This upcoming 2025 free-to-play RPG already has GOTY written all over it

Of course, if you read the headline, you’re coming in here wondering which game I’m talking about. I have to clarify, this game could only grab the title of Game of the Year in 2024 for me if I’m including early access titles, but it’s a guarantee for next year.

I’ve been looking forward to Path of Exile 2 for many moons. The ARPG genre had been steadily ticking away with the odd title here and there, but when Path of Exile burst onto the scene it dramatically changed the game.

On the surface, it may look like every other ARPG, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that. It has a similar structure, that’s for sure, and the overall mechanics can certainly be compared to others in the genre, like Diablo. However, Path of Exile took everything from the ARPG genre and expanded it greatly, setting in stone so many features and mechanics that eventually made their way into other games, particularly those that use seasonal content.

Grinding Gear Games

For some time, despite diving back in for the recent expansion, Diablo 4 hasn’t been scratching the itch I have with these games. Which is to constantly evolve my character. If you sign into Diablo 4 today and explore the world, you mostly see a bunch of Spiritborns - the latest class - running around throwing feathers all over the place, because it’s the current ‘meta’ build.

I have one myself, and it’s fun to use, but there’s little variety. Whenever I played Path of Exile, it felt rare to see someone running the same class as me, and that’s due to the incredible depth of the skill trees here. Because skills are interchangable, based on levels and skill points rather than solely on class, players were coming up with the most random and bonkers builds. For example, a melee class can be easily switched into a spell caster or utilise ranged weaponry, bringing unique features from different angles. And this is key for the longevity of the game, as each season brings with it new features and mechanics that can be used in ‘leagues’ where you essentially play against other players or test out all-new builds.

The second game, which is coming on 6 December, quickly became one of my most anticipated games of 2024 and while the full release won’t be with us for some time, the early access period will give me exactly what I want, and that’s a wealth of skill choices that require a pen and paper to balance. Each incremental improvement feels like something monumental, and every skill point placed opens up possibilities for the next one and how they will synergise together.

Grinding Gear Games

It can be as complex as you want it to be, though. If you just want to dump points into obvious skills and just bash enemies to pieces, you can do that.

Just a glance at the skill trees of Path of Exile may put off players and the game comes with an unfair branding of being for ‘hardcore’ players, but it’s remarkably easy to get into, and it’s fun right from the start, even at level one.

I’m so looking forward to losing countless hours as I evaluate every skill, how it is buffed by any passives, what it can be countered by, how it stacks up within my overall build. It’s probably the most nerdy I get with games. And it really feels endless, with so much endgame content that procedurally generates, so those countless hours vanish in the blink of an eye.

What’s even better, is that once the early access period ends, Path of Exile 2 will follow its predecessor and be completely free-to-play and available on consoles as well as PC. If the sequel conjures a fraction of the joy I feel with the original, it’s going to be a good time.