Diablo 2. Others simply love the playstyle that draws crucial resources from corpses and splatters blood.
Are you already familiar with Reaper of Souls? Not much has changed for you in the game. The new Necromancer class offers interesting mechanics, but you won’t find a completely new game waiting for you in 2021.
Season lovers: Many multiplayer games use seasons to make content appealing to players or to run a specific theme for a limited time. In Diablo 3, a season runs for about 3 months. After that, there’s a break of a few weeks before the next one starts.
- Something changes in the game with every season. These can just be small bonuses, that make the grind less tedious.
- But balancing changes and the addition of new sets are often part of season updates.
If you enjoy small changes and love observing the race in the rankings from the beginning with each season, you still have fun with the seasons of Diablo 3 today.
What will happen to Diablo 3 in the future?
Blizzard explained: In a blog post, the Diablo team explained in 2019 what the ongoing support for Diablo 3 looks like. In the future, there will be:
- New seasonal themes
- Dozens of new legendary properties
- Balance changes
- Game improvements
- Updates to the gameplay system
Additionally, a new set for each class was released over the course of three seasons. All of the new sets are now in the game.
- Barbarian – Skull of the Savages
- Demon Hunter – Dystopian Goggles
- Witch Doctor – Mundunugu’s Regalia
- Crusader – Crown of Valor
- Monk – Decree of Justice
- Necromancer – Luxurious Bauta
- Wizard – Typhon’s Veil
It is unclear whether further new sets are coming in the near future.
The assumption is: Seasons of Diablo 3 have been running for years. This will likely continue for a while. This will be the starting point for new content in the form of seasonal themes and balance changes.
Alternatives to Diablo 3
If you now realize that Diablo 3 is not for you, there are alternatives for you. Above all, the major competitor Path of Exile. When gamers talk about Diablo, Path of Exile is usually mentioned in conjunction or as a comparison. Which one suits you better, you’ll find out best for yourself.
How is it going with Path of Exile? On January 15, 2021, the big update Echoes of Atlas was released. With the new add-on you fight against 10 bosses at the same time in Path of Exile.
This new content is very well received by players. So much so that Path of Exile set a new player record on Steam.
What makes Path of Exile special? In direct comparison to Diablo 3, the community often states that Path of Exile is the “more complex” of the two ARPGs. In reviews on Steam, players praise the regularly appearing new content. But they also warn that it could seem confusing and overwhelming to newcomers.
A player with 630 hours of gameplay summarizes: “If you hate how casual-friendly Diablo 3 has become, then this game is right for you” (via Steamcommunity).
If neither Path of Exile nor Diablo 3 is right for you, then you will find 11 alternatives to Diablo here.
If you are looking for hack-and-slash games, you can now rely on a variety of titles. Furthermore, more games for this genre are expected to be released this year.
I have been playing Diablo 3 for several years and have accumulated well over a thousand hours of gameplay. I was very active at the release, and today it’s more of an “every now and then”. Certainly, the lack of significant updates is something negatively pointed out in Diablo 3. Yet I still enjoy coming back after almost 9 years.
I can play it alone or with friends. Depending on the difficulty, it doesn’t require much attention, so I can even watch Netflix on the side. One of the most important points for replayability are the seasons. Every few months everything is reset, and I start new characters again with my friends. Together we level up and fight our way up the rankings. I enjoy this race. Especially combined with the seasonal themes, it’s always a little different.
I recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried it yet. However, if you want to delve into complex builds and constantly seek new content, you will be much better off in other games.
Patrick Freese
Editor at MeinMMO
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The current season 22 is still running in Diablo 3. In addition, the birthday event is active, which runs every year from January to February. If you try Diablo 3 now, you can immediately secure these 2 special pets.
