With a skill tree larger than a medieval monarch’s family tree and a much more grim aesthetic, Path of Exile 2 is a hardcore take on Diablo’s power fantasy. The PoE series has consistently been in the shadow of Blizzard’s giant due to its reputation for being notoriously complex, but in the wake of a turbulent first year for Diablo 4, players have been quick to take Path of Exile for a spin. As a result, the upcoming Path of Exile 2 is currently the best-selling game on Steam, with hits like Counter-Strike 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 trailing behind.
While it’s initially somewhat surprising to see such an intensely huge and intimidating RPG top Steam, you can’t say Path of Exile 2’s success isn’t deserved. The early access Path of Exile 2 release date is fast approaching, and developer Grinding Gear Games has revealed tons of exciting details that have no doubt captured the attention of both Diablo fans and even genre newcomers.
Though player numbers are not yet available, managing to top some of this year’s heavy hitters points towards Path of Exile 2 having a very strong opening. In fact, the highly anticipated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which releases just days later, is all the way down at rank 59 in the US Steam charts. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that Indiana Jones will be included in Game Pass and therefore tempting many away from Steam.
Earlier this year, Black Myth Wukong and Palworld had similar success stories both before and after launch, backed up by high concurrent player counts, so PoE might have similar numbers.
It’s also beating out several games that have skyrocketed in the ongoing Steam Autumn sale, such as the aforementioned Cyberpunk 2077, as well as Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Hogwarts Legacy, and Forza Horizon 4 (which is soon to be delisted). In fact, the only thing topping Path of Exile 2 right now is the mouthwatering Steam Deck discount.
Last week, Grinding Gear released an in-depth look at the sprawling PoE 2 endgame you can expect even in early access, giving Diablo 4 a run for its money. For example, there’s the Atlas of Worlds, an infinite endgame map that houses a swathe of activities like Breach, Ritual, Delirium, and Expedition, then there are the various Trials, a series of challenge rooms inspired by the best roguelike games, that offer unique rewards.
This rich endgame is layered on top of Path of Exile 2’s campaign. During early access, this is limited to the first three of six acts, a decision that game director Jonathan Rogers tells us was made to focus on the endgame – a priority for any ARPG with eyes on a long-running future.
Of course, there are also the 12 Path of Exile 2 classes to choose from, though only six of which are available at the early access launch. Nevertheless, each one is incredibly varied and immensely intricate, encouraging you to give each a good go.
With all this wrapped up in one grim yet gorgeous package, Path of Exile 2 is on track to take over Steam for quite some time. Keep in mind that the early access version costs $30 / £23.94, while the full game will be free-to-play, already giving it a leg up over Diablo 4.
If it lives up to its potential, Path of Exile 2 will no doubt be one of the best free PC games once it leaves early access sometime in 2025. Until then, we’ll have to settle for one of the best PC games, though that’s not a bad thing.
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