Best ARPGs Like Diablo

Despite going through its share of ups and downs over the last 15 years, Blizzard’s Diablo is still arguably the definitive action RPG franchise, at least within its subgenre. 1997’s Diablo and 2000’s Diablo 2 helped define isometric dungeon-crawlers, and they are still impressive as long as somebody goes in with realistic expectations since they are over 20 years old by this point. Their success inspired many developers to try their hands at crafting action RPGs like Diablo, to mixed results.

Nowadays, 2021’s Diablo 2: Resurrected serves as a good entry point into the franchise for newcomers who want to start with the older releases rather than the more modern sequels. Alternatively, they can jump into Diablo 4, the latest project in Blizzard’s franchise. Positive reviews aside, the game garnered quite a bit of criticism during its first year, but Diablo 4‘s Loot Reborn helped steady the ship, setting the stage for the upcoming Vessel of Hatred expansion.

With the main entries and Diablo Immortal, the franchise is not exactly lacking in content; however, a change of pace can be preferred at times. Therefore, let’s highlight some of the best games like Diablo.

Updated on November 3, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Towards the end of October 2024, one of the year’s biggest RPG debuted: Dragon Age The Veilguard. Similar to Inquisition, this entry utilizes an action combat system, so it might be worth considering for Diablo fans. That said, they are largely different experiences that cannot be compared directly.

A section dedicated to upcoming games like Diablo has been added.

32 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

Stylish Hack And Slash RPG With Accessible Combat & Vibrant Setting

While the first two entries are quite difficult, Diablo reduced its barrier of entry after that point, at least for the main campaigns. Diablo 3 and 4 are both fairly easy action RPGs that enable players to curb-stomp most enemies, carving a path of destruction toward the endgame. The latter include notable spikes in difficulty, but things mellow out once players get into the endless loot grind (which tends to happen with most of these types of games, not just Diablo). Although this shift could be seen as a criticism, a power fantasy run that provides some challenge but not too much frustration can be fun in the right mood.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning offers something similar, albeit presented from a 3D angle. In 2012, Big Huge’s title had one of the best combat systems in Western RPGs, opting for a hack and slash formula akin to something like God of War and, to a lesser extent, Devil May Cry. While showing its age at this point, Kingdoms of Amalur is still a blast to play, especially thanks to a weapon system with a decent range of variety (and combos that can be enjoyably broken).

Visually, Kingdoms of Amalur opts for a colorful fantasy aesthetic, somewhat similar to Diablo 3. The story is not particularly great, but the open-world is lovely and filled with well-designed locations.

Not that the 2012 version is likely to be an option, but new players should go for the 2020
Re-Reckoning
release.

31 Monster Hunter Rise

Grinding For Parts

Before proceeding any further, it needs to be made clear that Monster Hunter and Diablo are nothing alike in most areas. Their gameplay, settings, and campaign structures are completely different, and their loot systems prioritize different elements. Consequently, if someone is searching for a traditional action RPG experience that replicates Diablo‘s flow, they should look elsewhere as their requirements will not be satisfied by Capcom’s franchise. Even in Monster Hunter Rise, the most accessible entry in the franchise, the combat is slow-paced, with encounters descending into battles of attrition.

For all their differences, Monster Hunter shares Diablo‘s philosophy in its endgame, as both properties’ longevity revolves around grinding dungeons (or hunts, in MH‘s case) in search of drops that can be used to unlock better armor and weapons. These franchises know how to craft games that can keep someone playing indefinitely, even if their methods are widely different.

Monster Hunter‘s grind is done in service of acquiring the required materials to craft specific weapons and armor; consequently, it is not quite as instantly gratifying as Diablo‘s endless cycle of stats. Once players acquire a good selection of high-end weapons and armor, they will also need to swap them depending on the monster they will be hunting, and preparing for a fight is far more important in Monster Hunter than in Diablo.

30 Remnant 2

Soulslike Co-Op Shooter That Uses Procedural Generation Technology

Building beautifully on its predecessor’s ideas, Remnant 2 is one of the better and more unique Soulslikes on the market. While the genre typically prioritizes melee weapons, Gunfire Games’ franchise revolves around ranged action, with close-quarter combat being secondary. The games utilize procedural generation to enhance their replayability. In the case of Remnant 2, each world’s dungeons are formed at random, meaning two playthroughs will encounter different enemies and level layouts. Diablo 4 does the same thing with its dungeons, and the 2023 sequel was hardly the first entry in the action RPG series to implement this sort of concept.

Now, Remnant 2 and Diablo‘s combat are not that similar, although they share enough elements in common to be worth a mention. The former focuses quite a lot on crowd control, and the action is fairly fast-paced and consistently intense. The Soulslike has quite a lot of loot as well; however, unlike Diablo, Remnant 2 does not emphasize weapons in this area. Generally, drops come in the form of rings and relics, while most armor pieces and weapons need to be purchased. While initially this might seem restrictive, the game offers quite a bit of build variety, particularly once players unlock more Archetypes (classes). Similar to Diablo, Remnant 2 also supports online co-op.

29 Minecraft Dungeons

Entry-Level Dungeon Crawler

Minecraft Dungeons is essentially a Diablo alternative for children. The hack and slash game simplifies most of the central mechanics associated with action RPGs, including completely removing a class system, all the while offering the minute-by-minute thrills associated with the genre.

Veterans fans of these sorts of projects might find this title a bit too unchallenging, even though they might still appreciate its charming visuals and decent level design. However, Minecraft Dungeons is designed for younger players who are taking their first steps into this world; from that point of view, it gets the job done.

28 Ghostlore

Diablo + Eastern Mythology = A Good Time

Inspired by Eastern mythology, Ghostlore takes the Diablo formula and gives it a thematic makeover, crafting a gameplay loop that is similar but still has a unique identity. The story mostly boils down to a student taking over their master’s monster-fighting responsibilities, which means taking on all sorts of quests that amount to “kill everything in this map.” That might sound overly straightforward, but Ghostlore complements its narrative with a visually impressive world dripping in real-life culture. Even the enemies are inspired by Southern Asian mythology, and it is fun just learning about these beings.

Ghostlore has a few other things that might hit the mark with Diablo fans. Loot is plentiful, with players constantly having to update their builds. Class customization is important, and players will be mixing and matching skills from multiple classes to create their ideal fighter. Procedural generation is used for the map layouts, heightening replayability in the process.

27 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Co-Op First-Person Shooter With All The Loot

Ever since its debut, Borderlands has been described as FPS Diablo, and that descriptor has stuck around for a reason. Gearbox’s franchise lives and dies on the strength of its loot system, which is designed to keep players coming back long after they complete a playthrough. Each game has a few Vault Hunters who act as separate classes, each of which comes with a couple of skill trees that alter their playstyles. While not as endgame-driven as Diablo, Borderlands is intended to be replayed over and over again, and the games emphasize co-op.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is a spin-off that flings Borderlands‘ core gameplay loop into a traditional fantasy setting. While dungeons stick to the first-person rhythm synonymous with the license, the overworld shifts to a top-down perspective, which lends the title a classic role-playing feel that is often missing in the mainline entries.

26 The Mageseeker: A League Of Legends Story

Fun LoL Spin-off With Diablo-Esque Combat

In recent years, Riot Games has slowly expanded League of Legends into other genres via spin-off games revolving around specific Champions. The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story pushes Sylas to the forefront, and the mage proves to be a fantastic pick for an action RPG. The Mageseeker‘s combat is cut from the cloth that spawned Diablo, Torchlight, and other similar games, although it comes with a few quirks.

Along with fisticuffs, Sylas has access to his chain and a wide selection of magic spells, which is not that unusual at face value. However, along with spells that use mana, the mage can also steal abilities from enemies, granting him a one-time use. Balancing these mechanics is a core part of The Mageseeker experience, and it produces thrills and the occasional bout of frustration.

25 Cat Quest

A Lighthearted But Great Action RPG

OK, Cat Quest‘s tone is the direct opposite of Diablo. While the latter is drenched in dark fantasy goodness, The Gentlebros’ action RPG is colorful, cute, and filled with cat puns. Still, those things are not that crucial in the grand scheme of things, and the games have more in common than might initially seem to be the case.

Set in a lovely open-world and played from an isometric perspective, Cat Quest features dungeon crawling, simple but satisfying combat, loot, and a well-done upgrade system. Sure, the game is fairly “small” compared to any of the Diablo releases, but sometimes nothing hits the mark like a 10-hour adventure that never threatens to overstay its welcome.

Cat Quest 2
introduces co-op and is arguably better; however, the first title is worth playing too.
Cat Quest 3
is also a great option.

24 Sacred Gold

Another Action RPG Classic

Sacred was a respectable action RPG when it launched in 2004, and nearly two decades later, the game holds up fairly well. Unsurprisingly, the visuals and combat are dated, but the core gameplay loop is strong enough to survive the test of time. Ascaron took a fair amount of inspiration from Diablo when crafting Sacred, almost to the point that the latter could be described as a high-fantasy alternative to the former’s dark fantasy.

At the time of its release, the openness of Sacred‘s world was impressive since it gave players far more freedom to explore than the typical action RPG. Even though these types of maps are more common nowadays, Ancaria is still an impressive work of art. 2008’s Sacred 2 is also a decent action RPG, while the less said about Sacred 3, the better.

23 Hades

Roguelite Action RPG Set In The Underworld

Released in 2020, Hades is a rogue-like action RPG with enough hack-and-slash mechanics that will appeal to fans of the Diablo series. Hades is set in the Ancient Greek underworld and features an excellent art style.

The Rogue-like nature sets Hades apart from action RPGs like Diablo in terms of progression but the top-down hack-and-slash nature at the very core of the game will still appeal to fans. Furthermore, fighting one’s way through randomly generated dungeons and trying to get out of hell is the entire basis for both games, and there’s enough to please fans of both genres.

Hades 2
is currently in early access.

22 Dragon’s Dogma 2

Evolution Of A Cult Classic Action RPG

Similar to Diablo 3 and Diablo 4, Dragon’s Dogma 2 took more than a decade to materialize, putting heavy expectations on Capcom’s sequel. Also, like Blizzard’s most recent entry, the action RPG debuted to widespread acclaim and was even labeled as a potential Game of the Year candidate. Naturally, that initial excitement faded with time, leaving behind a very good sequel that, for the most part, fine-tunes its predecessor’s ideas rather than fully evolving them. Dragon’s Dogma 2 might be just a better version of Dragon’s Dogma and Dark Arisen, but that is more than enough to warrant a recommendation.

Gameplay-wise, Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Diablo 4 are not cut from the same cloth, although they overlap in enough areas to suggest that fans of one game will enjoy the other. Capcom’s project has a far more intricate combat system than Blizzard’s franchise, and it can be very challenging at times. Players are given quite a lot of freedom to develop and customize their characters, with vocations acting as loose classes. While nowhere near as loot-heavy as Diablo, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has a robust array of weapons and armor, and they drop at a fairly consistent rate. The dark fantasy world is pretty big and periodically beautiful, and the setting is not that far removed from Diablo‘s.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
is also a great action RPG and well-worth a playthrough, especially if someone wants a cheaper option.

21 Nioh 2

Soulslike With All The Loot

Formerly known for hard-as-nails hack and slash masterpieces (and Ninja Gaiden 3), Team Ninja eventually shifted focus to hard-as-nails action RPGs that feature Soulslike combat, albeit a faster variant than the systems found in genre-instigators Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. While the developer’s resume has been fairly consistent over the last decade or so, Nioh 2 is arguably Team Ninja’s crowning achievement, at least during its RPG era. Split into seven regions containing multiple main and side missions, all of which are filled with grueling boss fights and quite a bit of exploration, the game’s campaign is substantial, to the point of requiring 50+ hours to complete in most cases. And, repeat playthroughs are encouraged due to the sheer range of viable builds, with each weapon type coming with a unique skill tree that requires dozens upon dozens of hours of investment. On top of all that, Nioh 2 has an overwhelming number of mechanics that all have their part to play in the addictive and deep combat.

Now, admittedly, Nioh 2‘s gameplay is not particularly similar to Diablo. Not only is it far harder than most of Blizzard’s entries, but it is also more methodical and does not lend itself to (for lack of a better term) mindless entertainment. Team Ninja’s game punishes lapses in concentration harshly, making for a grueling but highly engaging experience. Despite all that, Nioh 2 is worth a recommendation simply due to its loot, which is plentiful and borderline exhausting. Every enemy drops a combination of weapons, armor, accessories, soul cores, and consumables; the former three are level-based, divided into tiers, and feature randomized stats, bonuses, and effects. Players will be hoarding weapons of all types too, regardless of whether they have ever equipped an odachi or axe, and before they know it, their seemingly generous 600-size inventory will be overflowing with content.

Basically, if someone wants a Soulslike looter slasher, Nioh 2 is probably their best bet.

Rise of the Ronin
is another enjoyable action RPG by Team Ninja, and it is easier/more accessible than
Nioh
2. The 2024 game is also notable for being the developer’s first open-world.

20 Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance Series

Baldur’s Gate Tries Its Hand At Diablo’s Formula

Unlike the mainline Baldur’s Gate RPG series that originated on the PC, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance are dungeon-crawling action RPGs that feature cooperative gameplay and a top-down view similar to that of the Diablo series.

Designed for PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox, the Dark Alliance games are much less complicated than their CRPG counterparts, but they serve as a great introduction to the Dungeons & Dragons universe. A new Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance was released on consoles and the PC in the Summer of 2021, but it wasn’t as well-received as the originals. It’s advised to play through the remasters of the first two games if someone wants to revisit these projects, although newcomers should be aware that some aspects of the games have aged poorly.

19 Darksiders: Genesis

Co-Op Fun

This title serves as a spin-off and a prequel to the original Darksiders titles, which were fully 3D action-adventure games. The series has always borrowed elements from other games and genres like The Legend of Zelda and Portal series, but Genesis is more highly recommended for fans of the Diablo series.

Additionally, Darksiders: Genesis uses familiar elements like puzzle-solving and exploration, and blends this with Diablo-like progression mechanics and combat. It’s also worth noting that Genesis does a great job of expanding Darksiders‘ already interesting and imaginative universe. That said, people who also like the hack-and-slash genre should still invest in the main games in the series as the combat, exploration, and series’ depth are worth exploring from the beginning.

18 Vikings — Wolves Of Midgard

Action RPG Romp Through Norse Mythology

Vikings was developed by Games Farm and published by Kalypso Media Digital in 2017, but it still holds up to what one could want from an action RPG. The game has the player explore the mythical land of Midgard, a region inspired by Norse legends.

Players earn blessings from different Norse gods and bludgeon their enemies with hammers as they progress through the land. There are many monsters and undead to defeat, and players can invite friends to play within co-op mode. Plus, this game has interesting lore to discover, and humorous cutscenes to entertain.

17 The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing: Final Cut

Deep & Expansive Campaign

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing puts players in the shoes of the legendary vampire hunter, choosing from six classes to play to slay monsters all around Borgovia. The Final Cut is a collection of the three previous games by the developer, told as a single story; together, they combine a lengthy and fairly enjoyable hack and slash experience that takes direct inspiration from classics like Diablo. While technically the definitive version, The Final Cut is not the individual entries stitched together, and it is quite different from the individual episodes since it creates a more cohesive overall campaign.

With over fifty hours of gameplay and an enormous variety of skills, this game will impress even the most experienced veterans of action RPGs. One highly appreciated feature is Lady Katarina, the protagonist’s ghostly companion. She helps in several ways and is also very witty and charismatic. Players won’t get bored with her around. Van Helsing is solid throughout, even if it does not quite reach the same heights as the best action RPGs on the market. Visually, the game(s) hold up well, and they have some eye-catching Gothic locations that compare favorably to most other genre entries. That said, the combat can get a bit stale after a while.

16 The Slormancer

Funny & Legit

The Slormancer takes a comedic approach to the action RPG genre, which already sets it apart from most of its contemporaries. Summoned to a world that needs a traditional fantasy hero, players find themselves in over their heads as they try to take down the eponymous villain. At the moment, The Slormancer only has three classes, which is fairly minuscule for this type of experience; however, the game makes up for this limitation through an overabundance of weapons and especially abilities. The latter provide a lot of wiggle room in each class, and it can be fun to just experiment with different skills.

Due to still being in early access, The Slormancer is not a finished product, resulting in a fun but ultimately incomplete experience. In its current state, the title is still worth a try for anyone looking for a lighthearted Diablo-like game, although people on the fence might want to wait a bit longer.

15 Nobody Saves The World

Distinctive Take On The Action RPG Genre

Diablo fans seeking loot-heavy games should look elsewhere as Nobody Saves the World will not satisfy that itch; however, if someone wants a creative action RPG, DrinkBox’s project is a prime contender. The game follows Nobody, a literal blank slate character who picks up a wand that allows them to shift into other beings, each with unique abilities. Once Nobody grows proficient with a certain skill, he can equip it using other forms, opening up a wide range of possible builds.

Nobody Saves the World‘s combat is fairly typical for a top-down action RPG, although the world’s vibrant aesthetic and enemy designs help set the game apart from Diablo. The title also has a charming sense of humor that comes through its roster of NPCs and side quests, and it takes inspiration from Zelda.

14 Nox

An Action RPG That Shines In Different Areas Than Diablo

As most recommended action RPGs debuted in a post-Diablo 2 world, they tend to stick to BioWare’s formula, which is totally fine. However, there is nothing wrong with trying something different, and Nox is certainly not Diablo 2. For one, Westwood’s game predates the beloved sequel and was already in development when the original Diablo came out. Consequently, despite the isometric angle and dark fantasy setting, Nox only shares superficial similarities with Diablo; more importantly, it emphasizes different ideas and elements.

While not recommendable for stuff like loot or gear variety, Nox absolutely shines in a few key areas. Putting aside the story’s setup, which is a bit more involved and silly than the typical Diablo-like, Nox allows players to pick from three classes (Warrior, Conjurer, and Wizard). Along with specializing in separate skills and weapons, each option goes through a unique campaign consisting of different missions and story beats. Just to be clear, there is overlap between the three classes, but they are still fresh experiences that are worth taking individually.

Compared to Diablo, Nox is far more story-driven, paying attention to things like world-building, NPC interactions, and plot progression. While the gameplay loop can still boil down to “kill everything that moves,” the game goes out of its way to provide direction and incentive to these actions.

Also,
Nox
‘s multiplayer was great and innovative for its era. While it might be challenging to put together a LAN match nowadays, the multiplayer is still worth trying today.

13 Warhammer: Chaosbane

A Well-Done Action RPG For Warhammer Fans

Chaosbane has its players exploring the ever-expanding Warhammer universe. In this game, one may choose from five different classes to take on hordes of enemies coming at the player and the option to team up with three friends to play cooperatively.

This beautiful action RPG implements almost puzzle-like mechanics to the fights, having one figure out the weaknesses of bosses in intricate and interesting ways. The campaign is riveting and features a story that is easy to follow, even if one isn’t very knowledgeable about Warhammer‘s vast universe.