Diablo 4 marks a new era for the franchise as it overhauls many of the mechanics and systems that Diablo fans have come to expect. Several aspects have been altered, merged, scrapped, or built from the group up for this new entry. These alterations aim to streamline gameplay loops, but some changes have fans missing certain elements they’ve come to expect from the series.
Whether you’re new to the Diablo universe with Diablo 4, or you’ve been killings the minions of evil since the ’90s, this list will help you see how far the franchise has come. Before you visit the campfire again, take a look at the changes that make Diablo 4 a unique game in an iconic franchise.
10 Cross-Platform Play & Progression
Up through the release of Diablo 2: Resurrected, the most recent release in the franchise before Diablo 4, cross-platform systems were still missing from the Diablo universe. Luckily, Diablo 4 has completely made up for the sins of its ancestors. Full cross-platform play and progression exist between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
No matter where you and your friends start their characters, you can all play together and switch platforms at any time. Characters are saved on Battle.net servers (in the cloud), and cooperative gameplay doesn’t discriminate between platforms. Special note to PC players — plug in any PlayStation or Xbox control for seamless controller support.
9 The World Has Opened
Past Diablo games are known for their small, closed game instances that only support a handful of players. You would log in to a server lobby and create an isolated version of the game that others could join. Diablo 4, on the other hand, is closer to an MMO experience than it is to the past Diablo games.
Once you select your character in Diablo 4, you’ll spawn into a world that’s populated with other players. You’ll see people running around, both in town and out in the game world. Diablo 4 feels like a huge open world where other champions are also quelling the forces of evil.
8 Quests Are Expanded
Also in line with other modern open-world RPGs, quests have seen major improvements. Diablo 4 has embraced side quests, exploration, and class-specific tasks that make the game world feel more active and lived-in.
Quests and regions scale with your character. Whether you’re exclusively tackling the main quest line or doing every task that crosses your path, Diablo 4’s objectives are non-linear, and your path through the game will be unique. Quick tip: use the Pin system to mark your current destination — it’ll draw a red line on the mini-map showing the fastest path (even through the fog of war).
7 Dungeons Are Like Rifts
Throughout your adventure, you’ll come across several Dungeons tucked away in the corners of the map. These underground labyrinths are randomly generated, optional experiences that resemble Rifts from Diablo 3. Granting valuable Aspects for your Codex of Power, as well as loot and a nice chunk of XP, Dungeons are a nice change of pace during a long line of quests.
Seek out the Dungeons that reward your most needed Aspects. To find a specific Dungeon reward, open up your Codex of Power and select the Aspect you want. From there, place a Pin on the map, and it'll guide you to the Dungeon you need.
6 Mini-Map Missteps
For those coming from Diablo 2, Diablo 4’s mini-map may take a bit of getting used to. Diablo 2 has a unique transparent overlay that acts as the main navigation assistant, rather than the tiny square in the top-right corner of Diablo 4. Although it’s similar to Diablo 3 and many other RPGs, the mini-map in Diablo 4 leaves a lot to be desired.
You may find yourself constantly opening up the world map, as the mini-map in Diablo 4 is a lot harder to use than the navigation systems in other games. Even in small Dungeons, you may need to interrupt gameplay on a regular basis in order to check the layout.
5 Skill Trees Are Back
Talent points and skill trees are back and better than ever. Just like in World of Warcraft, Diablo 3 turned its back on the talent system from Diablo 2, divided the fan base, then returned to form with Diablo 4. Gaining and slotting skill points in Diablo 4 feels impactful every time, making you eager to unlock the next one.
The skill trees for each class are deep, interesting, and highly customizable. The only downside of this new system is the user interface, which doesn’t allow you to see the entire tree without an awkward scroll up or down.
4 The Bloodiest Diablo
One of the criticisms that Diablo 3 received was that the art style was too light, colorful, or cartoony. Some fans from Diablo 2 missed the dark and gritty style that had been a staple of the franchise. Whether you prefer the art style of Diablo 2 or 3, the environments, monster design, and overall aesthetic of Diablo 4 are something to be seen.
Diablo 4 is the bloodiest, goriest game in the franchise. Not for the faint of heart, Diablo 4 has bone-crushing combat, monsters being ripped apart, and corpses exploding all over the place.
3 Incredible Sound Design
Diablo games have always had immersive and compelling audio cues and ambient noises, but Diablo 4’s sound design will make you feel like you’re there. Audio in Diablo 4 showcases the impact of a mace being buried into a skull, the strength it takes to draw a bow, and the crackling of a Sorcerer's fingers as they fill with electricity.
The sound design in Diablo 4 enhances all other components of the game. If you normally listen to music or videos while playing games, you should definitely give the in-game audio a chance here.
2 The Most Involved Story & Cutscenes
The progression of the story and the overall world-building has hit a franchise high with Diablo 4. Story beats and cinematics are a wonderful mix of new creative ideas and nods to fans of past entries. New companions have joined the fight against evil, and old allies still have their part to play.
Well-timed cinematics are sprinkled into the main story and are a welcomed change of pace when they arrive. If you mix in some optional content between main story quests, the balance of fast-paced gameplay and sinking into the story will be a perfect combination.
1 Combat Has Never Been Better
Diablo 4 has merged the challenging gameplay of Diablo 2 with the visceral mechanics of Diablo 3. Obviously learning lessons from the past games, Diablo 4’s combat systems have been tuned to perfection. Fans of the ARPG genre should start their adventure on Veteran difficulty, a well-struck balance between compelling content and flowing combat.
Without being too difficult or too simple, Diablo 4 succeeds in making combat feel challenging but approachable. Once you can play your class effectively, you’ll find yourself pushing through the game at an intentional and rewarding pace.