I've been playing Path of Exile since 2011 closed beta and it's remarkable how far the game has come purely from crowd funding. The passion of the userbase is equally matched by it's developers. They've shown throughout the years to constantly improve and tweak the game with regularly scheduled content additions. I still feel I don't know everything there is to know about this game, and that isn't changing any time soon. Path of Exile is an incredibly complex and rewarding game that is definitely worth your time.

Outside of having an absurdly intricate skill tree and a fantastic crafting/currency system, the other large appeal of this game is the end-game. Most ARPGs fail to offer incentive to continue to play your character after you've exhausted the content. Usually this just comes in the form of a easily attainable level cap or grinding the same final zone of the game at length. Instead, in POE you are given item drop instances, as described by the developers:

"Maps can drop as normal, magic, rare or unique with higher rarity Maps yielding more items. Using a Map item opens six portals to the area, which can each only be used once. Like most other items in Path of Exile, Maps have mods that change their risks and rewards. Map mods can affect the size or complexity of the level, monster packs, monster properties or even alter characters while in the level. Players can modify Maps themselves using their currency items. For example, you can use an Orb of Transmutation to turn a normal Map into a magic Map, or use an Orb of Alteration to reroll its mods."

It goes to say that each and every map is a different experience, with room for countless variation in modifiers letting you push the limits of your character. Not all characters are equal. You will find that some characters that excell in early progression have difficulty in the end-game and visa versa. Each character I've made has informed the next which is critical in a game that rewards experience and skill.

And if that wasn't enough, POE offers alternative ARPG experiences in the form of daily race events which are time based leveling with unique modifiers that you won't see in the real game like 'Turbo Mode'. Moreover some of these races have entirely unique content like Descent: Champions or Endless Ledge which offer players the ability to win special art reskins of legendary items for the leagues of their choice.

All in all POE is a truly exciting game and a breath of fresh air for the genre.

I've been playing Path of Exile since 2011 closed beta and it's remarkable how far the game has come purely from crowd funding. The passion of the userbase is equally matched by it's developers. They've shown throughout the years to constantly improve and tweak the game with regularly scheduled content additions. I still feel I don't know everything there is to know about this game, and that isn't changing any time soon. Path of Exile is an incredibly complex and rewarding game that is definitely worth your time. Outside of having an absurdly intricate skill tree and a fantastic crafting/currency system, the other large appeal of this game is the end-game. Most ARPGs fail to offer incentive to continue to play your character after you've exhausted the content. Usually this just comes in the form of a easily attainable level cap or grinding the same final zone of the game at length. Instead, in POE you are given item drop instances, as described by the developers: "Maps can drop as normal, magic, rare or unique with higher rarity Maps yielding more items. Using a Map item opens six portals to the area, which can each only be used once. Like most other items in Path of Exile, Maps have mods that change their risks and rewards. Map mods can affect the size or complexity of the level, monster packs, monster properties or even alter characters while in the level. Players can modify Maps themselves using their currency items. For example, you can use an Orb of Transmutation to turn a normal Map into a magic Map, or use an Orb of Alteration to reroll its mods." It goes to say that each and every map is a different experience, with room for countless variation in modifiers letting you push the limits of your character. Not all characters are equal. You will find that some characters that excell in early progression have difficulty in the end-game and visa versa. Each character I've made has informed the next which is critical in a game that rewards experience and skill. And if that wasn't enough, POE offers alternative ARPG experiences in the form of daily race events which are time based leveling with unique modifiers that you won't see in the real game like 'Turbo Mode'. Moreover some of these races have entirely unique content like Descent: Champions or Endless Ledge which offer players the ability to win special art reskins of legendary items for the leagues of their choice. All in all POE is a truly exciting game and a breath of fresh air for the genre.