Path of Exile - Buyer's Guide

Explore a grim world in Path of Exile, an immersive Action RPG with intense combat, customization, and a complex skill system. Should you play this game in 2024? Discover a timeless classic with a dedicated community.
Fan-art of Path of Exile

Path of Exile is an immersive online Action RPG set in the grim world of Wraeclast, a land scarred by ancient calamities and populated by horrific creatures. As an Exile, you are thrust into this harsh environment, seeking vengeance against those who have wronged you. This game is the brainchild of passionate gamers, and it offers an unparalleled experience of intense combat, a plethora of powerful items, and extensive character customization. In this game, freedom, power, and revenge are the driving forces. It revolves around a robust online item economy and a deep character customization system. As a player, you can choose from seven distinct classes: Duelist, Witch, Ranger, Templar, Marauder, Shadow, or Scion. Each class starts from a unique location on the expansive Passive Skill Tree, enabling you to focus on your class’s core abilities or branch out to acquire skills from different disciplines.The item system in Path of Exile is intricate and designed for experienced Action RPG players. It eliminates gold as a currency, replacing it with orbs that can alter other items’ properties. The endgame zones can be found in Map items that modify their challenges and rewards. In the Atlas of Worlds, you will encounter over a hundred high-level maps that push your build to its limits. As you delve deeper into the Atlas, you will unravel its hidden secrets and confront Wraeclast’s deadliest bosses. The game also offers Deadly Missions where you assist fellow Exiles in capturing wild beasts, exploring the depths of the Azurite Mine, investigating the mysterious Immortal Syndicate, and more. These missions can be completed at any time in the endgame and reward you with valuable currency, powerful tradeable items, and new crafting methods. For players seeking a more challenging experience, the Ruthless mode offers a high-risk, high-reward gameplay with limited resources and crafting. Despite the increased difficulty, overcoming the challenges feels incredibly rewarding. Path of Exile stands by its commitment to a fair gaming experience, ensuring that all microtransactions are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay. This guarantees that the game will never become pay-to-win.

Should I play Path of Exile in 2024?

The good

Path of Exile (PoE) has garnered a stellar reputation among fans of the Action RPG genre. Here are some of the key points that keep players coming back:

  • Free to Play: You can enjoy the game without spending a penny, and any microtransactions are purely for vanity items, ensuring no “pay to win” mechanics.
  • Extensive Content: With constant updates and expansions, PoE offers a rich and evolving game world. The game boasts numerous acts, seasonal leagues, and an incredible depth of systems like crafting and trading.
  • Community and Support: The game has a passionate and well-humored community, and the developers are continually adding content and refining the game.
  • Challenging and Rewarding Gameplay: The game appeals to both casual and hardcore players, featuring a complex skill tree and a vivid in-game economy.
  • Atmosphere and Theme: PoE’s dark and gritty visual style combined with its compelling soundtrack immerse players in the world of Wraeclast.
  • Replayability: Randomly generated levels and a massive skill tree provide endless replayability and character customization.

The bad

Despite the overwhelming positives, there are a few minor drawbacks:

  • Initial Overwhelm: New players might find the skill tree daunting and the start of the game unimpressive.
  • Grind: The game can get repetitive, especially if you need to grind to optimize your character.
  • Always Online: Being an online-only game, PoE can suffer from connection issues.
  • Community: While the community is generally helpful, some users report encounters with unfriendly or egotistical players.

Verdict

Should you still buy or play Path of Exile in 2024? Absolutely! 🎮

Path of Exile continues to set the bar for free-to-play Action RPGs. The game offers a robust, engaging experience with its deep mechanics, extensive content, and supportive community. The developers’ commitment to constant updates ensures the game remains fresh and exciting. If you’re a fan of dark, gritty dungeon crawlers or were left wanting more from other ARPGs like Diablo 3, PoE is a no-brainer.

So dive into the world of Wraeclast and prepare to get lost in one of the best modern dungeon crawlers available. 🌟



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In-game Screenshot

Screenshot of Path of Exile

Top image is not real in-game screenshots. Fan-art made by Gamer.se. Some game metadata is coming from RAWG