Still the most relaxing ARPG around

Just putting this out there as a long time fan of the original Diablo series (Diablo 1 + Diablo 2 + end-product Diablo 3), Grim Dawn, and PoE. Each of them offered me something different and each were a ride in their own ways, with PoE for design reasons being the one that I sunk the most time in. But Last Epoch was unique — more so since it was not special because of some specific mechanic but the combined effect of all the systems that give it such a no-nonsense high QoL feeling from the start. 

It’s the easiest one for me to play what you’d call “casually” – just slide in, and in 9.5/10 cases end up with a fun custom build that would have the most unexpected synergies. The respeccing is fairly easy and though it’s a hassle sometimes, it also gives me that window to experiment with other abilities and make micro-changes… I don’t really ever look up builds either, one of the rare ARPGs I don’t, just because of how fun it is, how rewarding to discover what works and doesn’t yourself. You also rarely get punished for any way you chose to spec in the main campaign, so I guess that’s what gives it that free-flowing feeling. 

I know some people don’t like this almost “consequence-fee” ride until the end-game, but I actually grew to like it a lot. In the end, it does take skill, and knowledge – but it’s not shoveled down your throat from the start. That’s the main part of what makes LE specifically so relaxing aside from the blissful grindfest to music that all ARPGs I play take a part in. 

But for some reason I can’t fathom, LE took the cake in the end as my go-to “chill game”, and become even more so since I saw how much PoE2 diverged from the classic formula … in a good way, yes, but also in a weird way that makes me long for that same classic format by the time I’m done with it. Sigh… I just want that major content expansion to drop already :(