Best ARPGs Like Diablo

Diablo launched in 1997 and changed the video game landscape forever. All these decades later, Blizzard’s RPG and its immediate sequel are still held in extremely high regard. In fact, an argument could be made that Diablo 2 has yet to be surpassed in the action RPG sphere, even if some elements of the game are naturally antiquated in this day and age.

Following a rough launch, Diablo 3 eventually found its footing, developing into a respectable project in its own right. That said, the 2012 release is a very different experience from its predecessors, both mechanically and visually. In June 2023, Diablo 4 stormed onto the scene, garnering a largely positive reception and being labeled as a return to form. Since then, the game’s reputation has taken somewhat of a hit.

As Blizzard’s franchise casts a wide shadow, plenty of developers have turned to Diablo for inspiration. What are some of the best games like Diablo?

29 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

Stylish Hack And Slash RPG

At its core, Kingdoms of Amalur doesn’t have a great deal in common with the Diablo series. However, as an action RPG, it has one of the best combat systems in the genre. Furthermore, its class system is just as robust and varied, and players can tailor their warriors to their liking.

The remastered version released in 2020 — also known as Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning — is the best version of the game. Moreover, it now features a meaty DLC expansion marking the game’s tenth anniversary. There has never been a better time to dive into one of the most overlooked RPGs of the PS3/360 generation.

28 Monster Hunter Rise

Grinding For Parts

Before proceeding any further, it needs to be made clear that Monster Hunter and Diablo are nothing alike in most areas. Their gameplay, settings, and campaign structures are completely different, and their loot systems prioritize different elements. Consequently, if someone is searching for a traditional action RPG experience that replicates Diablo‘s flow, they should look elsewhere as their requirements will not be satisfied by Capcom’s franchise. Even in Monster Hunter Rise, the most accessible entry in the franchise, the combat is slow-paced, with encounters descending into battles of attrition.

For all their differences, Monster Hunter shares Diablo‘s philosophy in its endgame, as both properties’ longevity revolves around grinding dungeons (or hunts, in MH‘s case) in search of drops that can be used to unlock better armor and weapons. These franchises know how to craft games that can keep someone playing indefinitely, even if their methods are widely different.

Monster Hunter‘s grind is done in service of acquiring the required materials to craft specific weapons and armor; consequently, it is not quite as instantly gratifying as Diablo‘s endless cycle of stats. Once players acquire a good selection of high-end weapons and armor, they will also need to swap them depending on the monster they will be hunting, and preparing for a fight is far more important in Monster Hunter than in Diablo.

27 Remnant 2

Soulslike Co-Op Shooter That Uses Procedural Generation Technology

Building beautifully on its predecessor’s ideas, Remnant 2 is one of the better and more unique Soulslikes on the market. While the genre typically prioritizes melee weapons, Gunfire Games’ franchise revolves around ranged action, with close-quarter combat being secondary. The games utilize procedural generation to enhance their replayability. In the case of Remnant 2, each world’s dungeons are formed at random, meaning two playthroughs will encounter different enemies and level layouts. Diablo 4 does the same thing with its dungeons, and the 2023 sequel was hardly the first entry in the action RPG series to implement this sort of concept.

Now, Remnant 2 and Diablo‘s combat are not that similar, although they share enough elements in common to be worth a mention. The former focuses quite a lot on crowd control, and the action is fairly fast-paced and consistently intense. The Soulslike has quite a lot of loot as well; however, unlike Diablo, Remnant 2 does not emphasize weapons in this area. Generally, drops come in the form of rings and relics, while most armor pieces and weapons need to be purchased. While initially this might seem restrictive, the game offers quite a bit of build variety, particularly once players unlock more Archetypes (classes). Similar to Diablo, Remnant 2 also supports online co-op.

26 Minecraft Dungeons

Entry-Level Dungeon Crawler

Minecraft Dungeons is essentially a Diablo alternative for children. The hack and slash game simplifies most of the central mechanics associated with action RPGs, including completely removing a class system, all the while offering the minute-by-minute thrills associated with the genre.

Veterans fans of these sorts of projects might find this title a bit too unchallenging, even though they might still appreciate its charming visuals and decent level design. However, Minecraft Dungeons is designed for younger players who are taking their first steps into this world; from that point of view, it gets the job done.

25 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Co-Op First-Person Shooter With All The Loot

Ever since its debut, Borderlands has been described as FPS Diablo, and that descriptor has stuck around for a reason. Gearbox’s franchise lives and dies on the strength of its loot system, which is designed to keep players coming back long after they complete a playthrough. Each game has a few Vault Hunters who act as separate classes, each of which comes with a couple of skill trees that alter their playstyles. While not as endgame-driven as Diablo, Borderlands is intended to be replayed over and over again, and the games emphasize co-op.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is a spin-off that flings Borderlands‘ core gameplay loop into a traditional fantasy setting. While dungeons stick to the first-person rhythm synonymous with the license, the overworld shifts to a top-down perspective, which lends the title a classic role-playing feel that is often missing in the mainline entries.

24 The Mageseeker: A League Of Legends Story

Fun LoL Spin-off With Diablo-Esque Combat

In recent years, Riot Games has slowly expanded League of Legends into other genres via spin-off games revolving around specific Champions. The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story pushes Sylas to the forefront, and the mage proves to be a fantastic pick for an action RPG. The Mageseeker‘s combat is cut from the cloth that spawned Diablo, Torchlight, and other similar games, although it comes with a few quirks.

Along with fisticuffs, Sylas has access to his chain and a wide selection of magic spells, which is not that unusual at face value. However, along with spells that use mana, the mage can also steal abilities from enemies, granting him a one-time use. Balancing these mechanics is a core part of The Mageseeker experience, and it produces thrills and the occasional bout of frustration.

23 Sacred Gold

Another Action RPG Classic

Sacred was a respectable action RPG when it launched in 2004, and nearly two decades later, the game holds up fairly well. Unsurprisingly, the visuals and combat are dated, but the core gameplay loop is strong enough to survive the test of time. Ascaron took a fair amount of inspiration from Diablo when crafting Sacred, almost to the point that the latter could be described as a high-fantasy alternative to the former’s dark fantasy.

At the time of its release, the openness of Sacred‘s world was impressive since it gave players far more freedom to explore than the typical action RPG. Even though these types of maps are more common nowadays, Ancaria is still an impressive work of art. 2008’s Sacred 2 is also a decent action RPG, while the less said about Sacred 3, the better.

22 Hades

Roguelite Action RPG Set In The Underworld

Released in 2020, Hades is a rogue-like action RPG with enough hack-and-slash mechanics that will appeal to fans of the Diablo series. Hades is set in the Ancient Greek underworld and features an excellent art style.

The Rogue-like nature sets Hades apart from action RPGs like Diablo in terms of progression but the top-down hack-and-slash nature at the very core of the game will still appeal to fans. Furthermore, fighting one’s way through randomly generated dungeons and trying to get out of hell is the entire basis for both games, and there’s enough to please fans of both genres.

21 Last Epoch

An Early Access Action RPG That Is Approaching Completion

In early access, Last Epoch is a work in progress, although the game has already made decent strides forward. In terms of its gameplay, this title sticks reasonably close to the standard hack and slash formula, which is not a bad thing. The combat is impactful and satisfying, while the enemies are quite varied due to the campaign’s time-travel zones.

Last Epoch‘s class and skills systems both have the potential to be among the action RPG genre’s best. The former includes subclasses that provide a fair amount of variety, while the latter system is diverse and permits players to specialize in specific abilities.

Last Epoch is making its full debut on February 21, 2024.

20 Dragon’s Dogma

Capcom’s Cult Classic RPG With Great Combat

Dragon’s Dogma probably has more in common with the Monster Hunter series than Diablo, but there is enough dungeon crawling, looting, and fighting to keep fans happy. Diablo fans who want more content with dark fantasy worlds, lots of quests, and monsters to fight should add Dragon’s Dogma to their libraries.

The hack-and-slash gameplay carries a lot of elements from Devil May Cry, and coming from the man behind that series’ Hideaki Itsuno, it shouldn’t come as a surprise for those familiar with his work. The world of Dragon’s Dogma is huge, and there is lots of lore and loot to discover. Furthermore, the unique Pawn system allows players to create and share their personal warriors with the community, adding near-endless options for parties.

19 Nioh 2

Soulslike With All The Loot

As a fast-paced Soulslike, Nioh 2‘s gameplay does not replicate Diablo‘s hack and slash formula; consequently, if someone is specifically searching for an isometric action RPG with similar combat to Blizzard’s franchise, they should not start here. However, Nioh 2 should be able to scratch Diablo‘s loot itch since it absolutely floods players with new weapons and armor, to the point that it can even be overwhelming.

Unlike its predecessor, Nioh 2 amplifies its RPG elements by offering skill tress designed to allow for a wide range of builds. Rather than a conventional class system like Diablo, the game focuses on weapon types, allowing players to tailor their character to suit their preferences.

18 Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance Series

Baldur’s Gate Tries Its Hand At Diablo’s Formula

Unlike the mainline Baldur’s Gate RPG series that originated on the PC, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance are dungeon-crawling action RPGs that feature cooperative gameplay and a top-down view similar to that of the Diablo series.

Designed for PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox, the Dark Alliance games are much less complicated than their CRPG counterparts, but they serve as a great introduction to the Dungeons & Dragons universe. A new Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance was released on consoles and the PC in the Summer of 2021, but it wasn’t as well-received as the originals. It’s advised to play through the remasters of the first two games if someone wants to revisit these projects, although newcomers should be aware that some aspects of the games have aged poorly.

17 Darksiders: Genesis

Co-Op Fun

This title serves as a spin-off and a prequel to the original Darksiders titles, which were fully 3D action-adventure games. The series has always borrowed elements from other games and genres like The Legend of Zelda and Portal series, but Genesis is more highly recommended for fans of the Diablo series.

Additionally, Darksiders: Genesis uses familiar elements like puzzle-solving and exploration, and blends this with Diablo-like progression mechanics and combat. It’s also worth noting that Genesis does a great job of expanding Darksiders‘ already interesting and imaginative universe. That said, people who also like the hack-and-slash genre should still invest in the main games in the series as the combat, exploration, and series’ depth are worth exploring from the beginning.

16 Vikings — Wolves Of Midgard

Action RPG Romp Through Norse Mythology

Vikings was developed by Games Farm and published by Kalypso Media Digital in 2017, but it still holds up to what one could want from an Action RPG. The game has the player explore the mythical land of Midgard, a region inspired by Norse legends.

Players earn blessings from different Norse gods and bludgeon their enemies with hammers as they progress through the land. There are many monsters and undead to defeat, and players can invite friends to play within co-op mode. Plus, this game has interesting lore to discover, and humorous cutscenes to entertain.

15 The Slormancer

Funny & Legit

Another early access project, The Slormancer takes a comedic approach to the action RPG genre, which already sets it apart from most of its contemporaries. Summoned to a world that needs a traditional fantasy hero, players find themselves in over their heads as they try to take down the eponymous villain. At the moment, The Slormancer only has three classes, which is fairly minuscule for this type of experience; however, the game makes up for this limitation through an overabundance of weapons and especially abilities. The latter provide a lot of wiggle room in each class, and it can be fun to just experiment with different skills.

Due to still being in early access, The Slormancer is not a finished product, resulting in a fun but ultimately incomplete experience. In its current state, the title is still worth a try for anyone looking for a lighthearted Diablo-like game, although people on the fence might want to wait a bit longer.

14 Nobody Saves The World

Distinctive Take On The Action RPG Genre

Diablo fans seeking loot-heavy games should look elsewhere as Nobody Saves the World will not satisfy that itch; however, if someone wants a creative action RPG, DrinkBox’s project is a prime contender. The game follows Nobody, a literal blank slate character who picks up a wand that allows them to shift into other beings, each of which comes with unique abilities. Once Nobody grows proficient with a certain skill, he can equip it while using other forms, which opens up a wide range of possible builds.

Nobody Saves the World‘s combat is fairly typical for a top-down action RPG, although the world’s vibrant aesthetic and enemy designs help set the game apart from Diablo. The title also has a charming sense of humor that comes through its roster of NPCs and side quests.

13 Warhammer: Chaosbane

For Warhammer Fans

Chaosbane has its players exploring the ever-expanding Warhammer universe. In this game, one may choose from five different classes to take on hordes of enemies coming at the player and the option to team up with three friends to play cooperatively.

This beautiful action RPG implements almost puzzle-like mechanics to the fights, having one figure out the weaknesses of bosses in intricate and interesting ways. The campaign is riveting and features a story that is easy to follow, even if one isn’t very knowledgeable about Warhammer‘s vast universe.

12 Chronicon

Impressive Indie Effort

Released on Steam in 2020, Chronicon puts the player in a universe where all evil has been vanquished. The protagonist is tasked with utilizing the artifact known as the Chronicon, a strange magical device that lets one relive the experiences and exploits of various heroes who have fallen in battle.

With virtually infinite character progression, four unique classes, and five different storylines, this is a must-have for die-hard Diablo fans. With its charming and beautifully retro pixel graphics and stunning visual effects, this game will immerse the player from the start. It’s hard to believe that it was made by only one person.

11 The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing: Final Cut

Deep & Expansive Campaign

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing has gamers play as the legendary vampire hunter, choosing from six classes to play to slay monsters all around the world of Borgovia. The Final Cut is a collection of the three previous games by the developer, told as a single story.

With over fifty hours of gameplay and an enormous variety of skills, this game will impress even the most experienced veterans of action RPGs. One highly appreciated feature is Lady Katarina, the protagonist’s ghostly companion. She helps in several ways and is also very witty and charismatic. Players won’t get bored with her around.

10 Victor Vran

Action RPG That Prioritizes The “Action” Part

Another game that follows a monster slayer that hunts supernatural beings, one would be forgiven for confusing Victor Vran with the Van Helsing series. In this ARPG, it’s never boring blasting away skeletons, zombies, and ghouls with the gigantic arsenal at one’s disposal. The weapons, armor, and spells the character uses are entirely chosen by the player.

The great graphics and interesting mechanics will pique the interest of any old-school Diablo fan and will remind them of the fun they had with the Diablo series. The storyline is a bit bland, but its longevity is found in the game’s co-op mode.