Diablo IV Review

Blizzard's 2023 action RPG returned the series to the gothic register that Diablo III had drifted away from, with a properly bleak Sanctuary, a campaign about Lilith that is unusually well directed for the genre, and five classes at launch. The structure is a shared open world with mounts, world bosses and public events, which was new for the series and remains its most divisive change. Underneath is the loop that matters: Nightmare Dungeons, Helltides and the Pit feed a Paragon board and a gear economy where itemisation has been overhauled repeatedly. Seasons run roughly three months with a new mechanic each, and the two expansions moved things considerably - Vessel of Hatred added the Spiritborn and mercenaries, and Lord of Hatred followed with the Paladin and Warlock. The launch itemisation was genuinely poor and Blizzard's response over the following two years was substantial. Played seasonally rather than continuously, it is now in the best state it has been.