Games Like Path of Exile 2 - 12 Best Action RPG and Loot Picks

Quick Answer: If you loved Path of Exile 2's punishing isometric combat, ocean-deep passive tree, and endgame that eats hundreds of hours, three strong picks are Last Epoch, Grim Dawn, and Diablo IV. Last Epoch matches the build-crafting freedom with friendlier onboarding, Grim Dawn is the dual-class theorycrafting playground, and Diablo IV is the polished mainstream loot machine with seasonal endgame.

Why These Games #

Path of Exile 2, the 2024/2025 action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, sits at the deep end of the looter pool: a sprawling skill-gem system, a passive tree the size of a constellation map, brutal boss fights, and an endgame Atlas built to swallow whole seasons. People do not search for games like it because they want something casual. They want the same itch: theorycraft a build, farm loot, push it to its breaking point, then do it all again next league.

So this list is not a generic "good RPGs" dump. We picked from inside the Diablo lineage that birthed the whole isometric hack-and-slash genre, and we organized the 12 around three pillars: loot-driven progression (gear is the goal, not a side effect), build depth (skill trees, gems, masteries, devotions, anything you can min-max), and endgame staying power (the campaign is the tutorial, the grind is the game). At least two of those three had to be true for a game to make the cut.

GameGeeker's editorial angle: instead of cloning POE2 twelve times, we built a tour of the ARPG family tree. You get the closest modern rivals (Last Epoch, Diablo IV), the deep-build cult favorites (Grim Dawn, Wolcen), the classics that defined the formula (Titan Quest II, Torchlight II), licensed loot-grinders (the two Warhammer 40,000 entries, plus the gothic ones), and the genre's own ancestor, Path of Exile 1. One pick reaches sideways into slower, soulslike-flavored loot. The goal: whatever part of POE2 hooked you, something here scratches it.

Top Picks #

1. Last Epoch #

GAMIVO$33.49Steam $33.49View price →

Last Epoch, from indie studio Eleventh Hour Games (full launch 2024), is the ARPG most often called the bridge between Diablo's accessibility and Path of Exile's complexity. Every active skill gets its own specialization tree, so you customize abilities the way POE2 fans customize gems, but with far less wiki-diving to get started.

• Similar because: deep build-crafting via per-skill specialization trees, loot-and-affix crafting system, multiple class masteries, season-style cycles, hundreds-of-hours endgame Monolith
• Different because: gentler learning curve, more readable systems, time-travel narrative, better solo balance, smaller passive web than POE2's
• Best for: POE2 players who love theorycrafting but want clarity instead of a 1,300-node maze

2. Grim Dawn #

Kinguin$5.12-82%Steam $5.12View price →

Grim Dawn, by Crate Entertainment (a studio founded by former Titan Quest developers), is the build-tinkerer's paradise. Its dual-mastery system lets you fuse two of six classes, and the Devotion constellation grid layers a second tree of star-bound bonuses on top, yielding wildly creative builds and serious itemization depth.

• Similar because: hybrid dual-class build freedom, dense itemization with set bonuses, Devotion tree theorycrafting, dark grim atmosphere, replayable endgame with rifts and roguelike dungeons
• Different because: offline single-player focus, fixed campaign world, no live-service league treadmill, older 2016 presentation
• Best for: players who came to POE2 for the build math and want hundreds of hours of offline experimentation

3. Diablo IV #

Blizzard$12.49-75%Steam $12.49View price →

Diablo IV, Blizzard's 2023 entry in the genre's flagship series, is the most polished mainstream alternative. After a rocky launch it grew into a slick, gorgeous hack-and-slash with an open world, seasonal content, Paragon boards, and Nightmare Dungeons that give endgame chasers plenty to grind.

• Similar because: isometric loot-driven combat, seasonal endgame loop, talent and Paragon build systems, pinnacle bosses, dark fantasy tone, live ongoing updates
• Different because: AAA production and voice acting, more accessible builds, open shared world, monetized cosmetics, less punishing than POE2
• Best for: players who want POE2's loot rush with mainstream polish and far less spreadsheet homework

4. Titan Quest II #

Epic Game Store$24.49-30%Steam $24.49View price →

Titan Quest II, from Grimlore Games, is the modern sequel to the 2006 classic that helped define the post-Diablo formula. Set against Greek mythology, it keeps the dual-mastery class structure where you combine two skill trees, and it modernizes the loot and combat for a new generation of grinders.

• Similar because: dual-mastery build combinations, deep loot tiers, mythological dungeon crawling, classic isometric pacing, character-build replayability
• Different because: mythology setting over dark fantasy, newer release still maturing, more guided campaign structure, lighter endgame than POE2's Atlas
• Best for: fans of classic build-your-class ARPGs who want a fresh, good-looking take on the Titan Quest formula

5. Torchlight II #

GOG$1.94-81%Steam $1.94View price →

Torchlight II, by Runic Games (founded by ex-Diablo developers), is the breezy, colorful counterpoint to POE2's grimness. It is fast, loot-dense, built around four classes with branching skill trees, and famous for its pet system and snappy combat. A comfort-food looter that still respects build variety.

• Similar because: fast loot-driven combat, multiple skill-tree classes, NewGame+ endgame, randomized dungeons, satisfying gear progression
• Different because: bright cartoonish art, lighthearted tone, pets that haul loot, shorter campaign, far simpler than POE2's systems
• Best for: players who love the loot loop but want something cozy and instantly readable between hardcore POE2 leagues

6. No Rest for the Wicked #

GAMIVO$39.40Steam $39.40View price →

No Rest for the Wicked, from Moon Studios (the Ori team), reimagines the ARPG with deliberate, soulslike-weighty combat and a hand-painted world. It trades twitchy zoom-and-explode pacing for stamina-managed, precise fights, while still building around loot, gear durability, and character progression.

• Similar because: loot and gear-driven progression, deep crafting, isometric perspective, dark fantasy world, character build investment, ongoing development roadmap
• Different because: slow soulslike combat over fast clears, stamina and weapon-durability systems, survival and base elements, smaller monster swarms
• Best for: POE2 fans who want loot depth but crave heavier, more tactical combat instead of screen-clearing speed

7. Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr #

Eneba$2.89Steam $2.89View price →

Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr, by NeocoreGames, drops the isometric loot grind into the grimdark 41st millennium. You play an Inquisitor blasting through hordes with cover-based gunplay, a deep gear and crafting system, and a persistent endgame of seasonal missions and procedural maps.

• Similar because: isometric action combat, loot and gear customization, character progression trees, persistent seasonal endgame, hordes of enemies to clear
• Different because: sci-fi gunplay over melee/spells, cover-shooter mechanics, Warhammer 40,000 setting, mission-based structure, ranged-focused builds
• Best for: POE2 grinders who want the same loop wrapped in grimdark sci-fi and ranged combat

8. Warhammer: Chaosbane #

GOG$1.19-95%Steam $1.19View price →

Warhammer: Chaosbane, also from Eko Software, is a more straightforward hack-and-slash set in the Warhammer Fantasy Old World. It offers six classes across four races, a skill tree per hero, and a bloodlust mechanic that rewards aggressive crowd-clearing, with co-op for up to four players.

• Similar because: isometric hack-and-slash combat, loot and gear upgrades, class skill trees, swarms of enemies, endgame challenge modes
• Different because: simpler, more arcadey build depth, fixed classes, four-player co-op focus, shorter systems than POE2
• Best for: players who want an easygoing, co-op-friendly looter in the Warhammer fantasy universe

9. Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem #

Kinguin$3.62-91%Steam $3.62View price →

Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem, by Wolcen Studio, is the spectacle-heavy looter with one of the most POE-like skill systems: a rotatable passive grid (the Gate of Fates) you literally spin to overlap node clusters. Weapon-driven resource swapping and flashy spell effects make builds feel experimental.

• Similar because: large rotatable passive grid, weapon-based resource swapping, deep loot affixes, isometric spell-and-melee combat, dark fantasy aesthetic, endgame expeditions
• Different because: smaller live-service footprint, fixed campaign, rockier post-launch history, less content breadth than POE2
• Best for: theorycrafters drawn specifically to POE2's passive-tree puzzle who want a gorgeous, spin-the-grid variant

10. Victor Vran #

GOG$2.53-75%Steam $2.53View price →

Victor Vran, by Haemimont Games, is a snappier, more action-forward looter where you play a demon hunter dodging and jumping through fights. Builds come from weapons, demon powers, and Destiny cards rather than a fixed class, giving a flexible, gear-defines-you spin on ARPG progression.

• Similar because: loot-driven gear builds, isometric demon-slaying combat, challenge-based progression, replayable maps, co-op support
• Different because: no rigid classes (build via weapons and cards), dodge-and-jump action focus, lighter tone, shorter campaign, simpler endgame
• Best for: players who want the loot hunt with more reflex-driven action and freeform, gear-based builds

11. The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing #

Kinguin$1.37-92%Steam $1.37View price →

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, by NeocoreGames, is a gothic-steampunk hack-and-slash with a tongue-in-cheek tone. You hunt monsters across a Transylvania-flavored world, building via skill trees and gear, aided by a ghostly companion who adds her own upgrade layer to the loot grind.

• Similar because: isometric loot-and-skill-tree combat, gear customization, monster-slaying dungeon crawling, class build variety, co-op play
• Different because: gothic-steampunk setting, humorous storytelling, companion mechanic, mid-budget systems, lighter endgame than POE2
• Best for: players wanting a characterful, atmospheric looter with personality over raw systems depth

12. Path of Exile #

Path of Exile, the original 2013 free-to-play game from Grinding Gear Games, is the obvious sibling: same studio, same DNA, and arguably even deeper. Its colossal passive tree, gem-linking system, and decade of league content make it the endgame mountain POE2 was built to evolve. It remains free to play.

• Similar because: same studio and design philosophy, enormous passive tree, skill-gem build system, brutal endgame mapping, deep loot economy, regular leagues
• Different because: older 2013 visuals, even more complex and unforgiving, separate skill-gem socketing, ten-plus years of accumulated systems, free-to-play
• Best for: POE2 fans who want to go deeper into the same universe and tackle the genre's most notorious build sandbox

Comparison Table #

Game	Similar Because	Different Because	Best For
Last Epoch	Per-skill spec trees, deep crafting, Monolith endgame	Gentler curve, more readable, time-travel story	Theorycrafters wanting clarity
Grim Dawn	Dual-class + Devotion tree, dense itemization	Offline focus, no league treadmill, 2016 look	Offline build experimenters
Diablo IV	Seasonal loot loop, Paragon builds, pinnacle bosses	AAA polish, accessible, less punishing	Mainstream loot with polish
Titan Quest II	Dual-mastery builds, deep loot tiers	Mythology setting, lighter endgame, still maturing	Classic class-combo fans
Torchlight II	Fast loot loop, skill-tree classes, NG+	Cartoonish, cozy, simpler systems	Comfort-food looters
No Rest for the Wicked	Loot-driven gear, deep crafting, dark world	Slow soulslike combat, stamina system	Heavier tactical combat fans
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr	Isometric loot, seasonal endgame, hordes	Sci-fi gunplay, cover shooter, ranged	Grimdark ranged grinders
Warhammer: Chaosbane	Hack-and-slash loot, class skill trees	Arcadey depth, co-op focus, shorter	Co-op fantasy looter fans
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem	Rotatable passive grid, deep affixes	Smaller live service, fixed campaign	Passive-tree puzzle lovers
Victor Vran	Loot builds, isometric combat, co-op	No classes, dodge-action focus, lighter	Reflex-driven loot hunters
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing	Loot + skill trees, dungeon crawling	Gothic-steampunk, humor, companion	Atmospheric character fans
Path of Exile	Same studio, huge passive tree, gem builds	Older visuals, even deeper, free-to-play	Going deeper in the same DNA

Filters #

• Deepest build theorycrafting: Grim Dawn, Last Epoch, Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem, Path of Exile
• Most accessible / lightest onboarding: Diablo IV, Torchlight II, Victor Vran
• Strongest live-service / seasonal endgame: Diablo IV, Last Epoch, Path of Exile
• Best couch / online co-op: Warhammer: Chaosbane, Torchlight II, Victor Vran, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing
• Free to play: Path of Exile (and Path of Exile 2 itself in early access)

FAQ #

What should I play after finishing Path of Exile 2? #

If you want the closest mechanical cousins, start with Last Epoch for its skill-specialization depth and Grim Dawn for dual-class theorycrafting. For something more polished and pick-up-and-play, Diablo IV delivers the loot rush with seasonal content. And if you simply want more of the exact same universe, the original Path of Exile is free and arguably even deeper.

Is there a true sequel or same-studio game like Path of Exile 2? #

Yes. Path of Exile 2 is itself the sequel to the original Path of Exile, both by Grinding Gear Games and sharing the same design DNA, passive-tree philosophy, and gem-based builds. The original is free to play and packed with a decade of league content, making it the most direct same-studio recommendation on this list.

Which of these is the best for deep build theorycrafting? #

Grim Dawn is the offline theorycrafter's dream thanks to dual-mastery classes plus the Devotion constellation tree. Last Epoch offers per-skill specialization trees with cleaner readability, and Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem gives you a literal rotatable passive grid to puzzle over. All three reward the min-maxing mindset POE2 fans love.

Why are two Warhammer 40,000 games and a slow soulslike on the list? #

Because POE2 fans do not all want the exact same flavor. Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr and Warhammer: Chaosbane keep the isometric loot loop but swap the setting for grimdark sci-fi and dark fantasy, while No Rest for the Wicked keeps the loot depth but trades fast clears for weighty, tactical soulslike combat. They round out the ARPG tour with genuinely different vibes.

Which one is best for a newcomer to ARPGs? #

Start with Diablo IV or Torchlight II. Diablo IV is the most polished and beginner-friendly modern looter with guided builds, while Torchlight II is fast, colorful, and instantly readable. From there, Last Epoch is the ideal step up into deeper build-crafting before you ever brave the full complexity of Path of Exile or POE2.