What are the pros of Path of Exile?

Unmatched depth and build variety supported by over a decade of content expansions.. Exceptional longevity with many players dedicating thousands of hours to the experience.. Widely considered the premier ARPG for fans of complex character customization and theory-crafting..

What are the cons of Path of Exile?

Extremely high barrier to entry due to overwhelming complexity that is not new-player friendly.. Balancing decisions often prioritize extreme difficulty and grind over player fun.. Technical issues including server instability and poor optimization for specific hardware like Mac Silicon.. Inadequate customer support and perceived lack of responsiveness to player issues..

Path of Exile

You are an Exile, struggling to survive on the dark continent of Wraeclast, as you fight to earn power that will allow you to exact your revenge against those who wronged you. Path of Exile is an online Action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. The game is completely free and will never be pay-to-win.

89%

Very Positive

DeveloperGrinding Gear Games

PublisherGrinding Gear Games

Release DateOct 23, 2013

Free to Play

Peak Players228.4K

Metacritic86

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows · macOS

Massively Multiplayer

RPG

AI Review Summary

Path of Exile is widely considered the most complex and content-rich ARPG available, offering nearly infinite build variety and over a decade of expansions. While it provides unparalleled depth for hardcore fans, its extreme learning curve and punishing balance philosophy can make the game feel like a second job, deterring new players.

Pros

Unmatched depth and build variety supported by over a decade of content expansions.100%
Exceptional longevity with many players dedicating thousands of hours to the experience.95%
Widely considered the premier ARPG for fans of complex character customization and theory-crafting.90%

Cons

Extremely high barrier to entry due to overwhelming complexity that is not new-player friendly.95%
Balancing decisions often prioritize extreme difficulty and grind over player fun.85%
Technical issues including server instability and poor optimization for specific hardware like Mac Silicon.70%
Inadequate customer support and perceived lack of responsiveness to player issues.60%

Notable Mentions

High anticipation and frequent comparisons to the upcoming Path of Exile 2.
The game is often described as a job due to the massive time commitment required for progression.

Confidence: 73%

Based on the 190 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Jul 11, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

27.8K

Peak · last 90 days

186.6K

All-time peak

228.4K

Price

Current price

Free to Play

Lowest tracked

Free to Playsince Dec 5, 2025

Review Sentiment

Launch week

—

Last 30 days

86%

All-time positive

89%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews249.7K

Positive: 222.4K (89%)Negative: 27.3K (11%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

1480h

Avg Playtime at Review

85%

Credible Reviews

Path of Exile