It is hard to believe that Blizzard's masterpiece franchise Diablo was first released in 1997. This means that it has been around 24 years since the first game was built. It is a fact that from the entire series, Diablo 2 & 3 are the most talked about games from the series. With the upcoming release of Diablo IV & Immortal, it is high time to figure out which one of the two most famous video games is genuinely the greatest.
What are the most common aspects of these games that are genuinely unmatched by each other? Which game is better when directly compared against each other? Does Diablo 2 withstand the test of time? Or did Diablo 3 necessarily modernize the series?
Updated on January 5th, 2022 by Hodey Johns: Now that players have had some time to get comfortable with Diablo 2: Resurrected, it felt like a good time to analyze this age-old battle again. The opinions since this original list was released have changed quite a bit within the community. It turns out there were several parts of Diablo 2 that were missed for the sake of nostalgia but a replay of the game showed that these elements did not age as well as fans hoped they might. However, other parts of the game were taken for granted, and playing it again made gamers wish that more had been incorporated into Diablo 3.
12 Music & Audio - Diablo 3
Diablo 2's musical style can be described as ambient. This is, after all, a game that wants to be played, so it makes sense that the soundtrack is not stealing the show. The sound effects can be repetitive; the dull click of connected attacks and grunting of enemies can occasionally sound like the audio got stuck to a passing listener.
The third game in the series improves on all of this. The music is still a backdrop, but it's got much more happening in terms of notes and richness. And the sound systems are completely improved, complete with direction cues and fades that the second game lacked.
11 Art Style - Diablo 2
The art style in video games will always be subjective. The second game was released all the way back in 2000, and the third game was released in 2012. This means the two were inspired by the style of similar games of those years and are incredibly different in their approach. Here, Diablo 3 is colorful and shiny, while Diablo 2 is gritty and dark. However, there's something eerie about how the second game looks, which gives it a better visual aesthetic when it comes to battling the minions of hell.
10 Graphics - Diablo 3
This is relatively an easy one. Most modern games released by such famous publishers will always look better than its predecessor. Whether it is Ubisoft, Sony, Microsoft, or EA, their newer games are bound to look better than the older ones. The same is true for Blizzard, as Diablo 3 is the best one for graphics and features.
It's more than just the graphics being "good" though. Even with a fresh coat of paint, pillars can get in the way and enemy types can blend together in Diablo 2. The projectiles were also too small and staggered against the framerate. Too often players will look for the Viper Claw Temple and find that the entrance was stuck behind a tree or a house.
9 Expansion Packs - Diablo 2
A great expansion pack is something that people remember for years and years to come. Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls was no slouch, creating a new final boss that is impossible to forget and adding the Crusader class to the mix.
Diablo 2 offers Lord Of Destruction. The pack has two new character classes and an additional act to play. It also revamped the multiplayer aspect of the game and made playing with friends relevant again. Diablo 2 LOD is still talked about with reverence, which certainly tells how important it is to the game.
8 Controls - Diablo 3
Perhaps the biggest disappointment with Diablo 2: Resurrected was how badly the controls aged. The movement was clunky at best. Casting spells without a toolbar (later added in a patch) was something that should have never been attempted. And good luck with potion management.
Diablo 3, on the other hand, is made to work on PC as well as consoles. This means it offers a set of controls that are perfect for hack and slash games and a controller. This makes it a diverse game title when it comes to the controls, making it user-friendly.
7 Gameplay - Diablo 3
Diablo 2 must get the credit it deserves when it comes to innovating upon the gameplay of the time. It earned its place as one of the best dungeon crawlers around with innovation and hard work. But concepts like drinking dozens of potions or spamming the same spells in a big fight hamper the experience and can ruin a playthrough.
There is also no denying that Diablo 3 only built upon the groundwork laid by Diablo 2. If this were about originality, Diablo 2 would win out. But this is about gameplay and the experience of playing Diablo 3's combat is smoother, more fun, and dynamic during the big moments.
6 Secrets - Tie
The first time anyone discovers the secret cow level in Diablo 2 is a magical experience. Similarly, Diablo 3's Whimsyshire is just as abstract as well, giving one of a kind experience to whoever is playing the game. There are many other hidden easter eggs throughout both the games, making this category a tie.
5 Story - Diablo 2
To be kind, the story in Diablo 3 fell on its face. This list will refrain from spoilers, but many of the characters deserved better and the new cast will likely be forgotten when Diablo IV comes around. At least, those interested in preserving the franchise will hope that the new characters are left forgotten.
Many people still praise the second game for the way it was executed. Every act's music speaks the story's tone, the missions feel personal, and bosses feel like an actual threat. While the third game delivers, it's not on the level of Diablo 2.
4 Multiplayer - Diablo 3
Both the games have great multiplayer options. Diablo 2's multiplayer was tacked on and badly imbalanced. Even in co-op, farming was a snoozefest of advanced players porting with their critical endgame items clearing everything out when other players waited around.
The reason Diablo 3 has an edge in this department is because of the technical aspects. The second title couldn't compare to the modern-day title in terms of network features. Diablo 3's multiplayer is user-friendly, fluid, and sensibly balanced.
3 Characters - Tie
Diablo 3 offers seven main characters, and Diablo 2 offers the same as well. The second game includes the Amazon, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin, Sorceress, Assassin, and Druid. On the other hand, the third game has Barbarian, Witch Doctor, Wizard, Monk, Demon Hunter, Crusader, and Necromancer.
The tiebreaker would be if one game's classes badly outshined the other. But this never happens. The discrepancy in classes in Diablo 3 is similar to the differences in Diablo 2 and fans should hope that all of the classes from both games are included in the next title.
2 Customization - Diablo 3
Both games allow players to choose their skills, but Diablo 3 has much less of a "right" and "wrong" system than Diablo 2 does. Gamers who really like a particular skill can generally find a way to make it work and even climb the ranks with it.
Unfortunately, there are some skills so bad in Diablo 2 that players will have to reset their stats just to start over if they're looking to beat the game. Melee attacking, in general, is poorly done in the game, and getting the required strength and dexterity to make it isn't worth it.
1 Ratings - Diablo 3
Both games stood at a tie on Metacritic with a score of 88. However, the release of Diablo 2: Resurrected gave players a new point of reference as far as how the two sync up through the years. The remaster of the old game wasn't as well-received as many had hoped.
The score of 80 isn't the worst game, but the user scores managed to get into sub-3 territory, undesirable territory for any game. It turns out that many fans didn't appreciate the advancements made by Diablo 3 and even the disappointments in that game still resulted in a net improvement over Diablo 2.
Diablo 2: Resurrected was released on September 23rd, 2021, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Diablo 3 was released on May 15th, 2012, and is available for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.