It’s been almost 12 years since Diablo III was released on PC. It’s over a decade of demon hunting, team farming, multiplayer fun and chilling dialogue, and we’re finally less than three months away from the release of its successor, Diablo IV. For me, Diablo III committed the heinous crime of being fun and addictive and therefore took hundreds of hours from my life. After playing the Diablo IV beta, it’s clear that I’m about to lose a lot more.
Diablo IV is set thirty years after the events of Diablo III, where millions have died due to the continuing feud between the heavens and the burning hells. This is mostly all you need to know about Diablo’s story, which, while vast and lore-rich, is also very silly and extravagant. In Diablo IV, Lilith is positioned as the main antagonist, while the player is an unnamed hero who must put a stop to all demonic and bigoted behavior. Lilith, known as the Succubus Queen, is the creator of Sanctuary, daughter of Mephisto, Lord of Hatred and sister of Lucion. There’s a lot more to his lore that I won’t mention here, but suffice to say he’s one of the best characters in the often goofy Diablo universe. Diablo IV’s story may be great, but it’s more likely to be superficial, silly, and entertaining, which is part of the show’s charm.
Visually, Diablo IV is subtly beautiful. The beta kicked off with awesome cutscenes involving gruesome monsters, blood webs, and Lilith in all her glory, and it’s one of the most compelling cutscenes I’ve ever seen. From there, the game transitions to the standard top-down gameplay we’ve come to expect from the Diablo series, but with an added layer of polished and environmental effects that make it uniquely immersive. Players new to the Diablo series may initially be disappointed with the series’ isometric perspective, especially when compared to the opening cutscene, but I’d be surprised if they feel that way after a few hours.
The lighting, sound, and atmosphere were stellar throughout the beta. From the moment you enter the freezing tundra, Diablo IV immerses you in billowing snow, hair-raising winds, and the noise of nearby enemies. That immersion never dissipated during my time with the beta, whether I was exploring cold tundra, glowing caves, or dark dungeons. Simply put, the world of Diablo IV looks deliberately dark, yet beautiful.
Diablo IV features a solid, if unspectacular, character creator with options for skin tone, body type, hairstyle, and accessories. I was able to create a heartbreaking scene, a childish protagonist with long green hair, big earrings and demonic body tattoos, as well as a powerful barbarian with flaming red hair and blood runes engraved on his body. Well, what more could you ask for from a character designer in a Diablo game?
That said, the most important part of any Diablo game is, of course, the combat, and that of Diablo IV is familiar and satisfying. It continues to walk the line between split-second tactical decision making and chaotic button mashing. Instant combat feels like a simplified version of Diablo III, but with more precise inputs and flashier combos. Activision Blizzard has said in the past that its goal is to make Diablo IV’s combat more grounded, and there’s a noticeable improvement in clarity, especially when fighting hordes of enemies. The button-pushing fun is still there, but with an added sense of purpose that bodes well for the end product.
The beta had five classes: Barbarian, Sorceress, Druid, Rogue, and Necromancer. I got to play the Barbarian and the Rogue, and both were fun and familiar in their own way. Rogue is my go-to for Diablo, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change in Diablo IV. He has a good mix of fast long range attacks and furious short range backstabs that feel like a chaotic dance. My time with the Barbarian was less fun, as the brute-force combat is less precise and more button-heavy, but it’s consistent with how the class felt in previous games. I’m really looking forward to trying out the other classes once the game launches, even though there’s a 99% chance I’ll stick with my good rogue.
Finally, the multiplayer aspect of Diablo IV seems off to a good start. Although I encountered some connection issues in the initial closed beta (and a bit of popup), the experience was generally smooth and stable. There’s no series that best suits the “run and kill enemies with friends” multiplayer style, and it’s alive and well in beta. The MMO-lite elements work exceptionally well, as you encounter random players throughout the game. It adds an extra layer of immersion to the overall experience and makes the world more dynamic.
So far, Diablo IV looks and plays promisingly. It’s easily the best looking Diablo game to date and the subtle changes to combat along with the absurdity of the classic story combine to make this a truly exciting title to look forward to.
Diablo IV it will launch on June 6, 2023 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, with the Xbox Series X bundle appearing on the same day.