The Best Action-RPGs To Play If You Love Diablo - The first knowledge sharing application in Vietnam

With the upcoming Diablo 4, many fans have the need to satiate their hunger for something similar. Here are some action RPGs similar to Diablo.

Diablo and its sequels have left a long-lasting mark on the gaming industry, and it’s no wonder. The addictive combat and looting system will drag all kinds of players to the games, and their massive replayability will keep players hooked for many years. It’s a testament to the series that there is still a huge player base that is still active in the first three games.

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The long wait for Diablo 4 is slowly crawling to an end. In the meantime, the series’ fans want to satiate their hunger for something similar. Whether it’s looting, hacking, or slashing their way through dungeons there are lots of action RPGs that will offer Diablo fans a means to fill the gap as they wait for a new entry.

Updated January 29, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Diablo 4 has confirmed a June 2023 release date. Even though the franchise’s reputation has worsened in recent years, Blizzard’s upcoming game is still naturally attracting a lot of hype. While waiting for the project to drop, players can check out the best ARPGs like Diablo, and the pickings are not slim.

Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

Released: 2012
Developer: 38 Studios and Kaiko
Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
Amazon Listing Page

At its core, Kingdoms of Amalur doesn’t have a great deal in common with the Diablo series. However, as an action RPG, it has one of the best combat systems in the genre. Furthermore, its class system is just as robust and varied, and players can tailor their warriors to their liking.

The remastered version released in 2020 — also known as Kingdoms of Amalur:Re-Reckoning — is the best version of the game. Moreover, it now features a meaty DLC expansion marking the game’s tenth anniversary. There has never been a better time to dive into one of the most overlooked RPGs of the PS3/360 generation.

Minecraft Dungeons

Released: 2020
Developer: Mojang Studios and Double Eleven
Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Amazon Listing Page

Minecraft Dungeons is essentially a Diablo alternative for children. The hack and slash game simplifies most of the central mechanics associated with action RPGs, including completely removing a class system, all the while offering the minute-by-minute thrills associated with the genre.

Veterans fans of these sorts of projects might find this title a bit too unchallenging, even though they might still appreciate its charming visuals and decent level design. However, Minecraft Dungeons is designed for younger players who are taking their first steps into this world; from that point of view, it gets the job done.

Sacred Gold

Released: 2004 (
Sacred
)
Developer: Ascaron and Studio II
Platform: PC
Steam Page

Sacred was a respectable action RPG when it launched in 2004, and nearly two decades later, the game holds up fairly well. Unsurprisingly, the visuals and combat are dated, but the core gameplay loop is strong enough to survive the test of time. Ascaron took a fair amount of inspiration from Diablo when crafting Sacred, almost to the point that the latter could be described as a high-fantasy alternative to the former’s dark fantasy.

At the time of its release, the openness of Sacred’s world was impressive since it gave players far more freedom to explore than the typical action RPG. Even though these types of maps are more common nowadays, Ancaria is still an impressive work of art. 2008’s Sacred 2 is also a decent action RPG, while the less said about Sacred 3, the better.

Hades

Released: 2020
Developer: Supergiant Games
Platform: macOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X
Amazon Listing Page (Switch)

Released in 2020, Hades is a rogue-like action RPG with enough hack-and-slash mechanics that will appeal to fans of the Diablo series. Hades is set in the Ancient Greek underworld and features an excellent art style.

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The Rogue-like nature sets Hades apart from action RPGs like Diablo in terms of progression but the top-down hack-and-slash nature at the very core of the game will still appeal to fans. Furthermore, fighting one’s way through randomly generation dungeons and trying to get out of hell is the entire basis for both games, and there’s enough to please fans of both genres.

Last Epoch

Released: 2019 (Early Access)
Developer: Eleventh Hour Games
Platform: PC
Steam Page

Currently in early access, Last Epoch is a work in progress, although the game has already made decent strides forward. In terms of its gameplay, this title sticks reasonably close to the standard hack and slash formula, which is not a bad thing. The combat is impactful and satisfying, while the enemies are quite varied due to the campaign’s time-travel zones.

Last Epoch’s class and skills systems both have the potential to be among the action RPG genre’s best. The former includes subclasses that provide a fair amount of variety, while the latter system is diverse and permits players to specialize in specific abilities.

Eternium

Released: 2014
Developers: Making Fun, Inc., DreamPrimer SRL, Dream Primer
Platform: Android, iOS, and PC
Steam Page

There are plenty of mobile games like Diablo, so much so that it can be difficult to pick a place to start. Launching in the mid-2010s, Eternium is a known quantity by this point, and the RPG wears its influences for everyone to see. A hack-and-slash game built upon the genre’s old-school foundations, this free-to-play title delivers charming visuals, intuitive controls, a decent class system, and all the loot anyone could possibly want.

“Free” mobile games have a negative reputation for their monetization practices, and while certainly present, Eternium is one of the better examples of how this type of release can work well. For those who prefer PC, this ARPG is currently in Early Access on Steam.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3

Released: 2019
Developer: Team Ninja
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Amazon Listing Page

A superhero game may seem like a strange recommendation for fans of the Diablo series, but the core mechanics and cooperative gameplay, both locally and online, make Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 a great starting point. It’s a more simplistic Diablo-like experience for younger players that may have a shorter attention span, and it also serves as a great entry point for gamers new to the genre.

It’s also interesting to note that it’s a much better Marvel video game experience than the big-budget Marvel’s Avengers on the PS4 and Xbox One. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 has a huge selection of characters and the action is top-notch from the same team that created the Nioh series.

Dragon’s Dogma

Released: 2012
Developer: Capcom
Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
Amazon Listing Page (PS4)

Dragon’s Dogma probably has more in common with the Monster Hunter series than it does Diablo, but there is enough dungeon crawling, looting, and fighting to keep fans happy. Diablo fans that want more content with dark fantasy worlds, lots of quests, and monsters to fight should definitely add Dragon’s Dogma to their list.

The hack-and-slash gameplay carries a lot of elements from Devil May Cry, and coming from the man behind that series’ Hideaki Itsuno, it shouldn’t come as a surprise for those familiar with his work. The world of Dragon’s Dogma is huge, and there is lots of lore and loot to discover to use in combat the Pawn system where players get to create and share their own warriors with the community adds near-endless replay value.

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance Series

Released: 2001
Developer: Black Isle Studios
Platform: GBA, GameCube, PC, PS2, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Steam Page

Unlike the mainline Baldur’s Gate RPG series that originated on the PC, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance are dungeon-crawling action RPGs that feature co-operative gameplay and a top-down view similar to that of the Diablo series.

Designed for PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox, the Dark Alliance games are much less complicated than their CRPG counterparts, but they serve as a great introduction to the Dungeons & Dragons universe. A brand new Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance was released on consoles and the PC in the Summer of 2021, but it wasn’t as well-received as the originals. It’s advised to play through the remasters of the first two games released in 2021.

Darksiders: Genesis

Released: 2019
Developer: Airship Syndicate
Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One
Amazon Listing Page

This title serves as a spin-off and a prequel to the original Darksiders titles, which were fully 3D action-adventure games. The series has always borrowed elements from other games and genres like The Legend of Zelda and Portal series, but Genesis is more highly recommended for fans of the Diablo series.

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Additionally, Darksiders: Genesis uses familiar elements like puzzle-solving and exploration, and blends this with Diablo-like progression mechanics and combat. It’s also worth noting that it’s a much better game than the disappointing Darksiders 3, and does a great job of expanding an already interesting and imaginative universe. That said, fans of the hack-and-slash genre should still invest in the first two games in the series as the combat, exploration, and series’ depth are worth exploring from the beginning.

Vikings — Wolves Of Midgard

Released: 2017
Developer: Kalypso Media
Platform: Linux, macOS, PS4, and Xbox One
Amazon Listing Page (PS4)

Vikings was developed by Games Farm and published by Kalypso Media Digital in 2017, but it still holds up to what one could want from an Action RPG. The game has the player explore the mythical land of Midgard, a region inspired by Norse legends.

Players earn blessings from different Norse gods and bludgeon one’s enemies with hammers as they progress through the land. There are many monsters and undead to defeat, and players can invite friends to play within co-op mode. Plus, this game has interesting lore to discover, and humorous cutscenes to entertain.

Demon’s Souls (2020)

Released: 2020
Developer: Bluepoint Games
Platform: PS5
Amazon Listing Page

Remade from the ground up, Demon’s Souls is a faithful adaptation of FromSoft’s original 2009 masterpiece on the PS3. Mechanically, it doesn’t have much in common with the Diablo franchise, but for fans that simply enjoy dungeon crawling in a dark fantasy setting, it doesn’t get much better than this.

The original Demon’s Souls was succeeded by the Dark Souls series and Bloodborne and spawned an action RPG sub-genre of its own. It’s famed because of its challenging nature but there is so much more to this game when it comes to lore, world-building, and character classes all of which tick the right boxes for dungeon-crawling Diablo fans.

Warhammer: Chaosbane

Released: 2019
Developer: Eko Software
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X
Amazon Listing Page (PS5)

Chaosbane has its players exploring the ever-expanding Warhammer universe. In this game, one may choose from five different classes to take on hordes of enemies coming at the player and the option to team up with three friends to play cooperatively.

This beautiful action RPG implements almost puzzle-like mechanics to the fights, having one figure out the weaknesses of bosses in intricate and interesting ways. The campaign is riveting and the story is easy to follow, even if one isn’t very knowledgeable about Warhammer’s vast universe.

Chronicon

Released: 2020
Developer: Subworld
Platform: PC
Steam Page

Released on Steam in 2020, Chronicon puts the player in a universe where all evil has been vanquished. The protagonist is tasked with utilizing the artifact known as the Chronicon, a strange magical device that lets one relive the experiences and exploits of various heroes that have fallen in battle.

With virtually infinite character progression, four unique classes, and five different storylines, this is a must-have for die-hard Diablo fans. With its charming and beautifully retro pixel graphics and stunning visual effects, this game will immerse the player from the start. It’s hard to believe that it was made by only one person.

The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing: Final Cut

Released: 2013
Developer: NeocoreGames
Platform: OS X, PC, PS4, and Xbox One
Steam Page

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing has gamers play as the legendary vampire hunter, choosing from six classes to play to slay monsters all around the world of Borgovia. The Final Cut is a collection of the three previous games by the developer, told as a single story.

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With over fifty hours of gameplay and an enormous variety of skills, this game will impress even the most experienced veterans of action RPGs. One highly-appreciated feature is Lady Katarina, the protagonist’s ghostly companion. She helps in several ways and is also very witty and charismatic. Players won’t get bored with her around.

Victor Vran

Released: 2015
Developer: Haemimont Games
Platform: Linux, OS X, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
Amazon Listing Page (PS4)

Another game that follows a monster slayer that hunts supernatural beings, one would be forgiven for confusing Victor Vran with the Van Helsing series. In this ARPG, it’s never boring blasting away skeletons, zombies, and ghouls with the gigantic arsenal at one’s disposal. The weapons, armor, and spells the character uses are entirely chosen by the player.

The great graphics and interesting mechanics will pique the interest of any old-school Diablo fan and will remind them of the fun they had with the Diablo series. The storyline is a bit bland, but its longevity is found in the game’s co-op mode.

Titan Quest Anniversary Edition

Released: 2006
Developer: Iron Lore Entertainment
Platform: Android, iOS, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
Steam Page

An overhaul of the 2006 classic, Titan Quest Anniversary Edition revamps many of the features that improve the quality of life of the players, as well as making the graphics better and making the Titan Quest experience much more enjoyable. This improved version will have the player hooked in no time.

This ARPG has the player explore the Ancient World, full of mythological beasts and legendary locations, such as the Great Pyramids, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and many more. There are over a thousand pieces of equipment to collect and customize the character.

Wolcen: Lords Of Mayhem

Released: 2020
Developer: Wolcen Studio
Platform: PC
Steam Page

Released in 2020, Wolcen is an innovative ARPG that uses creative controls and stylish visuals to help stand out from the crowd of Diablo clones. It forces players to think strategically and carefully consider every move to avoid succumbing to its many challenges.

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As a long-term game, Wolcen is still getting frequent updates to address the issues the game had at launch and is a significantly better title for it. The storyline is lengthy and involved, and its procedurally generated maps will keep players on their toes. Sadly, the servers are a bit laggy, but overall this is a fantastic and enjoyable ARPG.

Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr

Released: 2018
Developer: NeocoreGames
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Amazon Listing Page

With another perspective on the Warhammer universe, Inquisitor – Martyr takes players to the 41st Millennium. Taking control of an inquisitor, the game offers a choice of three different classes to wreak havoc upon heretics and destroy corruption.

This futuristic action RPG has many features, such as crafting one’s own gear, as well as making use of its expansive skill trees and various abilities. The game has released a current-generation version subtitled the Ultimate Edition.

Torchlight 2

Released: 2012
Developer: Runic Games
Platform: Linux, OS X, PC, PS4, and Xbox One
Steam Page

The first two games in the Torchlight series were developed by Runic Games, a studio founded by the creators of the Diablo series. It’s unsurprising, then, that the franchise is considered among the best Diablo clones available. Torchlight 2 is widely regarded as the best entry in the series, offering multiplayer co-op and mod support for PC players.

This dungeon-crawling masterpiece is an excellent example of what an ARPG should look like, and many creators have taken inspiration from it and Diablo alike. The community is bustling with ideas and inspiration to make the game even more enjoyable.