When thinking of Path of Exile 2, one does not immediately think of indie production and a small team, but a new alternative on Steam is exactly that: indie and comes from a 2-man team.
What kind of game is this? With Netherwyn, a new co-op roguelite action RPG is set to be released in Q1 2026, sending you and your friends into battle against hordes of enemies.
The lands plagued by plague and shadows have turned against you and your friends, and you bravely confront them. The gameplay is strongly reminiscent of Path of Exile 2.
Here you can see some gameplay of the game:
Path of Exile 2 sends its regards
What is similar? The combat system of Netherwyn and Path of Exile 2 appears very similar at first glance. Hordes of enemies attack the player characters, and you can take them down with various abilities. The abilities have colorful effects and look very powerful.
At the same time, the developers have incorporated the dodge roll, which Path of Exile 2 didn’t invent but popularized in the ARPG genre, into their roguelite. This makes the switch between powerful abilities and dodging feel just like the big ARPG.
Each character has unique abilities that can be upgraded, ensuring that you survive longer in the world and can explore further. There are also quests in Netherwyn.
Roguelite, or not? Unlike Path of Exile 2, death in Netherwyn is a genre-typical companion that is part of the game. A run typically ends with death; then you wake up again in the tavern, where you can improve your character.
Each hero can choose two classes and mix and combine their abilities. From the warrior and the holy, a templar is formed.
Which successful Steam game does it remind you of? Also typical for a roguelite are the procedurally generated levels and permanent death. Carrying your loot for a long time is therefore not an option.
These mechanics are reminiscent of the Steam hit Hades, which is one of the few God-tier games. God-tier is the term used for titles that still achieve over 95% positive reviews with over 100,000 reviews.
Netherwyn resembles Path of Exile 2 in terms of gameplay, but fundamentally it is a roguelite like Hades, which sends you back to the beginning repeatedly, even though it clearly veers towards ARPG with quests, powerful abilities, and a dodge roll. You can find another alternative to Path of Exile 2 here: New competitor looks much prettier than Path of Exile 2, now available for free on Steam
