Underrated 84 Metacritic dungeon-crawling action RPG with a deeper build than Diablo 4 (feels like a true Diablo 2 sequel)

Diablo 4Season 11 of , gained significant popularity among fans thanks to the introduction of the new Paladin class and a change in approach. Even though the Paladin alone adds more than a dozen meta builds to the game, their core skills are all different. Diablo 4The biggest problem is the depth (or lack thereof) of the skill tree. There have been many action RPGs over the past few years trying to reclaim the throne that once belonged to them. diablo 2with path of exile and Path of Exile 2 Getting very close, Diablo 4 It's getting better and better.

But there's an underrated gem from 2016 that, for all intents and purposes, was just another game with a following. diablo 2 In the ARPG scene. Grim Dawn. You have two expansion packs (sold separately) under your belt; Grim Dawn is about to get better and bigger in 2026 with the release of Fangs of Asterkarn, the most ambitious and largest release in gaming history. Not only that, but the game now has a deeper skill tree and class system called Masteries. Diablo 4This will be further improved with the addition of Berserker.

Diablo 4 is a great ARPG, but Grim Dawn nails the builds and classes.

Diablo 4The best Paladin build doesn't just come down to a few different skills like most classes, and while this is a huge plus for the game's newest class, it's also a symptom of a larger problem. Diversity of Skills Diablo 4 This is very low since each class typically has 25 or 26 available skills. Skill upgrades and builds are important, but overall the skill tree doesn't offer much depth on its own without the Unique, Mythic, and Paragon boards. Grim Dawn But we have a much more complex system.

Grim Dawn's talent and class system is virtually unrivaled.

Grim Dawn's class system explained

Grim Dawn There are 9 masteries, and another class-equivalent mastery will be added soon.
- soldier: Focuses on melee attacks, defensive options such as heavy armor and shields, and firearm prowess.
- demolition expert: A master of explosives who blends magic and engineering with a focus on ranged attacks and traps.
- occultist: You can use minions, curses, and various spells that cause direct damage to enemies.
- night blade: A spellcaster with a sword class, he deals great damage in close combat, uses two melee weapons at the same time, and has fantastic mobility.
- Arcanist: A typical wizard who is a complete glass cannon, using spells that deal massive damage but have little defense.
- shaman: A caster with a propensity for natural magic and two-handed melee weapons.
- investigator: A hybrid attacker who can defeat enemies from a distance or in close combat with the help of relics and runes that deal with the occult.
- fortune-teller: There are plenty of minion-related options, using both skeletons and death magic to dominate battles.
- Oath Keeper: Use divine power and shield to protect yourself and defeat enemies.
- fierce: You can defeat enemies with the power of ice and wolves, and can transform between close combat.
Each mastery can be combined with other masteries to create dual classes in the ARPG (the first class unlocks at level 2 and the second at level 10), creating endless build opportunities and replay value.
Every mastery gives you access to a variety of skills (which also grant attribute increases) that are unlocked by spending skill points on the mastery bar, and each skill is unlocked or improved by spending skill points.
Skills obtained from mastery Grim Dawn There are several types or purposes.
- Active: A skill that the player uses to perform a specific action.
- Passive: A skill that passively provides a boost.
- Modifier: A way to change the way an active or passive skill works with some effects.
- Transmuter: A modifier that dramatically enhances an active or passive skill, potentially changing how the build operates.
- Exclusive: A skill that can only be activated once.
commitment system Grim Dawn It offers a progression similar to the following: Diablo 4You can further enhance your existing builds and masteries with Paragon Boards and Glyphs.

cruel dawn - dual class - table name - union - combo - mastery

The Inquisitor and Necromancer classes only apply to the Ashes of Malmouth expansion. Oathkeeper is part of the Forgotten Gods expansion, while Berserker comes with Fangs of Asterkarn.

Why Grim Dawn is the true sequel to Diablo 2

diablo 2 has become a benchmark for what modern ARPGs should pursue. That's because the features and gameplay loop were way ahead of their time. games like path of exile and last epoch try to take what you made diablo 2 It's great and you've made it your own. Although some titles have done this successfully; Grim Dawn It ticks all the boxes. It is as follows:

It's incredible player agency, offering the most flexible class selection in ARPGs, and RPGs in general.
It's a dark, gritty world that's both unforgiving and very rewarding for those who like varied endgame systems.
A reputation system that makes faction and vendor options relevant.
Loot-centric gameplay.
The endless modes to choose from enhance the game and make it incredibly varied with each run, while also providing an already high level of replayability.
Grim Dawn You can play offline.