Rating: 9.7/10

Review:

The Action RPG genre (ARPG) has a new champion this year - Path of Exile. Developed by Grinding Gear Games, Path of Exile delivers an exquisite blend of dark fantasy lore, profound character customization, and an innovative skill system that trumps its contemporaries, including Diablo 3 and 4, Lost Ark, and Torchlight 3. Once you get the endgame in PoE and finally complete maps that game is just starting to get good. From Uber bosses to endless mining levels, to Server-based character racing. This game is literally turning into an "e-sport" with all the race events.

PROS:

1. Unprecedented Customization: Path of Exile's character customization is second to none. The passive skill tree, with its awe-inspiring complexity, allows for nearly infinite build possibilities. This level of depth and flexibility in character development outshines its competition.

2. Engaging Combat System: The combat mechanics are both robust and satisfying, providing an intricate interplay between different skills, gear, and the game's challenging AI enemies. Tactical prowess is just as essential as the right skill combinations, making each battle feel exhilarating and rewarding.

3. Intricate Loot System: The loot system in Path of Exile is deeply involved and rewarding. With a wide variety of unique items and mods, it provides a constant sense of anticipation and surprise for players, inspiring that ever-addictive "one more map" mentality.

4. Dynamic Endgame Content: Path of Exile shines when it comes to endgame content. The game offers a rich variety of challenges, quests, and dungeons that can be explored long after the main storyline concludes, ensuring continued engagement for players. The consistent introduction of new leagues also keeps the game fresh and exciting.

5. Evocative Story and Lore: The dark, gritty atmosphere of the game is deeply immersive, and the game's lore is both complex and engaging. The storytelling successfully ties in with the gameplay, making the entire gaming experience feel cohesive and compelling.

CONS:

1. Overwhelming for Beginners: Once players open that skill tree they for sure see what they have gotten themselves into. It's taken me over a year to get used to the passive skill tree and character builds. The game's complexity can be quite intimidating for newcomers. A steep learning curve and the extensive freedom offered by the skill tree can lead to sub-optimal builds, which might be discouraging for some players.

2. RNG-Based Progression: While the complex loot system can be rewarding, it also relies heavily on RNG (Random Number Generator). This might lead to frustration for some players, particularly when trying to acquire specific high-tier items. Certain events in the maps are pinged and higher chance to appear in the Atlas tree. This makes it easiler to make events happen, but the items can still be hard to find.

3. Graphical Glitches: So, you literally have to download "loot filters" to play this game at a high level. There are way too many items that drop and you'll only be farming for specific things, so you'll want to only highlight the ground with items you care about that those runs. There are occasional graphical glitches and frame rate drops, especially during high-intensity combat scenarios with multiple effects on-screen. While these moments are few and far between, they do slightly mar the otherwise smooth gaming experience. Playing with a group is fun, but it does feel like the game is going to crash sometimes.

Conclusion:

Path of Exile sets a new standard for ARPGs in 2023 with its complex mechanics, extensive character customization, and dynamic endgame content. Despite its few shortcomings, it offers an experience that not only surpasses its contemporaries but also raises the bar for the genre. Whether you're an ARPG veteran or a newcomer to the genre, Path of Exile is a must-play title this year.