- October 23, 2013
- Grinding Gear Games
- 364h median play time
Path of Exile
Path of Exile was a great game in 2013, but a slew of free expansions have only made it better. It’s one of the best ARPGs out there, and absolutely the best value.
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About
Path of Exile is a free-to-play action RPG set in the dark, brutal world of Wraeclast. As you battle your way through this condemned continent, you'll earn devastating skills and valuable items, building your own powerful hero. With thousands of unique items and a complex skill tree, Path of Exile offers deep character customization and challenging gameplay.











- Path of Exile offers deep customization and an extensive skill tree, allowing for unique character builds and rewarding gameplay.
- The game's dark and immersive atmosphere, complemented by stunning graphics and a memorable soundtrack, enhances the overall experience.
- Regular updates and new league mechanics keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, contributing to its exceptional replayability.
- The steep learning curve and overwhelming mechanics can be daunting for newcomers, leading to frustration and a sense of being lost.
- Technical issues, including frequent crashes and performance problems, significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The repetitive nature of the grind and the lengthy campaign can make the experience feel tedious, especially for players looking for quick progression.
- gameplay12,210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
The gameplay of "Path of Exile" is characterized by its deep mechanics, extensive character customization, and a complex skill tree that offers a vast array of build possibilities. While many players appreciate the intricate systems and frequent updates that introduce new league mechanics, the steep learning curve and overwhelming number of mechanics can be daunting for newcomers. Additionally, the game has faced criticism for its punishing mechanics, such as one-shot kills and experience loss upon death, which can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially for casual players. Despite these challenges, dedicated players often find the gameplay rewarding and engaging, with a strong sense of progression and community support.
“Path of Exile is an incredible action RPG that delivers deep customization, an engaging dark fantasy world, and a rewarding progression system. The game offers an extensive skill tree allowing players to create unique builds tailored to their playstyle. The combat feels smooth and satisfying, with a variety of skills and abilities that make every encounter exciting. The endgame content is vast, with challenging maps, leagues, and bosses that keep players engaged for hundreds of hours. The economy system and trade mechanics add another layer of depth, making every item and currency valuable. The developers consistently release updates and expansions, ensuring the game stays fresh and evolving. If you love hardcore RPG mechanics and endless possibilities, Path of Exile is an absolute must-play.”
“The gameplay is incredibly addicting. The depth of item and build creation is unrivaled, coupled with the seemingly endless gameplay and constant improvements made by the developers at Grinding Gear Games. You will never know all there is to know about Path of Exile.”
“The gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, with a strong emphasis on skill-based combat. The variety of enemy types and unique mechanics, such as bosses with specific phases, keeps the combat exciting and challenging. This dynamic adds an additional layer of depth to the gameplay, as players can engage in crafting and trading to optimize their builds.”
“Tanks are overpowered, minion builds make a lot of players lag out entirely, DPS builds are pointless to play with how OP and smooth tanks are. Way too many setting adjustments, late game is literally just instances and you get 5 lives with all one-shot mechanics (not really mechanics).”
“However, after a while, the gameplay loop condenses into something unpleasant; you go from area to area killing stuff to get better gear, so that you get better at killing stuff, so that you can get more gear... a lot of games use this formula but for some reason the black mirror effect sets in much faster with PoE and you sit there wondering why you are playing this game and if you are actually having fun.”
“The game feels like the devs were planning to make the game pay-to-win but at the last minute decided to make the paid content mostly cosmetic and quality of life but kept all the annoying pay-to-win mechanics.”
Path of Exile review
Path of Exile was a great game in 2013, but a slew of free expansions have only made it better. It’s one of the best ARPGs out there, and absolutely the best value.
90%Path of Exile Review - 2018
Path of Exile's immense amount of free content and extremely open-ended character progression never quite overcome its underwhelming combat.
76%Path of Exile Review - 2018
Path of Exile's immense amount of free content and extremely open-ended character progression never quite overcome its underwhelming combat.
76%