25 Games Like Path of Exile
Our compilation of games like Path of Exile offers other dark action role playing games with plenty of depth and randomised mechanics.
Path of Exile is a free to play action RPG set in a dark fantasy world similar to that of popular franchises before it. Waking up on the shores of the Wraeclast continent players will embark on a range of quests for the NPC inhabitants and fight a number of bosses with their own customised character build. Using a classic isometric view players control a single character as they advance through the gloomy indoor and outdoor settings that each offer new foes in their randomised map layouts.
Equipment is similarly randomised which provides a near endless loot hunt for the perfect equipment piece for your selected class as equipment also impacts on your available skill options. In total Path of Exile offers 7 game classes each aligned to the three core attributes of strength, dexterity and intelligence with further customisation available through the gigantic shared passive skill tree.
In the games like Path of Exile below you’ll find other dark action orientated role playing games where you can battle various foes, gain experience and find randomised loot as you complete storyline quests.
Drakensang Online
Drakensang Online started as a free to play browser based game that offers similar gameplay to the classic action role playing games of days long past. With the retirement of Flash and Java support within modern browsers though Drakensang Online is now entirely available through the small game client for Windows. Opting for 4 playable classes players can tackle the Drakensang Online game world as a Dragonknight, Spellweaver, Ranger or Steam Mechanicus with further customisation for gender, ethn...[Read Review]
Grim Dawn
Grim Dawn is a dark themed action RPG akin to the likes of the popular games in the genre (Diablo and Titan Quest) that seeks to build on the fundamentals that these well known titles have mastered. Released in 2016 your setting for this ARPG is a blended apocalyptic and fantasy world where humans are nearly extinct and fighting over the limited resources that remain with plenty of opportunity for players to establish a name for the complex dual class character you develop. Set in the dark and w...[Read Review]
Diablo II: Resurrected
Diablo II: Resurrected beckons players to return to the world of Diablo II once more with a remastered version of the original addicting action role playing experience that spawned a generation of similar titles. Crafted over two decades ago the world of Sanctuary has changed little mechanically with this release opting to take the remaster route rather than remaking the formula that saw some players never stop fighting the demons of Hell and chasing their holy grail goals of finding every uniqu...[Read Review]
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege is the first game in the popular series of role playing games with a high fantasy setting of swords and magic while giving players the opportunity to develop their own party of adventurers. Released in 2002 with an expansion pack for the game titled Legends of Aranna released a year later offers a combined 40 odd hours of party role play. Dungeon Siege is set on the continent of Aranna and has players assuming the role of a simple farmer though in a typical storyline will be a powe...[Read Review]
Sacred
Sacred is a 2004 action role playing game for Windows with a dark atmosphere and a wide selection of class options for players to explore the fantasy world of Ancaria with. Further expanded with a single expansion pack (Sacred Underworld) these were combined into a bundled pack titled Sacred Gold. Sacred takes place on the continent known as Ancaria which is populated by a large number of towns with wilderness in between where evil and other dark creatures grow. Unlike other action RPGs a large ...[Read Review]
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing
Borrowing from the vast lore and mythology of Van Helsing and turning it into a game franchise is Neocore Games with their appropriately titled series, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing. Announced in 2012 through a number of gameplay and teaser trailers that depicted dark magic, terrifying vampires and a strong gothic influence the game officially launched in 2013 for the PC market later joining consoles in 2015 (Xbox One) and 2017 (PS4) respectively. Promising a mechanically refined real...[Read Review]
Throne of Darkness
Combining the action role playing genre of Diablo with a unique Japanese setting is Throne of Darkness, a game released by Sierra Entertainment in 2001 that lets you play as your own deadly samurai character. Exploring a setting not adventured before by the action RPG genre Throne of Darkness stands out in the genre for the medieval Japan story. Set in Yamato Throne of Darkness places you in a world controlled by shogun Tsunayoshi who shares power with the leaders of the four clans. In order to ...[Read Review]
Torchlight
Torchlight is an action role playing adventure developed by Runic Games that was first released in 2009 and eventually console in 2011. Providing a single player adventure with a casual take on the genre players help the town of Torchlight with their troubles that require you to fight, acquire loot and develop your own unique character in the process. The setting for your adventure is the town known as Torchlight which is a mining town built on top of a rich vein of the mysterious Ember resource...[Read Review]
Torchlight 2
Torchlight 2 serves as a 2012 sequel to Torchlight (2009) that allows players to again adventure into fantasy world alone or this time with friends. Selecting from your choice of 4 different characters each brings their own playstyle specialty to the countless enemies and bosses you will face along the way to complete your quest. Inspired by the likes of Diablo and other games in the action RPG genre you’ll find a similar adventure although one stripped down to the basics while adding some...[Read Review]
Titan Quest
Titan Quest is a popular action role-playing game originally released in 2006 for Windows with a 2007 expansion titled Immortal Throne. Since this original release the game has been reborn with additional content and expanded to modern day consoles through an Anniversary Edition. Featuring the same core experience this refreshed edition improves your multiplayer experience, squashes some bugs, balances items, improves enemy AI, new bosses to battle and a range of quality of life enhancements. In...[Read Review]
Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms
Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms is a dark isometric action RPG with unique boss battles, a nightmarish atmosphere and the ability to switch characters on the fly. This design allows Shadow: Heretic Kingdoms to offer a similar dark setting to the AAA titles in the genre while giving you more flexibility than the usually rigid class structures that they have historically employed. This combination makes it ideal for action RPG fanatics that desire more of the genre without the purchase cost of the leadi...[Read Review]
Vikings – Wolves of Midgard
Even with a wealth of video game content to explore in the gaming industry the number of games that explore Norse mythology in detail are still somewhat limited and even more so in the action RPG genre in particular. Vikings: Wolves of Midgard aims to counter this trend though with a Diablo inspired title that draws on the cold Viking history and myths from their time for inspiration. Central to this is the familiar story of Ragnarok where the legends talk about the coldest winter ever known at ...[Read Review]
Fate
Fate is the first in a series of single player action role playing games released in 2005. With a simple but enjoyable formula that was market leading on release Fate acquired a number of video game awards alongside a loyal cult like following which continued with three sequels released in 2008 (Undiscovered Realms), 2009 (The Traitor Soul) and 2011 (The Cursed King). Adventuring from the town of Grove players find themselves on the edge of a dungeon gate that hides treasure and fame for those b...[Read Review]
Nox
Nox is an action role playing adventure released just six months before the genre defining Diablo II which follows Jack as he plunges into a parallel universe of fantasy and darkness. While the Diablo franchise ended up overshadowing Nox the game is still a fantastic action RPG in its own right that many fans of the genre highly praise to this day. In Nox players take on the role a young man from Earth known as Jack who gets sent into a parallel universe that is vastly different to the place he ...[Read Review]
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is the second game in the action RPG series and serves as a prequel to the story as it sends players back over 2,000 years to explore the origins of the fantasy world. Like the original Sacred title this game offers players a diverse game map with plenty of locations to explore with their choice of role playing character. Expanding the base game further an expansion pack (Ice and Blood) adds a further two game regions to conquer, an additional character to experience and a...[Read Review]
Victor Vran
With a Van Helsing inspired setting that combines science and magic together into its game world Victor Vran is an action RPG that focuses on bringing more mobility to your character than other titles in the genre. Starting its life as a computer based title the game was ported to PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch under the name Victor Vran: Overkill Edition which included the games two additional DLCs (also available for computer players). Playing as Victor Vran you’ll step into the shoes...[Read Review]
DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue
DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue (ToV) continues the DeathSpank series with another hilarious instalment in this action role playing series that is all about laughs, loot and ruthlessly fast combat loops. Releasing only a few months after the first game in the franchise you’ll be able to play Thongs of Virtue across the same major platforms while enjoying small (but effective) enhancements more akin to an expansion than a completely new game. For fans that loved every bit of the original this ...[Read Review]
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II
Pick up your wide brimmed hat and step right back into the shoes of the Van Helsing legacy with The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II, a game that builds on the solid foundations of the original to offer a similarly impressive action RPG experience alongside a number of refinements. Just like the original adventure the game is available separately or as part of The Final Cut edition which combines all 3 core games and additional content into an altered single game experience. Your class fo...[Read Review]
DeathSpank
DeathSpank explores the light-hearted side of the dark action role playing genre with a title full of humour that pairs itself with familiar ARPG combat and progression. Within this comedy themed adventure you’ll have the opportunity to dive deep into the storyline, fight bosses and progress your character from humble fighter to deadly slayer across PC and console platforms. DeathSpank is set in a fantasy world during medieval times with weapons and magic reminiscent of that time period al...[Read Review]
Dungeon Siege II
Dungeon Siege II continues the story of the series and offers plenty of improvements over the original Dungeon Siege game alongside familiar action role playing gameplay mechanics. Released in 2005 with a 2006 expansion (Broken World) it’s been 3 years since your first adventure into the fantasy game world with players once again fighting against evil with a party of adventurers. The game revolves around the war against Valdis with players originally fighting for the evil Valdis as a merce...[Read Review]
BloodLust Shadowhunter
BloodLust Shadowhunter mixes vampires, dungeon crawling and loot into a single experience. Set in a dark world of fantasy and evil where the coven of ShadowHunters find themselves outnumbered in a city that is under siege by the Emperor vampire lord. Customisation in BloodLust Shadowhunter is high from the get go with randomised stats, visuals and several choices that dictate your characters strengths and weaknesses. Beyond the dark fantasy names though players will find them broadly falling int...[Read Review]
Diablo III
Diablo III (Diablo 3) is an action RPG experience that was long awaited by fans of the series. Launching in May 2012 with an expansion pack (Reaper of Souls) in 2014 the game continues the story of angels, demons and humans in Sanctuary. Players will choose from one of five character classes (six with the expansion pack) and adventure across Sanctuary as they uncover a plot that was put into motion years ago that would once again allow Diablo to rise to power. With all the characters and story e...[Read Review]
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing returns again for a series ending third instalment in the dark atmospheric action RPG franchise. Building on the unique setting, story and humour established by the past titles the third release also mixes up a number of components, most notably the available classes and their associated skill tree options. The setting for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III remains the same though with Borgovia central to a plot that revolves around cults and fa...[Read Review]
The Baconing
The Baconing is the third game in the DeathSpank series and has players starting a new action RPG and loot based adventure with the same touch of humour that has been persistent throughout the franchise. Avoiding any significant changes to the core gameplay loop that has carried the series thus far The Baconing doubles down on the humour side of the experience instead to conclude the trilogy of games. This new adventure once again follows DeathSpank and his crazy journey through monsters and str...[Read Review]
Din’s Curse
Din’s Curse introduces some interesting mechanics to the action role playing genre to provide a unique offering. The game Launched in 2010 for Windows and Mac. Players explore the game world with their own customisable character that can belong to a number of classes, as the name of the game suggests your character will carry a dark curse that was placed on you by Din. This curse requires the player to walk the world in servitude to others to receive redemption. For players this means travelling...[Read Review]