Diablo is one of gaming’s premier loot chasing hack and slash franchises, but where does each game in the series rank when compared to each other?
Diablo games have evolved over the years, going from a humble isometric dungeon crawler to a sprawling open world propped up by an array of live service features and MMO mechanics. The original story of a group of adventures delving into the depths of Hell to kill Diablo himself was simple and a bit terrifying.
Since then, however, the Diablo series has become one of the biggest RPG franchises and its latest iteration, Diablo 4, is still going from strength to strength with a major expansion, Vessel of Hatred, due late in 2024. However, how do the Diablo games compare to each other?
Well, as it’s Gamescom, we’ve decided to rank all the Diablo games to work out which is the most devilishly delightful.
Diablo 1
It’s rare for the original of a franchise to be considered the worst, but with the Diablo series, this is a fair assessment. It’s not that Diablo 1 is bad, far from it, just that all the others have surpassed it in every way. The original game told the story of a cathedral infested with demons, resulting in three heroes entering to stem the tides from Hell. The adventurers delved deep into the cathedral’s catacombs and the caves beneath until, finally, they found the mouth of Hell itself.
Players would need to periodically return to the town of Tristram to trade, rest, and chat with the frightened locals whose gossip told a haunting story of demonic possession, madness, and murder. The game set the scene for a series that would go on to become a mega-franchise, but sadly, Diablo 1 has aged rather poorly, which is probably why Blizzard hasn’t re-released or remastered it.
However, the game did get an unofficial expansion called Diablo: Hellfire that introduced some new classes that were incorporated into the sequels.
Diablo Immortal
Diablo Immortal is a PC and mobile Diablo game that struggles to emerge from the shadow of its less-than-stellar first impression. You see, upon release, Diablo Immortal was accused of being a pay-to-win, microtransaction-filled bore fest. And while a lot of this was pile-on by the community, much of the criticism was fair. It also didn’t help that the game was revealed at BlizzCon instead of Diablo 4, causing fans to resent it from the moment it was announced.
The good news is that there’s actually a great game hidden in Diablo Immortal and this has become apparent over time and as the developers adapt and apply feedback. As the game improves, some fans are softening on Immortal and are starting to discover that a little mobile Diablo isn’t a bad thing. While still far from perfect, Diablo Immortal is a nice companion to Diablo 4, and every fan owes it to themselves to give it a look.
Diablo 3 (Reaper of Souls)
Diablo 3 and its excellent expansion, Reaper of Souls, transitioned the series away from the oppressive grimdark of Diablo 1 and 2 and into something more colorful and vibrant. The game started leaning more into live service elements, a move that was – along with the new art style – considered controversial by some fans. However, even with these changes, Diablo 3 was a huge success and its (now remixed) seasonal content is still going strong alongside Diablo 4’s.
In terms of story, Diablo 3 took place several years after Diablo’s defeat in the second game and saw the Lord of Terror return with a new nefarious plan to conquer not just Sanctuary but the High Heavens, with humanity serving as an unlikely savior to the previously aloof Angels. The protagonists are revealed to be Nephalem, a hybrid of Angels and Demons, and use their newfound powers to take the fight right back to the forces of Hell – as well as any hostile forces from Heaven.
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The game introduced a range of fresh new classes – such as the Witch Doctor, Monk, Demon Hunter, and Crusader – and some fun new features like companions and pets. It also expanded on Diablo 2’s five-act system, emphasizing multiplayer and endgame content more than before. As a launch title for the PS4 and Xbox One, Diablo 3 ultimately served to bring the series to a new audience.
Diablo 4
Diablo 4 is a triumph and improves with every season. We’re also excited to play its Vessel of Hatred expansion and new Spiritborn class. The game finally offers a modern, current-gen version of Diablo and fully embraces the live service elements that have come to define many of Blizzard’s other top franchises.
The game takes a fresh approach to storytelling with the world of Sanctuary still reeling from Diablo’s attack in the third game, as well as an even more brutal assault from the Angel of Death. Diablo himself is still defeated, but his brothers and the Lesser Evils are beginning to stir again. However, the creator of Sanctuary and Diablo’s niece, Lilith, returns to the world and offers to protect humanity from Diablo – if they’ll kneel to her instead.
Diablo 4 abandons the cartoonish art style of Diablo 3 and Immortal and returns to a more grimdark vision of Sanctuary. The best part is that Blizzard has promised to release an annual story expansion, new character classes, and seasonal story expansions every few months, making Diablo 4 the biggest and boldest game in the series to date. However, it’s not the best.
Diablo 2: Resurrected
Diablo 2 and its sublime expansion, The Lord of Destruction, remains the most celebrated game in the Diablo series and served as a template for everything that came after. Even before its 2021 remaster, Diablo 2 was still hailed as the king of the franchise.
Set directly after the events of Diablo 1, the Lord of Terror manages to possess the heroes that defeated him in the hellish bowels of the cathedral and escapes into the world, freeing his brothers and unleashing an army of demons against humanity. Luckily, a new band of heroes rises to meet him, racing against time to stop the demon king from achieving his ultimate victory.
Diablo 2 expanded on the first game and completely opened it up, introducing several new character classes like the Barbarian and the Necromancer that have gone on to become legendary. It also took players on a globetrotting quest across Sanctuary exploring desert tombs, jungle temples, the High Heavens, and even the pits of Hell itself.
While subsequent Diablo games have been bigger, more extravagant, and full to the brim with content, Diablo 2, especially in its Resurrected form remains the pinnacle of the series. Those who experienced it before Diablo 3 and 4 often hold it in very high regard, and its remake breathed new life into the classic, letting an entirely new generation of gamers experience this masterclass in RPG adventuring.
Check out what we thought of various Diablo games in our reviews for Diablo 2: Resurrected, Diablo Immortal, and Diablo 4.