# Path of Exile vs Diablo 4

As of 11 November 2026, 89% of 250,431 player reviews recommend Path of Exile, and 69% of 62,226 recommend Diablo IV.

> Path of Exile is free and the deeper game for builds, and 89% of its reviews recommend it. Diablo IV has the stronger campaign and presentation, and 69% of its reviews recommend it, with players faulting its shop, always-online play and an expansion that locks parts of each class.

## In short

Path of Exile suits players who want the deepest build-making in the genre for free and don’t mind learning from guides. Diablo IV suits players who want a polished campaign and an easier start, and who accept an online connection, a cosmetic shop and an expansion for the full class kits.

## At a glance

| | Path of Exile | Diablo IV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Released | 23 October 2013 | 17 October 2023 |
| Price at launch | $0 | $49.99 |
| Developer | Grinding Gear Games | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Publisher | Grinding Gear Games | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Players recommend it | 89% of 250,431 reviews | 69% of 62,226 reviews |
| Our reading | 80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 8 November 2026 | 80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 8 November 2026 |

## What players praise

### Path of Exile

- **Builds go in every direction.** The huge passive tree and skill gems that move between items let players keep finding new builds after years of play.
- **It’s free and never pay to win.** Paid items are mostly cosmetics and stash space, and players finish the campaign without spending anything.
- **New leagues keep it fresh.** A new league arrives every few months, and its mechanics often stay in the game afterwards.
- **The dark art and sound stand out.** Players praise the gritty look, the soundtrack and the voice work.

### Diablo IV

- **It looks and sounds superb.** The gothic art, the cinematics and the soundtrack earn the most praise.
- **The campaign holds attention.** Players rate the story, the quests and the voice acting highly.
- **Combat and classes satisfy.** Fights feel good, and the classes offer enough build variety to keep players going.
- **Later seasons improved it.** Many players say seasons and patches have made the endgame and crafting far more complete than at launch.

## What players criticise

### Path of Exile

- **It takes hundreds of hours to learn.** Many players still find the systems confusing deep into their playtime, and most start with a build guide.
- **It eats evenings.** Players warn that it crowds out sleep and other hobbies and is hard to put down.
- **Trading and loot can overwhelm.** Trade chat, shifting prices and floods of drops take effort, and players recommend setting up a loot filter early.
- **The endgame spikes in difficulty.** Late maps and bosses ramp up quickly, and a single death can cost hours of progress.

### Diablo IV

- **The shop and battle pass feel steep.** Cosmetics often cost $25 to $30, and a paid battle pass sits on top of the base price.
- **It’s always online, even solo.** The campaign needs a live connection, so lag, timeouts and server trouble can cut sessions short.
- **The expansion locks parts of each class.** Skill nodes, skill modifiers and higher difficulties sit behind the Lord of Hatred expansion, so many feel they must buy it to build the character they want.
- **Seasons repeat themselves.** Seasonal rewards take long grinds, and several players say each season reuses old content and resets progress within months.

## Which to pick

- Pick Path of Exile if you want the deepest build-making in the genre for free, and are happy to learn from a guide.
- Pick Diablo IV if you want a polished campaign, striking presentation and an easy way into builds, and don’t mind playing online with a cosmetic shop.

## Questions

### Is Path of Exile better than Diablo 4?

Players rate it much higher. As of 11 November 2026, 89% of Path of Exile’s 250,431 reviews recommend it and 69% of Diablo IV’s 62,226. Path of Exile’s players praise its build depth and free model, while Diablo IV’s praise its campaign and presentation.

### Which is better for beginners?

Diablo IV. Its players call the campaign approachable, while Path of Exile’s say its systems take hundreds of hours to understand and most start with a build guide.

### Is either game pay to win?

Path of Exile’s players say nothing sold for money gives an advantage, since paid items are mostly cosmetics and stash space. Diablo IV’s shop sells cosmetics too, often at $25 to $30, and its players say parts of each class sit behind the paid expansion.

### How much do Path of Exile and Diablo 4 cost?

Path of Exile is free to play. Diablo IV is $49.99 on PC, and its players report that parts of each class need the Lord of Hatred expansion.

## Sources

243. Steam: Path of Exile, store page and user reviews: https://store.steampowered.com/app/238960/
244. Steam: Diablo IV, store page and user reviews: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2344520/

Page: https://creativecult.digital/compare/path-of-exile-vs-diablo-4