Diablo 4 has already been available for several months, leading some players to contemplate the possibility of discovering similar games to play in 2023. Luckily, there are plenty of games that capture the essence of the Diablo series to keep you occupied. The 10 alternatives featured here provide a similar isometric camera perspective, rewarding progression systems with lots of gear and skill options to unlock, and hordes of enemies to defeat in stylish combat. Whether you’re looking to dungeon crawl, battle forces of evil, or just lose yourself in an immersive RPG, these Diablo-like games are sure to please your epic loot hunting.
What Makes Diablo 4 So Addicting?
Diablo 4 is addictive for several reasons:
Rewarding Combat: Diablo 4 features fast-paced combat that is highly rewarding. Your character levels up and gains new abilities and skills as you defeat enemies, allowing you to customize your build and playstyle. Diablo 4 offers melee classes like the Barbarian as well as ranged classes such as the Demon Hunter. No matter your preferred combat style, the game provides satisfying hack-and-slash gameplay.
Randomly Generated Worlds: Diablo 4 incorporates procedurally generated zones, dungeons, and loot. Each time you play through an area, the layout is different. This unpredictability keeps exploration exciting and helps the world feel alive. You never know what enemies, bosses or treasures you might discover around each corner.
Valuable Loot: A huge part of Diablo 4’s appeal is finding valuable new loot, like weapons, armor, and other gear. The game features thousands of items to discover, each with their own unique stats and modifiers. Getting your hands on a rare, powerful new item feels highly rewarding and addictive. You’ll constantly be on the hunt for gear that enhances your character build.
Deep Progression: Character progression is a central pillar of Diablo 4’s addictive gameplay loop. As you play, gain experience, complete quests and defeat enemies, your character will level up and gain new abilities. You can customize skills, talents, and gear to create a build tailored to your playstyle. Progressing your character and experimenting with new builds keeps the game engaging for hours on end.
Diablo 4 nails the formula for an addictive action role-playing game. With its rewarding combat, random worlds, valuable loot, and deep progression, the game hooks players in and keeps them coming back for more. No wonder the Diablo franchise has such a dedicated fanbase.
Diablo Series
For those seeking hack-and-slash action role-playing games similar to Diablo 4, there are several excellent options in the Diablo series itself and beyond.
Diablo II: Resurrected
Released in 2021, this remaster of the 2000 classic provides the same dark fantasy world and loot-collecting experience of the original. You choose from seven character classes and battle through catacombs and dungeons in the land of Sanctuary. The updated graphics and quality-of-life improvements make this the best way to play Diablo II today.
Diablo III
The third installment in the Diablo franchise offers fast-paced combat, lots of loot to collect and seasonal progression systems with leaderboards to climb. Though released in 2012, ongoing updates have added new areas to explore, skills, items and game modes. Play solo or team up with up to three other players to defeat the Prime Evil.
Best PC Games Like Diablo 4 in 2023
If you’re looking to scratch the looting and dungeon, there are several excellent options currently available on PC. While not direct replacements for the Diablo series, the following action RPGs provide a similar high-fantasy setting, frantic combat, and endless quest for better gear. From indie darlings to big-budget blockbusters, these games are sure to scratch the same itch as Diablo 4.
Path of Exile
Path of Exile is an online action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. Like Diablo, it features hack-and-slash combat, loot collection, and character progression.
You start by selecting one of seven classes – Duelist, Marauder, Ranger, Shadow, Witch, Templar, and Scion. Each class has three subclasses that determine your skill tree. The massive passive skill tree offers flexibility in developing your character. You can combine active skills with support gems to create unique skill combinations.
The game receives constant updates, including quarterly expansions. The latest expansion, Echoes of the Atlas, adds new endgame maps, bosses, items, and the Maven’s Crucible challenge. Seasonal leagues also provide a fresh start every 3-4 months.
Path of Exile has a steep learning curve but rewarding depth for dedicated players. It is free to play, with optional microtransactions for cosmetics. If you’re looking for an alternative to Diablo that offers nearly infinite replayability, Path of Exile should be at the top of your list.
Lost Ark
If you’re longing for a new action RPG to fill the void left by Diablo 4, look no further than Lost Ark. This free-to-play MMOARPG lets you
Choose from base character classes – Assassin, Gunner, Mage, Martial Artist, Specialist, and Warrior.
You can customize your character’s appearance, skills, and gear to match your preferred playstyle. Lost Ark offers a deep character progression system, with multiple skill trees and gear sets to mix and match. Whether you like to get up close and personal in melee combat, blast enemies from afar with magic or guns, or sneak around picking enemies off one by one, there’s a class and build for you.
The lush, vibrant world of Arkesia is open for you to explore. Sail between continents and islands, discover hidden quests and treasures, fight dangerous monsters and world bosses, tame your own pets to join you in battle, and more. With distinct biomes ranging from deserts to jungles to snowy peaks, there’s plenty of scenic variety to keep things interesting.
Lost Ark’s combat system is fast, fluid and satisfying. String together flashy skills, dodge and dash to avoid attacks, and finish off enemies in stylish combos. For extra challenge, face off against other players in competitive PvP modes like 3v3 arena battles and open world faction wars. Whether PvE or PvP, Lost Ark’s combat will keep you engaged for hours.
If you’re looking to fill the ARPG-sized hole in your gaming schedule, dive into the epic world of Lost Ark. With eye-catching graphics, rewarding progression, and thrill-a-minute combat, it’s more than enough adventure to keep you busy from Diablo 4.
Last Epoch
Last Epoch is an indie action RPG currently in Early Access on PC. Set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, Last Epoch lets you travel between the past, present and future to change the history of humanity.
Last Epoch’s gameplay will feel familiar to Diablo fans. You explore procedural dungeons, slay hordes of monsters and bosses, and collect loot to upgrade your character. However, Last Epoch differentiates itself with:
- A skill system that lets you combine active and passive skills in unique ways. You can create builds around shadow clones, time manipulation, necromancy and more.
- A time travel mechanic which impacts gameplay. You can travel between eras, and changes in one era can impact the others. Defeating a boss in the past may weaken them in the future, for example.
- An endgame mapping and crafting system. Once you complete the campaign, you can run high-level maps with difficult modifiers to acquire crafting materials and enhance your gear.
- Multiplayer support. Though Last Epoch is currently single player only, multiplayer modes like co-op, PvP and guilds are planned for the future.
If you’re looking for an indie take on the Diablo formula with creative twists, Last Epoch is worth checking out. Though still in Early Access, Last Epoch already provides dozens of hours of hack-and-slash action and RPG character building. Regular updates add new content, skills, items and endgame features as Last Epoch moves toward its official release.
Grim Dawn
The dark fantasy action RPG Grim Dawn is an ideal option for you. Set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by sinister creatures, Grim Dawn tasks you with exploring dangerous lands, collecting loot, and defeating enemies.
As an open world ARPG, Grim Dawn allows you to discover hidden areas, dungeons, and secrets at your own pace. You have the freedom to build your character from a variety of classes and skills to create a playstyle tailored to your preferences. Whether you prefer melee combat, magic, or ranged attacks, there are many viable builds to experiment with.
Grim Dawn features a gritty steampunk esthetic, impactful combat, and many hours of gameplay. The world is expansive but not overwhelming, with new areas introduced gradually as you progress through the story. The loot and crafting systems are designed to be rewarding without being tedious. For those looking to continue their journey, the Ashes of Malmouth and Forgotten Gods expansions add additional chapters, environments, classes, and items.
If you’re searching for similar ARPG as Diablo 4, Grim Dawn is a superb choice. With dark visuals, dynamic combat, and build customization galore, Grim Dawn will scratch the same itch for action and loot that the Diablo franchise is known for. Journey through the apocalyptic world of Cairn and uncover its many sinister secrets. Grim Dawn is available on PC, providing countless hours of entertainment for ARPG fans.
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem
This hack-and-slash looter lets you play as a character brought back from the dead to defeat evil forces overrunning the kingdom. Unlike the set character classes in Diablo, Wolcen provides a open skill system that lets you combine abilities from three schools – sorcery, warfare, and rogue. You can create a magic-wielding fighter or a bow-slinging assassin. A wide selection of skills can be modified with modifiers to create unique builds.
Wolcen’s combat involves dodging, parrying, and executing skills with timing and precision. Positioning and mobility are key since many abilities have area-of-effect damage or status effects. The gameplay rewards tactical thinking and fast reflexes.
Procedurally generated dungeons offer new challenges with each playthrough. You’ll battle human soldiers, undead creatures, demons, and bosses while exploring forests, catacombs, and fortresses. Loot includes gear, gold, and materials for crafting and enhancing equipment.
Wolcen is available on PC through Steam, offering single player, multiplayer co-op, and PvP modes. It provides a similar gothic action RPG experience with its own unique elements like the open skill system and reactive combat. If you’re looking to vanquish evil in an dark fantasy world, Wolcen could be the perfect game to bide your time.
Torchlight III
Torchlight III is an action role-playing hack and slash game developed by Echtra Games and published by Perfect World Entertainment. Much like Diablo, Torchlight III lets you choose from four different character classes – Dusk Mage, Forged, Railmaster, and Sharpshooter. Each class has a variety of skills and abilities you can unlock as you level up your character.
The gameplay loop in Torchlight III involves completing quests, defeating enemies, and acquiring loot. The further you progress, the more challenging the enemies and quests become. There are dungeons to explore, bosses to battle, and a variety of weapons, armor, and other gear to collect. Torchlight III features both single player and online multiplayer so you can play by yourself or team up with friends.
If you enjoy the fast-paced combat and loot collection of Diablo but are looking for something new, Torchlight III is an excellent choice. The cartoony graphics and lighter tone provide a nice contrast to Diablo’s darker gothic esthetic. Although not as deep or complex as Diablo, Torchlight III still scratches the same hack-and-slash action RPG itch. For Diablo veterans and newcomers alike, Torchlight III offers an fun and accessible experience.
Titan Quest: Anniversary Edition
Released in 2006, Titan Quest is an action role-playing hack and slash game set in ancient Greece, Egypt and Asia. Developed by Iron Lore Entertainment, the game lets you choose from eight (11 with all DLCs) character classes including the melee, ranged and magic ones. As you progress through the game, you can combine two classes to create a hybrid class with unique skills.
The gameplay involves completing quests and battling enemies in outdoor environments like forests, deserts, and tombs. You fight creatures from Greek mythology such as centaurs, gorgons, and harpies. The combat system utilizes melee and ranged physical attacks as well as magical spells and abilities. Defeating enemies earns you experience points to level up your character and improve skills. You can also obtain and upgrade equipment like weapons, armor and jewelry with magical properties to strengthen your hero.
Titan Quest provides many hours of gameplay with an intricate skill system, lots of loot to find and a variety of beastly foes to vanquish. The Anniversary Edition, released in 2016, includes the Immortal Throne expansion and additional features like multiplayer support, new items, an increased level cap and quality of life improvements. If you’re looking for an action-packed alternative to Diablo set in a historical time period, Titan Quest is worth checking out.
Warhammer: Chaosbane
Another action RPG similar to Diablo is Warhammer: Chaosbane. Set in the dark Warhammer Fantasy universe, you play as a human, high elf, wood elf or dwarf fighting the forces of Chaos.
Much like Diablo, Warhammer: Chaosbane features hack-and-slash combat, loot collection and character builds. You explore randomized dungeons, slay hordes of enemies from the Warhammer world like Chaos sorcerers, Beastmen and Skaven, and complete quests for the Empire. As you progress, you level up your hero, unlock new skills and find rare equipment to strengthen your character.
While not as deep or polished as Diablo, Warhammer: Chaosbane provides a fun dungeon crawling experience for Warhammer fans looking to curb their appetite from Diablo 4. The game offers four unique heroes with distinct playstyles, online co-op for up to four players, and challenging endgame activities like expeditions and boss raids to keep you occupied for hours.
If rampaging through the Old World and leaving destruction in your wake sounds appealing, consider giving Warhammer: Chaosbane a try. Between the visceral combat, loot chase and co-op multiplayer, this action RPG should satisfy your craving for Diablo-esque gameplay.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, there are many engaging action RPGs that can satisfy your craving for loot and adventure while you tired from Diablo 4. The games on this list offer hours of entertainment with progression systems, customization options and challenging gameplay. Whether you prefer dark fantasy worlds, sci-fi settings or something else entirely, there are high-quality alternatives to choose from. The next time you feel the urge to slay demons and score epic gear, give one of these titles a try. Before you know it, you’ll be immersed in a sprawling quest and ready to show off your spoils. The loot may be virtual, but the thrill of the hunt is real.