Diablo 4 was officially announced in November 2019, with the game launching in June 2023. It promised to be the most ambitious and significant entry in the series yet, and Blizzard did a lot of things right and wrong for the game's launch period. Released in 1997, the first Diablo defined the isometric action-RPG hack-and-slash looting genre and every similar game since it has been referred to as a Diablo clone.

All the numbered entries in the franchise have sold well and are highly regarded in their own right, and the universe has been expanded through toys, novels, and comics. The series has become a cultural phenomenon over the years, and Diablo 4 is no exception. Still, fans of the genre can entertain themselves with some good alternatives.

Updated on April 17, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Diablo 4 is a game that elicits a mixed reception from its fans. While the game in itself is a blast to play through, the context surrounding this title's development and release is what makes it so challenging for fans to celebrate this video game. Activision-Blizzard has a lot of problems it needs to sort out, and players will need to avoid a ton of negativity if they want to enjoy Diablo 4 for what it is — a fun top-down hack-and-slash game that is a worthy entry in a legendary series. Fans of Diablo 4 who want to check out more games in the same vein will find a ton of titles to be right up their alley.

23 Tyranny

A Fascinating Exploration Of Evil In A CRPG With Real-Time Combat

Obsidian Entertainment is one of the most legendary developers of RPG games that fans love. Their work in the CRPG genre has been nothing short of phenomenal, with Tyranny being one of their best offerings. Barring an ending that feels somewhat anticlimactic (likely due to budget reasons), Tyranny is a stellar example of how important it is for a proper role-playing experience to feature some thought-provoking writing.

The gameplay of Tyranny features a healthy dose of real-time combat augmented by an innovative magic system that makes controlling a mage the objectively best way to gain levels, barrel through enemies, and interact with a major chunk of the gameplay. The game can get pretty challenging at times, making it important to set up proper party tactics that help players deal with a wide variety of enemies without facing too many issues.

22 Pillars Of Eternity

Obsidian's Return To Form With An Amazing CRPG Where Combat Is A Huge Focus

Pillars of Eternity is the game that saved Obsidian Entertainment from bankruptcy after a string of financial problems almost shut the studio down. After turning to Kickstarter in a desperate attempt to fund their game, the support these developers received helped Pillars of Eternity become a reality and let players experience a modern CRPG, which was a rarity at the time.

The real-time combat is a blast to engage with and a formula that Obsidian slowly improved with each entry that expanded on these concepts, and interacting with a vast and diverse party as players explored a litany of dungeons made for a great time. It may be a far cry from Diablo 4's refiled hack-and-slash combat, but fans of top-down combat will find a lot to love about Pillars of Eternity.

21 Divinity: Original Sin 2

One Of The Deepest RPG Experiences With A Focus On Tactics And Loot

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the greatest CRPGs of all time, with Larian's improvements in this sequel making it clear why Baldur's Gate 3 was destined for success all along. The epic scope of this RPG coupled with the wealth of content players could access made Original Sin 2 a vast improvement over its predecessor in every way.

The combat of this game is certainly a stark departure from Diablo 4's swift hack-and-slash goodness, but the cerebral goodness of depleting a character's Physical and/or Magical Armour before wreaking havoc on their health is something that fans love. The loot-driven gameplay is also quite reminiscent of Diablo 4 and something that will help fans of this game slowly ease into the rich, layered goodness of Original Sin 2's rich RPG goodness.

20 Baldur's Gate 3

A Rich RPG With An Emphasis On Loot And Character Builds

Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best video games ever made. It's a shining example of what good quality RPGs with amazing writing, branching narratives, and a ton of love can achieve over the many soulless AAA offerings that have soured the landscape of gaming.

Like Diablo 4, the top-down perspective (which does have a ton of flexibility, allowing players to scroll around their surroundings within certain limits), tactical combat, and an emphasis on looting as well as optimizing character builds permeate this wonderful experience. Players will love gathering a party and forming the best strategies to take out the many foes that stand in their way.

19 Lionheart: Legacy Of The Crusader

Excellent Real-Time Combat In A CRPG With One Of The Strongest First Impressions In Gaming

• Launched: 2003
• Developer: Reflexive Entertainment
• Platform: PC

Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader is a huge what-if in the realm of video games, and it's a shame that more people haven't heard of this amazing game. Players were transported to a version of the past with magic steeped in the game world, interacting with real-life personalities like Leonardo da Vinci and William Shakespeare.

The game's intricate opening in Barcelona makes for a great time, and it's a shame that the title ends up devolving into inane madness where players are forced into brutal encounters across tough dungeons over and over again. Still, the Diablo-esque combat has its moments, and the novelty of the game's unique setting is riveting to this day.

18 Lord Of The Rings: War In The North

A Fun RPG With Co-op Support And Classic Hack-and-Slash Gameplay

The studio that created Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 also produced Lord of the Rings: War in the North. Often overlooked by modern standards, the action RPG is one of the best video game adaptations of the Lord of the Rings franchise.

Somewhat comparable to Dark Alliance 2, War in the North is an accessible RPG that isn't bogged down with needless complexities, but there is a lot of depth and flexibility in its mechanics. Furthermore, players can enjoy the game with friends and family in couch co-op action, which adds replayability. The campaign features three playable characters who are all fairly different from each other, allowing the hack-and-slash combat to shine.

17 Warhammer: Chaosbane

An Isometric Action RPG Set In The Warhammer Universe

Chances are, Diablo players are also familiar with Warhammer since the two properties share quite a few things in common. That said, Warhammer has produced roughly a billion games, most of which go unnoticed by anyone who is not a die-hard fan of the tabletop game. Warhammer: Chaosbane is one such title, which is a shame as its awesome hack-and-slash gameplay should entertain most fans of isometric action RPGs, regardless of their familiarity with the overall brand.

Similar to Diablo 4, Chaosbane works brilliantly on PC and consoles, with both sides bringing different positives and strengths to the table. The game's grimdark aesthetic is also very similar to Blizzard's franchise, and Chaosbane's thrilling boss fights would not feel out of place in a Diablo project.

16 Warframe

A Looter Shooter With A Focus On Getting The Best Gear Possible

Loot is a big part of Diablo 4, and a game that also focuses on this is Warframe, a third-person shooter game set in a futuristic world. It's not very similar to Diablo 4 in many other ways, but fans after a slightly different experience should check this game out.

Role-playing games are big business these days, and Warframe has grown into a huge success story over the last decade. Hard as it is to believe considering its generally positive current reception, the third-person action title launched to a fairly tepid initial response, largely thanks to its repetitive structure and corridor-based stages. Digital Extremes spent the next few years improving and expanding the game, resulting in arguably one of the most complete packages in the RPG genre.

Nowadays, Warframe has open-world sections, extensive and addictive lore, and highly entertaining combat that blends shooter and melee elements well. A bonus is that it's free to play and available on the big consoles; therefore, if fans are still aching from the big-money purchase of Diablo 4, this game would be a good one to try next.

15 Justice League Heroes

A Justice League Game With Top-Down Hack-and-Slash Gameplay

Another action RPG using the Dark Alliance engine, Justice League Heroes is the DC equivalent of the Marvel Ultimate Alliance series. Similarly, it allows players to create dream teams featuring their favorite superheroes like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and more.

Like Marvel Ultimate Alliance, fans can switch between characters in solo mode or play it with friends and family in couch co-op modes. In addition to well-known DC heroes, supervillains like Brainiac, Gorilla Grodd, and Killer Frost show up as bosses to fight against.

14 Champions: Return To Arms

A Top-Down Action RPG With Branching Storylines And A Lot Of Gameplay

• Launched: 2005
• Developer: Snowblind Studios
• Platform: PS2

The sequel to Champions of Norath and set in the Everquest universe, Champions: Return to Arms is a PS2 exclusive that runs on Snowblind's Dark Alliance engine. Unlike Everquest, Champions is not an MMORPG but a top-down action RPG where players can fight alone or with friends.

In addition, Champions: Return to Arms features good and evil choices that affect the narrative and mission criteria. Fans of Diablo will appreciate the depth and scope of Champions as the game has over 100 hours of gameplay with branching storylines to enjoy.

13 Hades

An Excellent Roguelite Action Game With Amazing Voice Action And Visual Design

As a Roguelike RPG, Hades is quite different from the Diablo series. However, as one of the best hack-and-slash titles in years, fans will find a lot to enjoy in its unique spin on escaping the bowels of hell.

The comic book-like aesthetic and humor set it apart from Diablo, but the moreish gameplay loop and deep gameplay will keep fans busy for a long time. SuperGiant Games announced that the sequel Hades 2 would launch in Early Access in 2023.

12 The Golden Axe Series

A Legendary Arcade Hack-and-Slash Game

• Launched: 1989
• Developer: Sega
• Platform: Arcade, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad, Commodore 64, Game, IBM, Gear, Genesis/Megadrive, Master System, PC, PC-Engine, PS3, PS4, Switch, Wii Virtual Console, Wonderswan, Xbox 360, Xbox Arcade, Xbox One, and ZX Spectrum.

Inspired by the Sword and Sorcery genre that peaked in the 1980s with classics like Conan the Barbarian, Beast Master, and Willow, Golden Axe had launched to critical acclaim and is celebrated as one of the best hack-and-slash arcade games. Mixing elements from Tolkienesque fantasy and Hyborian Age fantasy books, Golden Axe allows players to choose a barbarian, an Amazonian warrior, and a dwarven fighter.

Despite its age, the Golden Axe trilogy is timeless as a couch co-op classic, and the responsive timing-based gameplay adds a sense of accomplishment. The trilogy is available on the Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox online stores as part of the Sega Vintage Collection and Sega Megadrive/Genesis Classics.

11 Darksiders: Genesis

A Top-Down Action RPG Set In The Darksiders Series

A prequel and a spin-off to the Darksiders series, Darksiders: Genesis is a top-down hack-and-slash action RPG that puts players in the shoes of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Strife. The gameplay is closer to Diablo than its predecessors. It features a two-player couch co-op via a split screen and is a blast with friends or family.

Fans enjoyed a more personal story that focuses on Strife. They appreciated that the game gave players a meaningful look at the Darksiders universe and the events before the first title.

10 Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

A Much-Awaited Third Entry In The Popular Marvel Ultimate Alliance Series With Top-Down Combat

Released in 2019 for the Nintendo Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is a sequel and a reboot for the isometric action RPG series. This entry is more of a soft reboot than a continuation of its predecessors, marking the beginning of a new story in a different universe.

However, even though it is a standalone game taking inspiration from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the core gameplay mechanics remain intact. Ultimate Alliance 3 has faster combat and feels smoother than its predecessors. Fans have several Marvel superheroes to unlock with a deep skill tree to upgrade.

9 Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance Series

Legendary Isometric Action RPGs That Many Fans Have Fond Memories With

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and its sequel launched in 2001 and 2004, respectively. The games are isometric action-RPG spin-offs for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox to Baldur’s Gate series that were only available on the PC then.

Like its PC cousins, Dark Alliance is based in the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons universe, where players can choose a human archer, an elven sorceress, or a dwarven fighter. Dark Alliance 2 added new classes, the human barbarian, a drow monk, a moon-elf necromancer, a dwarven rogue, and a human cleric.

8 Shadows: Awakening

A Competent Diable Clone With Some Unique Twists Of Its Own

• Launched: 2018
• Developer: Games Farm
• Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Launched in 2018, Shadows: Awakening is an action RPG developed and published by Kalypso Media. Awakening is a hack-and-slash Diablo clone with just enough twists and gameplay mechanics to keep it unique.

Players must explore a parallel universe and switch between the Shadow Realm and the natural world to solve puzzles and discover more secrets and loot. Awakening offers a choice of three different characters with distinct storylines. The characters can absorb the souls of 14 characters and seamlessly switch between them while playing.

7 Sacred 2: Fallen Angel

An Open-World Isometric Hack-and-Slash RPG With A Massive World

• Launched: 2009
• Developer: Ascaran
• Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360

Launched in 2008, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an isometric hack-and-slash action RPG. As well as offering similar mechanics to the Diablo series, Sacred 2 takes place in a massive and varied open world that spans 22 square miles.

Players can choose from seven classes the Seraphim, the undead Shadow Warrior, the high elf mage, the Dryad, the ranged warrior, a Temple Guardian, an Inquisitor, and the Dragon Mage. There are two paths to follow, light and dark, depending on the choices made and hundreds of side quests completed.

6 The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing Series

A Diablo Clone Based On Bram Stoker's Dracula

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is an isometric action RPG based on the characters created in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The first title launched on the PC and Xbox One in 2015 and the PlayStation 4 in 2017.

Players take control of the titular Van Helsing, the son of Abraham Van Helsing, the vampire hunter, and Dracula’s arch-nemesis. Van Helsing is a trilogy, but the second game has the best perks and offers an increased level cap and more distinct character classes.

5 Grim Dawn

A Dark Fantasy Top-Down Action RPG Set In The Victorian Era

Grim Dawn was released for the PC in 2016 and developed by Crate Entertainment. The action RPG was successfully created through the use of Kickstarter funding. The game was built using Titan Quest’s PathEngine and used a Gothic-Victorian setting.

Grim Dawn offers players six classes, the Soldier, Demolitionist, Occultist, Nightblade, Arcanist, and Shaman. Players can customize their characters by creating a dual-class with lots of skills to play with. Fans of looting will also find a lot to love with Grim Dawn, as there is a ton to collect, use, or sell.

4 Path Of Exile

A Top-Down RPG With A Ridiculously Massive Skill Tree

Path of Exile was first launched on the PC in 2013. It is an action RPG played from an isometric perspective with a free-to-play model. Contrary to many free-to-play games, Path of Exile has no pay-to-win mechanics, with all purchasable items being for cosmetic use only.

There are six character classes in Path of Exile with unique abilities to choose from the Ranger, the Marauder, the Dualist, the Templar, the Witch, and the Shadow. Path of Exile is packed with things to do, breaking the tradition of the money-grabbing free-to-play genre.