Diablo 4is easily one of the most anticipated games on the horizon, despite how far its horizon might be. Fans have been eagerly awaiting any news about the next iteration of the iconic series and many are likely going back to enjoy previous titles.Diablo 4is continuing a major legacy, but will find itself surrounded by much more competition that its immediate predecessorDiablo 3. After helping establish the ARPG genre, the games that were inspired byDiabloare now going to be its strongest competition.
Diablohas had an enormous impacton the gaming landscape. It helped revitalize the ARPG space and ended up creating essentially its own subgenre with its fast-paced isometric action, brooding atmosphere, and tongue-in-cheek humor. It’s obvious why so many fans are excited aboutDiablo 4, but the game will find itself having to do a lot more to distinguish itself in order to earn player’s money.Diablo 4is likely still at least a year from release, and the ARPG market is swamped with quality titles in a way thatDiablo 3didn’t have to contend with.
RELATED:Interview: Echtra Games CEO Talks Torchlight 3, Cursed Captain, Diablo Series, and More
Games That Will Give Diablo 4 Some Competition
Since helping invigorate the genre as a whole, other games from numerous studios and evensome fromDiablo’soriginal creatorshave risen in quality to a point where they are now in direct competition with the iconic hack n' slash. The obvious example beingPath of Exile. Its free-to-play nature, expansive skill trees, and large endgame have helped makePath of Exileone ofDiablo’sstrongest competitors. The game also has an aesthetic and general tone that likely scratches the same itch asDiablodoes for many of its players. The game also regularly updates to add new content even now.
TheTorchlightseries is another solid example of games that have followed the formula originally created byDiabloto great effect. The game has a lighter tone overall and features a charming steampunk setting and cast of characters. WhileTorchlight 3is likely nearing the end of its lifecyclethe series overall has still picked up a dedicated following that enjoy the game for its familiar gameplay formula but fresh twist on the darker and more somber tones that pervade so much of the ARPG space.
Popular series likeWarhammerhave also jumped into the space with theVermintideseries. While not as well-received as some of the other games in the genre,Warhammerhas a fanbase that is nearly rabid for its properties and has created a solid groundwork for the franchise to continue. And fans are still looking forgames to play on the long wait toDiablo 4, so any game with a fresh setting or set in a universe they’re already fond of could pull a lot of attention.
WhileDiablois still largely considered the king of ARPG, it has a big legacy behind it.Diablo 4will need to reinvigorate the genrein general in order to live up to its own hype. WhenDiablo 3first released it was still undisputedly the king of the pack in the ARPG space. But withDiablo 4still likely at least a year away, the landscape it helped to create will be packed with its own strongest competitors.
Diablo 4is confirmed in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
