Path of Exile 2 Review (Early Access)

🎮 Introduction: A Hardcore ARPG’s Evolution

Path of Exile 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to Grinding Gear Games’ genre-defining ARPG. While still in early access, it already feels like a major evolution from its predecessor. It introduces WASD movement, dual weapon switching, and refined skill systems. Does PoE2 enhance the ARPG experience, or is it just another iteration of a grind-heavy loot treadmill? Let’s break it down

🌀 Core Gameplay Loop

PoE2 maintains the fast-paced, loot-driven combat that defines the ARPG genre. Players dive into randomized dungeons, slay hordes of enemies, collect loot, and experiment with deep skill customization.

✔️ New Weapon-Switching System – Swap between two fully equipped weapon sets mid-combat.
✔️ Expanded Skill System – Socketing and gem upgrades feel more intuitive.
✔️ WASD Movement – A first for Path of Exile, allowing better positioning in combat.

The combat is brutal yet rewarding, and offers a steep but fair learning curve. Boss fights feel impactful, though the XP loss on death can be punishing, making endgame progression feel more like a war of attrition than a natural challenge.

🔴 Frustrations:

• Inventory management remains clunky, especially without extra stash tabs (available for purchase).
• Crafting system is underdeveloped – feels more like a gambling mechanic than a true crafting system.
• Grind-heavy endgame with punishing XP penalties that could burn out casual players.

🎮 Fun Factor

✅ Was the game enjoyable?
Absolutely. The campaign progression felt smooth and rewarding, offering an engaging challenge without feeling overwhelming. The combat, loot, and character builds create an addictive cycle that keeps players coming back for more.

⚔️ Did it ever feel like a grind?
Yes, but that’s expected from an ARPG. While the campaign flows well, the endgame leans heavily into grind-heavy mechanics, which may not appeal to everyone.

🔄 Would you revisit the game for fun or just for completion?
Without a doubt. The game is currently in ‘Early Access’ and has much more content to be released before the full launch of the game. As a live-service game, new seasonal content and mechanics provide compelling reasons to return regularly, as long as they are well executed (too early to tell at the time of the review, but GGG’s track record is promising)

📖 Story & Narrative

✔️ Dark, immersive world set 20 years after PoE1.
✔️ More voice acting and character depth than before.
✔️ Some plot twists keep things engaging.
❌ Linear narrative—no real player choices that impact the game world.
❌ Focus remains on gameplay over story immersion. The story follows the Count of Ogham’s attempt to unleash the Corruption, but like most ARPGs, the narrative plays second fiddle to the gameplay. While lore fans will appreciate the depth, most players will be too focused on reaching endgame content to truly engage with it.

🎨 Graphics & Art Style

📷 Visual Quality & Immersion
Path of Exile 2 is a huge step up from its predecessor.

✔️ Improved character models, spell effects, and environments.
✔️ Gothic, dark fantasy aesthetic is visually striking.
✔️ Atmospheric lighting and effects enhance immersion.
❌ Some texture pop-in and minor visual bugs (expected in early access).

🔴 Minor Issues:

• Occasional clipping issues and texture flickering.
• UI remains dense—great for veterans, can be overwhelming for new players but much better than its predecessor.

🎵 Sound & Music: Enhancing the Atmosphere

🎶 Epic orchestral soundtrack fits the dark tone.
🔊 Sound design is strong—combat and environmental effects are immersive.
🎤 Voice acting adds depth, though not a standout feature.

⚙️ Performance & Technical Stability

✅ Runs smoothly on mid-to-high-end PCs.
✅ Reasonable load times.
✅ No major crashes or game-breaking bugs encountered.
❌ Early access = occasional server instability.
❌ Accessibility options are lacking (colorblind mode, UI scaling, etc.).

Grinding Gear Games has a strong history of post-launch support, so stability and QoL should improve over time.

💰 Monetization & Consumer Friendliness

💵 Free-to-play model expected at launch, with optional microtransactions.
❌ Stash tab microtransactions remain a necessary evil.
✅ No pay-to-win mechanics—cosmetic-only purchases. PoE2 retains the same fair monetization model as its predecessor, but inventory management remains frustrating without purchasing extra stash space.

🔄 Multiplayer & Online Features

✅ Online-only, but stable servers should improve post-launch.
❌ No matchmaking—players must form groups manually.
✅ Strong community engagement and support. Path of Exile’s community remains dedicated, though solo players may struggle with some endgame content

✔️ Who Will Love This Game?
✅ Hardcore ARPG fans who thrive on deep build crafting and min-maxing.
✅ Players who enjoy long-term character progression and loot hunting.
✅ Fans of challenging, skill-based gameplay with no hand-holding.

❌ Who Should Avoid It?
❌ Casual players looking for an accessible, story-driven experience.
❌ Anyone who dislikes grind-heavy mechanics and punishing progression.
❌ Players who want fully polished content—early access still has kinks to iron out.

✅ Pros & Cons

✔️ Pros:

• Deep and rewarding build variety – Experimenting with skills, weapons, and passives creates limitless customization (only half of the classes are currently available with more to be added before launch).
• Satisfying combat and movement upgrades – WASD controls and fluid animations make fights feel more dynamic. WASD movement is a game changer.
• Seasonal content adds replayability – Frequent updates ensure there’s always something new to explore.

❌ Cons:

• Endgame grind is demanding – Progressing through the hardest content requires a significant time investment and xp loss on death can feel punishing.
• Inventory space remains a frustration – Managing loot without premium stash tabs can feel restrictive.
• Crafting relies too much on RNG – Targeting specific upgrades feels more like gambling than progression

🏆 Final Verdict: Recommended 🔥

Path of Exile 2 refines everything that made the original great, adding more fluid combat, better customization, and improved visuals. However, its brutal endgame, steep learning curve, and reliance on grinding will be a love-it-or-hate-it experience.

I’d consider Path of Exile 2 a AAA title—not in the conventional sense tied to massive publishers and budgets, but as a modern example of how ambition, polish, and scale can earn that label, even from an independent studio. It’s a AAA game with indie roots, redefining the category in its own way.

💯 If you’re an ARPG veteran, this is a must-play.
⚠️ If you’re new to the genre, prepare for a steep challenge.

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