Diablo IV (2023): The Review

Overview

With a gripping story, a finely tuned combat system, and standout visual and audio design, Diablo IV fires on nearly every cylinder. Layer in the sheer mountain of content and replay value, and it’s clear this entry isn’t just continuing the legacy, it’s aiming to surpass it. The result is a confident, content-rich experience that makes a serious case for being the best the Diablo series has ever been.

Score: 8,5 out of 10

The Positives ✅

Diablo IV had an absurd amount of pressure on it before launch. Coming off the bad taste left by Diablo Immortal, skepticism was basically baked into the hype. So going in, I was ready to be disappointed. Instead, I ended up sinking nearly a week into it and having way more fun than I expected.

The world design is a huge part of that. Sanctuary is massive, bleak, and genuinely fun to explore. Swamps, ruins, snowy mountains, corrupted wastelands, it’s packed with side dungeons, strongholds, hidden altars, roaming bosses, and treasure caches. Whether you’re a completionist or just like wandering off the beaten path, there’s always something pulling you forward.

Combat is where it really shines, though. It’s fast, crunchy, and deeply satisfying. Skills chain together smoothly, and once you start weaving abilities into proper rotations, fights feel deliberate instead of button-mashy. Exploration and combat flow naturally into each other, so even gathering resources usually ends with a skirmish or two.

Build variety is another massive win. Five classes at launch doesn’t sound huge, but each one branches into wildly different playstyles thanks to skill trees, gear synergies, aspects, and stat tweaks. You can theorycraft for hours, and experimenting with new setups is half the fun. It’s one of those games where tinkering with your build feels just as rewarding as actually fighting.

Presentation seals the deal. The visuals are gorgeous: grim, grimy, and detailed in all the right ways, and the sound design absolutely slaps. Every swing, spell, and arrow hit lands with weight. It’s AAA polish through and through, and it shows.

The Negatives ⚠️

That said, it’s not all perfect loot drops and demon-slaying highs.

Balancing at launch was messy. Some builds were hilariously overpowered while others struggled to keep up. It could be entertaining in a chaotic way, but it also meant certain playstyles felt outright invalid until patches rolled in.

Side bosses are another weak spot. While campaign encounters feel handcrafted and tense, many optional bosses just feel like bulkier versions of regular enemies. Same moves, same patterns, just more health. It turns what should be exciting fights into minor chores.

The grind can also wear thin. Like most ARPGs, chasing perfect gear means repeating the same activities over and over. If you’re not wired to enjoy that loop, burnout hits fast. And since loot is RNG-heavy, frustration can build when the drops just refuse to cooperate.

Build freedom can paradoxically become a hassle, too. Switching playstyles often means farming an entirely new set of gear, aspects, and enchantments. So while respeccing is easy mechanically, rebuilding your equipment stash can take hours.

And yeah… microtransactions. Even if they’re mostly cosmetic, seeing a $70 game still pushing a shop can feel a little gross. It’s the reality of modern live-service design, but it doesn’t make it sting less.

The Experience 🎮

Playing Diablo IV feels like falling into a very dangerous routine: “I’ll just clear one more dungeon”… and suddenly it’s 3 a.m.

Multiplayer especially elevates things. Tackling higher difficulties with friends, scrambling through chaotic fights, watching someone’s overpowered build melt mobs only to get instantly flattened by a bad dodge, it’s messy, cinematic fun. Those moments feel uniquely Diablo.

The story surprised me, too. It’s darker and more character-driven than I expected. Motivations feel personal rather than “save the world because reasons,” and the environments themselves quietly tell stories through ruined towns and corrupted landscapes. Taking the time to talk to NPCs and read entries adds more weight than you’d think.

At the same time, you have to accept what kind of game this is. It demands time. Lots of it. If you’re not into grinding, optimizing, and chasing incremental upgrades, it might lose you fast. But if that loop clicks, it’s dangerously addictive.

Overall, Diablo IV feels like a redemption arc for the series, and a reminder of why people fell in love with it in the first place. It’s polished, content-rich, and incredibly fun to play. Just… maybe keep one eye on Blizzard Entertainment. History says a little caution never hurts.