I’ll be honest, I was not a fan of the first Path of Exile game. I found its complexity very off-putting, and it served as a roadblock for me to fully enjoy the game compared to other ARPGs. Now, more than a decade later, Grinding Gear Games (from here on out referred to as GGG) is back with the follow-up. Path of Exile 2, and after multiple hands-on sessions with the game, I feel that this is the best action RPG in this style that I’ve played.
That’s all thanks to the GGG putting its best foot forward, addressing the concerns with the first game, and cranking out something that fans of action RPGs will be raving about for years to go. The scary part is that the game isn’t in its final form yet! Why am I so excited about this? Read on to find out.
Game Name: Path of Exile 2
Platform(s): PC (reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Developer(s): Grinding Gear Games
Publisher(s): Grinding Gear Games
Release Date: December 6, 2024 (early access)
What’s The Big Deal About This Game?
First, let’s leave behind everything that frustrated you about Path of Exile 1. All of it. Path of Exile 2 is a fresh start, and Grinding Gear Games (GGG) built this sequel with the specific goal of addressing those barriers while keeping the essence that longtime fans love. The challenge? Striking a balance that satisfies veteran players while also making the game approachable for newcomers who might have found the original daunting, with its overwhelming systems and complexity.
As someone who drifted away from the original and got multiple hands-on opportunities with Path of Exile 2, I can confidently say this game feels like a clean slate. It’s still challenging, yes, but the revamped systems and improved gameplay make it far more accessible without compromising depth. If you’ve been hesitant to dive into Path of Exile due to the original’s learning curve, this sequel might be the perfect starting point. If you have also been looking for a valid ARPG that respects you, then look no further.
Streamlined Systems That Don’t Sacrifice Depth
A major overhaul in Path of Exile 2 is the rework of the gem system. In the first game, the skill system was intricately tied to gear slots, which made customizing builds feel like solving a Rubik’s Cube in the middle of combat. Now, skills are no longer tied to your gear. Instead, they are slotted into a separate skill tree still using Skill Gems, which can be removed at any time, allowing for much greater freedom and clarity in building your character.
Support gems also remain a key feature, enhancing abilities with effects like knockback or increased damage but they’re no longer directly tied to specific skills. For example, if you’re playing the Mercenary class, you could use support gems to add knockback to Fragmentation Rounds or amplify High-Velocity Rounds. If you later decide that the support gem would be put to better use elsewhere, just swap it out—no need to overhaul your entire build. As long as that specific skill works with that support gem, you’re in business. This flexibility invites experimentation and allows for deep customization, without alienating players who previously found the gem system too cumbersome.
One of the best additions is the ability to immediately slot and test new gems you find in the wild. It’s intuitive, seamless, and respects your time—while still keeping the thrill of RNG-driven gem acquisition intact.
The first Path of Exile struggled with its approach to the passive skill tree, often punishing players for making mistakes. It was a frustrating system in hindsight. Thankfully, that’s a thing of the past. Now, you can refund and adjust your passive skills simply by spending gold—yes, gold! This streamlined change is a fantastic improvement. There’s no longer a need to beat the game first or rely on an Orb of Regret to correct or enhance your build.
Face tanking was a common strategy in the original Path of Exile, but that’s now a thing of the past thanks to the addition of dodge rolling in Path of Exile 2. This marks a significant improvement over the first game, where players often had to rely on quick reactions—usually with limited success—and still suffered substantial damage. With the new dodge mechanic, you can actively evade incoming attacks, adding a dynamic layer to combat. What makes this even better is the absence of a stamina system tied to dodging. You can roll as much as needed without worrying about running out of energy. Does this make the game easier? Not quite—timing and positioning are still key—but it does give you a fighting chance to escape tricky situations. This thoughtful change enhances gameplay fluidity and responsiveness, replacing those helpless “deer in the headlights” moments with a real sense of control.
Clarity Without Complexity Overload
GGG has taken great strides to simplify Path of Exile 2’s systems while maintaining the rich customization the series is known for. Abilities are clearly explained, and the game does a far better job of onboarding players than its predecessor. Gone are the days of fumbling around trying to decipher what each ability does or how to make it work. For veteran players, the changes offer a refreshing approach to building diversity, while new players will appreciate the clear, accessible design.
This isn’t a case of dumbing down the game—it’s a reimagining of how the systems should work to make Path of Exile 2 a gateway for action RPG enthusiasts and a compelling evolution for series veterans. Whether you’re new to the world of Wraeclast or a returning fan, there’s a lot to love here.
Combat Like You Wouldn’t Believe
Combat in Path of Exile 2 is nothing short of exhilarating, and it pushes you to engage with every tool at your disposal. Unlike the original game, where you could often rely on spamming a single attack, this sequel demands strategic use of all your spells and abilities. Every encounter keeps you on high alert—you’ll need to quickly adapt to enemy patterns, figuring out which foes will dash in for close-range attacks, which will strike from a distance, and which will surround you in a relentless attempt to bring you down. It’s intense, it’s thrilling, and it will have you gripping the edge of your seat. Frankly, I love every second of it.
The boss battles, though, are on another level entirely. These aren’t your typical one-and-done fights; they’re epic, multi-phase affairs that will test your skills and patience. Depending on the boss tier, you might be locked in for the long haul. Some bosses will challenge you head-on, others will summon reinforcements to complicate the fight, and a few will relentlessly hound you, leaving you scrambling for space just to heal. The tension is palpable, and yes, you’ll probably curse—but it’ll be the kind of joyous frustration that keeps you coming back for more.
What makes this combat system even better is the freedom it offers. Every character boasts a wide arsenal of attacks and abilities to choose from and upgrade. But here’s the beauty: you don’t have to use them all. Whether a character has 15 abilities or 5, it’s entirely up to you to decide what works best. This level of customization ensures there’s no “one-size-fits-all” build, breaking away from the cookie-cutter specs so common in action RPGs. You’re free to experiment, adapt, and make your character truly your own.
Controller, Keyboard, or Mouse – The Choice Is Yours
When I first got my hands on Path of Exile 2, it was during Summer Game Fest, and to my surprise, I wasn’t given a keyboard and mouse. Instead, I was handed a DualSense controller. Initially puzzled, I thought, Why not? Let’s see how this goes. To my delight, the experience was far better than I anticipated. Later, at PAX West 2024, I got even more hands-on time with the controller and spoke with several developers from Grinding Gear Games about the integration. They explained that player demand for a polished controller experience—and console support—had been overwhelming. It was clear this was something that GGG absolutely needed to get right, and in my opinion, they did.
So, how does the controller stack up? In a word: fantastic. The controls feel intuitive and responsive, which is impressive for a game in the action RPG genre. Yes, there are a few minor quirks, like certain abilities not locking onto enemies as smoothly as I’d like, or the occasional awkwardness in aiming. However, these moments are rare and don’t detract much from the overall experience. For the most part, playing with a controller feels seamless and, dare I say, transformative.
There’s something uniquely satisfying about picking up a DualSense or Xbox controller, sinking into my couch, and losing track of time as the night flies by. I did make a couple of adjustments—tweaking the controller dead zone and disabling item snapping—but thankfully, these options are readily available to fine-tune the experience.
Of course, if controllers aren’t your thing, that’s perfectly fine—keyboard and mouse support is just as fantastic. If you’re not a fan of clicking to move your character, you can now use the WASD keys, a great new feature. Regardless of what control scheme you use, they all work well.
Now There’s Couch Co-op and It’s Fun
Sure, Path of Exile has always been designed as a multiplayer experience, and Path of Exile 2 continues that tradition. But online play isn’t your only option—Grinding Gear Games has introduced a couch co-op mode, and it’s a surprisingly enjoyable addition. Setting it up is simple: plug in a second controller or use a keyboard and mouse, then decide whether the second player will use an existing character from your account or create a new one. Once that’s settled, gameplay proceeds just as it would if you were playing single-player.
That said, there are some limitations. The game doesn’t feature a split-screen option, so both players need to stay close to each other. If one person tries to wander off, they’ll be dragged back to the other player’s position. Despite this constraint, the mode is a blast—especially if you and your partner are ready to wreak havoc on the hordes of enemies. Just make sure they know how to play! My son helped me test the mode, and let’s just say his contribution was…entertaining. Thankfully, when a co-op partner dies, you can revive them, provided you have a few seconds to spare while standing still.
As for standard online co-op, I didn’t get a chance to try it due to beta restrictions, but I’d imagine it functions similarly to the original Path of Exile.
A Stunning Feast for the Eyes and Ears
Visually, Path of Exile 2 is nothing short of breathtaking. The environments are richly detailed, each boasting a unique style while evoking the dark, gothic atmosphere reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers from the 1990s and 2000s. Everything—from the sprawling landscapes to the shadowy interiors—feels meticulously crafted. The monsters, bosses, and playable characters are stunningly detailed and fluidly animated, elevating the visual bar far beyond anything Grinding Gear Games achieved with the original. To say there’s a lot of attention to detail would be a massive understatement.
The audio direction matches the visual fidelity stride for stride. Every voiced NPC delivers lines dripping with urgency or dread, while the guttural growls of lurking monsters create a constant sense of unease. Bosses don’t just tower over you—they taunt you, their voices brimming with menace as they prepare to deliver a crushing blow. The layered audio design pulls you deeper into the experience, and playing with a quality pair of headphones truly amplifies the immersive effect.
In every way, Path of Exile 2 delivers an audiovisual feast. It’s a testament to GGG’s commitment to creating a world that not only looks but also sounds alive, oppressive, and utterly captivating. Simply put, this is some good stuff.
How’s the PC Performance
I had no performance issues while playing PoE 2 at all. And it’s not because I’m playing the game on an extremely beefy game, as I also tested the game on a mid-range PC and still had a great experience. In this regard, GGG has gone all out with its optimization of the game, offering full support for NVIDIA DLSS/DLAA, NVIDIA Image Scaling (NIS), AMD’s FSR, Intel’s XeSS, and dynamic resolution scaling. Even if any performance hiccups had occurred—which they didn’t—there are plenty of options to tweak and upscale for a smoother experience.
Throughout my extensive time with the game, I encountered zero visual glitches, slowdowns, or stuttering. The only interruptions I experienced were due to server issues, like downtime for maintenance or when the servers couldn’t handle the load, but these are outside the game’s control. All in all, my performance experience was flawless.
Unfortunately, the game isn’t available yet on Steam so I wasn’t able to test it on my Steam Deck. I received access to a special client that only supports Windows, which also made it impossible for me to test it on my ROG Ally (as it’s running Bazzite). Reinstalling Windows just to play the game wasn’t practical, but I plan to revisit this once the game becomes available on Steam. I’ll be sure to update once I can test it on those devices.
It Has a Damned Pause Feature
I’m not the carefree teenager I used to be, and as an adult, I try to do adult things while still taking time out to play some video games. As such, I respect that GGG put in the ability to pause the game. Yes, Path of Exile 2 is an online game—that much is apparent. But the ability to pause the game whenever is a godsend. There have been plenty of times when I’ve played countless other online games or games where I’ve been battling it out, and then the wife needs me. Or the phone rings. My children need me. Anything.
For the super small percentage of people who are going to complain about this, well… simply don’t use the option. For everyone else, embrace the fact that when you need to take a bathroom break or grab some food, that pause option is there. Though, I’m not sure how this will work when playing in a group.
I’m In Love With This Game
Few games this year—or ever—have brought me as much joy as Path of Exile 2 has. It’s the sort of thing where you just don’t want to stop playing, regardless of if you have responsibilities to handle. Which is an issue between working, being married, and having a lovely pair of children to manage. What GGG has crafted has taken me from not being a fan of the first Path of Exile game, and has made me fall head over heels for Path of Exile 2. No joke, I can’t put this game down and that’s a good sign.
Review Disclosure Statement: Path of Exile 2 early access was provided to us by Grinding Gear Games for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.
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Summary
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.
Pros
- Enjoyable gameplay loop
- Tons of things to do despite being an early-access game
- Fantastic visuals and audio
- Couch coop is damned fun
- Controller support is on point
- Tweaks to the gems system makes everything that much better
Cons
- The game is hard to put down. Does that count as being a negative thing?
