12 best games to play like Diablo 4 in 2024, from Path of Exile to Last Epoch

12 best games to play like Diablo 4 in 2024, from Path of Exile to Last Epoch
Image via Blizzard

Written by 

Joshua Boyles

Last updated 

6th Mar 2024 17:46

Contents

While Blizzard’s latest instalment of the Diablo series is quite unique in its ARPG offering, Diablo 4 has been out for several months now, and you may want to dive into another game that's somewhat similar to tide you over until its next update.

From slower-paced, top-down RPG titles to more action-based alternatives, we have you covered. Keep on reading for our top picks of the best games like Diablo 4 to play right now in 2024.

How we chose the best games like Diablo 4

For our list, we primarily chose games that are role-playing games, with most of them being action RPGs like the Diablo franchise.

Many of the choices here share the same top-down perspective as Diablo 4, but we haven't restricted the list solely to those titles, as many core ideas in its gameplay loop can be found across a myriad of perspectives.

Best games like Diablo 4, ranked

#13 - Remnant 2

a boss in Remnant 2
Click to enlarge
Image via Gunfire Games

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5
  • Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
  • Release date: 2023
  • Key features:
    • Mixed gun and melee combat
    • Procedural generation
    • Tough boss encounters

Remnant 2 is an action RPG that also features Soulslike aspects; set in a sci-fi future, you're tasked with stopping a malevolent force called The Root, which is an evil plant species that's slowly destroying the multiverse.

One thing that sets it apart from similar games is the procedural generation system, which changes the environment, enemy types, bosses, and even the quests and storyline of a run. This keeps each playthrough fresh, letting you grind out to progress without doing the same tasks over and over.

#12 - V Rising

exploration in V Rising
Click to enlarge
Image via Stunlock Studios

  • Platforms: PC
  • Publisher: Stunlock Studios
  • Release date: 2022
  • Key features:
    • Survival gameplay
    • Vampire abilities
    • Focus on boss fights

V Rising is a unique action RPG as it combines the top-down gameplay of a Diablo-like with survival mechanics found in games like Rust, Valheim, and much more.

You play a recently awakened vampire looking to reach their maximum potential and quench their thirst for blood, which typically involves lots of feasting and defeating bosses to progress to new areas. 

The survival mechanics come in the form of gathering materials to build your castle, which acts as a hub for making upgrades to your equipment. It's still in early access as of writing this, but it's set for its 1.0 release in late 2024, so there's still plenty of content to come.

#11 - Borderlands 2

a fight in Borderlands 2
Click to enlarge
Image via Gearbox

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android
  • Publisher: 2K
  • Release date: 2012
  • Key features:
    • Whacky cast of characters
    • Irreverent humour
    • Literally millions of guns

Borderlands 2 is one of the most popular action RPGs ever made, and really popularised the first-person looter shooter format which has crept its way into tonnes of modern games. Despite going on 12 years since it was released, it's still an excellent example of the genre, making for a fun time in both solo or coop.

You'll explore the planet of Pandora as a vault hunter on the lookout for ancient and magical treasures while trying to defeat the tyrannical and delightfully evil villain, Handsome Jack. Borderlands is known for its irreverent style of humour and consistently weird enemies and characters, so expect to laugh as often as you shoot bad guys.

#10 - Pathfinder: Kingmaker

A gameplay screenshot from Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Click to enlarge
Image via Owlcat Games

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
  • Publisher: Owlcat Games
  • Release date: 2018
  • Key features:
    • A large open world
    • Character creation
    • Fantastic combat

If you’re looking for a game like Diablo that’s made by isometric ARPG fans, for isometric ARPG fans, then look no further than Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Set in the Stolen Lands, this is a debut game from the studio at Owlcat Games.

Featuring a thrilling combat experience, complete with a party system, plenty of weapons and armour to collect, and a massive world to explore, this should tickle that same high fantasy itch that Diablo 4 does.

What’s more, Pathfinder: Kingmaker has developers with some serious pedigree behind the wheel of the narrative, including those who previously worked on titles such as Fallout 2 and Dying Light 2. Those are both highly regarded as some of the best RPGs around, so if you’re a fan of those, you’re likely to be a fan of Pathfinder: Kingmaker too.

#9 - Grim Dawn

A gameplay screenshot from Grim Dawn
Click to enlarge
Image via Crate Entertainment

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One
  • Publisher: Crate Entertainment
  • Release date: 2021
  • Key features:
    • A post-apocalyptic setting
    • Can combine classes right from the outset
    • Play with friends in co-op

Grim Dawn puts a post-apocalyptic twist on the tried and tested ARPG genre, bringing an exciting new world to the table. In this universe, iron is valued more than gold, and players must fight for what remains in this wasteland.

A particularly unique aspect of Grim Dawn is its class system, which lets players combine two of the six available to them at the start of the game. Choosing from either a Soldier, Demolitionist, Occultist, Nightblade, Arcanist or Shaman archetype, players can build up a character that feels truly unique to their play style.

What’s more, this title has up to four-player co-op functionality, so you can blast through the story and collect an abundance of loot with your pals. If you’re looking for a game like Diablo that'll be a new time-sink for you and your raiding party, Grim Dawn makes for a solid option.

#8 - Baldur’s Gate 3

A party in Baldur's Gate 3 overlooking a cliff edge
Click to enlarge
Images via Larian Studios

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5
  • Publisher: Larian Studios
  • Release date: 2023
  • Key features:
    • A world that truly feels alive
    • Able to zoom your camera all the way in to emulate third-person RPGs
    • Endless amounts of customisation and player agency

If you’re looking for a game like Diablo 4 that’s a little slower in pace, then you can’t go wrong with Baldur’s Gate 3 - GGRecon's Game of the Year for 2023. Perhaps the newest title on this list by a country mile, Baldur’s Gate 3 takes the tried and tested Dungeons & Dragons ruleset and turns it into a full-fledged, 3D RPG.

Fair warning, this game doesn’t have much in the way of action-based combat. Instead of running around feels while mashing buttons and waiting for abilities to cool down, you’ll have to think through combat scenarios much more tactically in turn-based combat.

However, while the characters and story can very much take a backseat in Diablo 4 should you want them to, Baldur’s Gate 3 thrives on its characters and narrative design. It’s up to you where the story goes, with characters' fates often hanging on a knife edge, your next dialogue option influencing what happens next.

It’s a change of pace, but if you love Diablo 4, then you’ll likely enjoy a game like Baldur’s Gate 3, too.

#7 - Warframe

A promotional image of a Teno in Warframe, one of the best games like Diablo
Click to enlarge
Image via Digital Extremes

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
  • Publisher: Digital Extremes
  • Release date: 2013
  • Key features:
    • A looter shooter through and through
    • Free-to-play
    • Space ninjas!

Warframe has been around for years now, but don’t let that put you off trying this free-to-play masterpiece. While this title forgoes the top-down isometric viewpoint, the game shares more DNA with Diablo 4 than you’d imagine. For starters, the dopamine-inducing looter aspect is second to none here, with the gameplay loop constantly offering up new shiny things to distract you with.

What’s more, there is far from a shortage of content for players to get stuck into after several years of live service support. With countless story arcs to complete and constant live events to take part in, it’s physically impossible to become bored while playing Warframe. If you’re looking for a sci-fi variant of Diablo 4 to play, this is the one to go for.

#6 - Hades

A gameplay screenshot of Hades
Click to enlarge
Image via Supergiant Games

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
  • Publisher: Supergiant Games
  • Release date: 2018
  • Key features: 
    • A roguelike
    • Features an isometric perspective

Diablo 4 has players dabbling with the gods of hell - but what if you wanted to escape the depths of hell itself? That’s exactly what you’re tasked with in Hades, this delightful rogue-like game from Supergiant Games.

You play as Zagreus, the son of Hades. He’s sick of living his life in the depths of Hell, and so the story and gameplay loop sees him progress through a series of chambers as he fights demons on his journey to the surface.

Much like Diablo 4, it retains a top-down, isometric perspective. There are fewer RPG elements like classes to consider, but you can choose your weapon and different upgrades to use while on each of your runs. Hades is one of the more forgiving roguelikes, too. You don’t lose everything when you die, meaning it’s quite satisfying to keep picking away at a playthrough as Zagreus becomes more powerful.

Better yet, Hades is one of the few games on this list that is available on Nintendo Switch. So, if you’re looking for a Diablo-like replacement that allows you to game on the go, Hades might be the one to pick.

#5 - Last Epoch

Combat in Last Epoch
Click to enlarge

  • Platforms: PC
  • Publisher: Eleventh Hour Games
  • Release date: 2024 (version 1.0)
  • Key features: 
    • Deep progression systems
    • Plenty of loot

A game that began as a Reddit post, Last Epoch was built by ARPG veterans who wanted to develop their dream entry into the genre.

That kickstarted a multi-year Early Access period that saw Last Epoch grow in scope and become a buttery smooth looter that's packed with ways to level up and grow your character into the monster-killer of your dreams.

Its time-bending narrative and setting feel a little by the numbers, but there's so much content here, including a hefty endgame, that you can expect to spend hundreds of hours devouring it all.

For more, check out our review.

#4 - Diablo 3

Characters from Diablo 3 on a bridge
Click to enlarge
Image via Blizzard

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
  • Publisher: Activision Blizzard
  • Release date: 2012
  • Key features: 
    • It's Diablo
    • More Diablo
    • Did we mention more Diablo?

This is cheating slightly, but Diablo 3 remains just as viable a game to play in 2024 as Diablo 4. Of course, Diablo 4 is a sequel to its predecessor. However, the servers for Diablo 3 are still completely functional, with a whole world to explore right at the player’s fingertips.

Diablo 3 still holds up, too. It features a much less realistic graphical style, which while isn’t to everyone’s taste, remains remarkably attractive to look at while playing. The gameplay loop is essentially the same, too. There are just as many enemy types to defeat here, as well as bountiful amounts of skills to unlock for your character.

What’s more, a huge chunk of Diablo 3's first act is available to play for free. So, if you’re on the fence about whether Diablo 4 is a game for you, or want to experience similar gameplay for less money, you can’t go wrong the third entry.

#3 - Torchlight 3

A gameplay screenshot of Torchlight 3, one of the best games like Diablo
Click to enlarge
Image via Echtra Inc

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
  • Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
  • Release date: 2020
  • Key features:
    • Plenty of classes and subclasses to choose from
    • Base building

Next up is Torchlight 3, a title that shares a considerable amount of DNA with Diablo 4. Another isometric ARPG, this delightful title has players exploring the world of Novastraia, fighting off enemy monsters while in search of epic loot.

There are four classes to choose from here, as well as five additional subclasses. This means you can customise your build into something that suits your personality and playstyle. Oh, and there’s also a base-building side objective that sees you truly leave a mark on this world. After all, you need somewhere to display all that delicious loot, right?

Torchlight 3 was released in 2020, so it’s still a little on the expensive side. If you’d like to save a little, you can also opt for Torchlight 2, which has very similar gameplay mechanics and still holds up just fine.

#2 - The Witcher 3

A gameplay screenshot of The Witcher 3 with Geralt on his horse in Skellige
Click to enlarge
Image via CDProjekt RED

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
  • Publisher: CDProjekt RED
  • Release date: 2015
  • Key features:
    • Fantastic DLC content post-game
    • Become Geralt of Rivia in an immersive tale
    • A beautiful open world

Ah, The Witcher 3 - what a game. Arguably the best RPG of the last generation, The Witcher 3 rounds off Geralt’s saga in a monumental fashion. Complete with robust RPG mechanics, a stunning world, and one of the most engrossing fantasy stories you’ll ever experience, there’s very little to dislike about CDProjekt RED’s magnum opus.

While it may not be the first game that comes to mind when you think of an alternative to Diablo 4, these games actually have quite a lot in common. Mostly, the similarities are to do with tone. While previous Diablo games have focused on the evil caused by the spawn of Hell, Diablo 4 seems to focus much more on the scourge of humanity. The Witcher 3 also shares this, with the story regularly pointing out that humans can be just as dastardly as the monsters that hunt them.

What’s more, while the monsters you fight in The Witcher 3 aren’t explicitly from the depths of Hell, they did appear in the world in a similar fashion. During an event known as the Conjunction of the Spheres, monsters came through into the world of the Witcher from multiple different universes. With a cosmic element to the lore of The Witcher, there’s plenty to keep you intrigued.

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What is the best game like Diablo 4?

#1 - Path of Exile

A gameplay screenshot of Path of Exile
Click to enlarge
Image via Grinding Gear Games

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
  • Publisher: Grinding Gear Games
  • Release date: 2013
  • Key features:
    • The ultimate experience if you love Diablo
    • An isometric RPG
    • Customisable classes

We can’t talk about games like Diablo 4 without mentioning Path of Exile. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that it’s easily the best alternative to it out there right now.

Path of Exile wears its inspirations on its sleeve, clearly taking inspiration from Diablo games of the past. With isometric ARPG gameplay, you’ll build up a character completely from scratch using one of many customisable classes. Path of Exile features one of the most robust and extensive skill upgrade systems of any game in this genre, with the skill tree extending for what seems like miles.

Even better, Path of Exile is completely free-to-play and has been since it launched in 2013. With almost a decade of content to catch up on, there’s a ridiculous amount of story, dungeons, and loot to be experienced in this mammoth title. Better yet, it’s still being updated today. So, if you’re looking for a much cheaper alternative to Diablo 4, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than Path of Exile.

Check out our lists homepage for more best of guides. We've also covered the best games like Baldur's Gate 3, Witcher 3, and Dark Souls.

Joshua is the Guides Editor at GGRecon. After graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Broadcast Journalism, he previously wrote for publications such as FragHero and GameByte. You can often find him diving deep into fantasy RPGs such as Skyrim and The Witcher, or tearing it up in Call of Duty and Battlefield. He's also often spotted hiking in the wilderness, usually blasting Arctic Monkeys.

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