Whether you're a billionaire or someone looking for a new game to play, there's a lot to like about both Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4 read our comparison of both to help make up your mindTech18:51, 28 Jan 2025Diablo 4 was a huge hit at launch(Image: Grab)If you've been around social media in recent weeks, you'll no doubt have seen Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 coming up in relation to a certain billionaire social media platform owner.And, while Elon Musk has seen his 'gamer credentials' shattered in recent weeks, there's no denying that the controversial figure has put more eyes on the ARPG genre than we really expected a man who has the ear of the returning president to.If all of the talk about leaderboards and loot has got you curious, then you're in the right place as we're going to help you pick the right ARPG for you, as well as try to introduce you to the magic of the genre. Ready? Let's get started.Elon Musk's gaming skills have been called into question in recent weeks(Image: AFP via Getty Images)You may have heard the term RPG, which refers to Role-Playing Games. These are games where, traditionally, you create a character and build their stats out as you see fit.That's a very loose definition, but it helps illustrate that ARPG is 'Action RPG', a genre that's got all the fun of building a character in your image and levelling up, while also offering the immediacy of killing just about anything on screen at any point in time.Diablo was arguably one of the progenitors of the genre (although some will debate this), but the idea is simple kill things, get loot, kill even bigger things. It's a loop that's stood the test of time, and has bled into everything from Final Fantasy 7 Remake to MMO-like experiences such as Destiny.Diablo launched in 1997, and while the series has been through some changes and some controversies, Diablo 4 (which launched in 2023) has grown into a fine example of an ARPG after taking a few seasonal updates to get going.On the other hand, Path of Exile 2 launched in December of 2024 in Early Access (more on that in a moment), but it's hardly the new kid on the block. The first game launched in 2013, just a year after Diablo 3, and it found an audience thanks to its polish and fantastic sense of customisation.The state of play now is that Diablo 4 is in its seventh season of content, while Path of Exile 2 is still in development but players can pay to play what's there now.Both have been catapulted into the mainstream by Elon Musk's gaming 'prowess' after the Tesla and X boss claimed to have been one of the best players in the world at both games.So, now that the stage is set, which one should you play?Season 7 of Diablo 4 is here(Image: Blizzard)Diablo 4 launched in a pretty impressive state back in 2023, but a lack of endgame left die-hard fans disappointed. That's something that's been fixed since, and each of its character classes is an absolute blast to play as (except Necromancer, which still feels slow to me).The campaign is pretty lengthy, and there's the optional Vessel of Hatred expansion that adds additional systems, another campaign, and the excellent Spiritborn class.There are new Witchcraft powers in Diablo 4(Image: Blizzard)In a genre where half of the fun is 'breaking' the game with character builds that blow through whole hordes of enemies, Diablo 4 certainly scratches that itch. The new season, Season of Witchcraft, launched last week and within a night of playing, I have a poisonous Rogue build that can literally kill some enemies without me needing to hit a button.It's the best kind of power fantasy, but it ramps up nicely in difficulty, and it's excellent fun to play with friends. Higher difficulties offer better loot, and with the base game now on Xbox Game Pass, it's easier than ever to introduce buddies.There's plenty to do in the endgame now, too, but even if you just want to slay some monsters and see that XP bar tick up, Diablo 4 is surprisingly accessible. It really can be as deep as you want it to be.Path of Exile 2 is a complex game, but one well worth investing time in(Image: Grinding Gear Games)I didn't play the first Path of Exile, but I picked up the sequel looking for something to inspire my cravings for bloodlust in a relatively quiet period for Diablo 4 and I'm so glad I did.There's a certain heft to everything in Path of Exile 2, which pairs with a sort of friction that makes for an intoxicating experience but one that'll leave you on your a*** if you're not careful. I mowed down early enemies with glee, less focused on loot (although it's still important) but more keen on filling out the almost overwhelmingly exhaustive skill tree.Path of Exile 2 features some fantastic boss mechanics and challenging gauntlets(Image: Grinding Gear Games)Diving into dungeons, earning loot,and then heading back to sell my wares before teleporting back became a compulsive loop, but what really kept me around were bosses. Diablo has them, sure, but Path of Exile 2's border on Souls-like enemies at times.One early-game baddie kept me bashing my head against a wall for what felt like hours before I switched out my loadout and skills to counteract his strengths. It remains the most exhilarating, hard-fought victory of the game so far for me, but that's not to say there's no power fantasy to be found here.Just as with Diablo, the right combination of skills, gear, and stats can make you feel almost godlike, but there's also excitement in knowing the next boss could cause you to rethink everything you've learned so far.All of this depth comes with a couple of caveats. For one, the game's not finished yet, so on the way to the endgame you can expect to play the first half of the game twice. The fact I'm still not at endgame is more a comment on my busy schedule than how fun Path of Exile 2 is, though.The other consideration is that Path of Exile 2 is a complex game. The community are thankfully wonderful, but there's a lot of learning as you play that may put some players off.It's a cop-out, sure, but there really is no clear winner because both games offer polished examples of the ARPG genre that do things differently.Whereas Path of Exile 2 can be tough to acclimatise to, it's endlessly rewarding. Diablo 4, on the other hand, is easy to get to grips with but can take some time to ramp up in challenge.Article continues belowThere's also something to be said about other games in the genre. Last Epoch is a great example of an ARPG that came about from a group of fans that clubbed together to build something they wanted to play, while Lost Ark transplants ARPG combat to an MMO setting.Musk or no, there's never been a better time to be an ARPG fan, and that's something worth celebrating.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.