On May 30, 2025, Blizzard Entertainment releasedDiablo 2– the second entry in the dark fantasy action RPG series. This grim isometric hack-and-slash game took what its predecessor did and ran with it, introducing a vast degree of character builds, gorgeous and dynamic environments, and cutting-edge storytelling and worldbuilding to the game. In this way,Diablo 2established itself as one of Blizzard’s Big Three franchises.
In the 25 years since then,every other ARPG that came afterDiablo 2has needed to follow in its footsteps. Even its own sequels,Diablo 3and4, live in its shadow, surpassing it in some aspects, and failing to compare in others.Diablo 2was not the first ARPG, but it became the blueprint that defined the genre in significant ways.
Diablo 2’s Lasting Impact on the Action RPG Genre
What Made Diablo 2 So Great?
One of the biggest factors that madeDiablo 2stand out was its vast breadth of viable builds. Massive skill trees allow players to make tons of crazy characters, including shout Barbarians, poison-focused werewolf Druids, and even melee Sorceresses. Beyond that, countless Unique items and Runewords could expand those options even further, opening even more possibilities for characters of every class.
Of course, one of the major reasons that is the case is because of when the ARPG came out.Diablo 2has three difficulties– Normal, Nightmare, and Hell. Meanwhile, most of its contemporary counterparts are live service games that count on adding years of new content, some of which have endlessly increasing challenges. This engenders environments that produce a meta that must be followed in order to engage with content, disqualifying more experimental builds from being viable.Diablo 2had a meta as well, but its defined difficulty ceiling meant there was much more wiggle room for builds.
Diablo 2was also released in a time period when the internet was much younger. Far fewer guides existed online, providing even more opportunities to experiment without the pressure of an ever-changing meta.
Like the originalDiablo, it also featured procedurally generated dungeons and zones, each with its own random encounters, secrets, and grimdark environments. This gaveDiablo 2excellent replayability – doubly so because it could be played together with friends. The ARPG was released in a time period when social media was quite new, so like many other online games at the time,Diablo 2itself became a great place for gamers to meet, socialize, share builds, and battle the forces of Hell together.
Diablo 2also took the lore foundation from its prequel and transformed it into something truly special. Environmental storytelling, class-specific dialogue, andgripping cinematics were all utilized inDiablo 2to great effect, even going so far as to turn the hero ofDiablo 1into the main villain. This formed a narrative that was endlessly deep for players who sought it out, while not detracting from what made the game fun – killing lots of monsters.
The Legacy of Diablo – Blizzard Entertainment’s ARPG Pillar
These are just some of the factors that contributed toDiablo 2’s success. Intuitive controls, immersive art and sound design, and plenty of other stand-out pillars ofDiablo 2set a standard every ARPG that came after would be compared to. However, it was the way these features merged together to create a groundbreaking ARPG experience that led to the success ofDiablo 2, and that success is perhaps its most important aspect.
The popularity ofDiablo 2solidified the dark fantasy franchise as one of Blizzard’s Big Three, alongsideWarcraftandStarCraft. Though it took 12 years to release its sequel withDiablo 3, and 11 more years to dropDiablo 4, that very success paved the way forDiabloto exist in the modern day, including its own remastered version,Diablo 2: Resurrected. Needless to say, the ARPG genre, Blizzard, or gaming as it’s known today would not be the same withoutDiablo 2.
