TheDiablofranchise is of the most popular APRG series ever made, featuring hack-and-slash combat that hooks in casual and hardcore players alike. From deep build crafting to an endless quest for the perfect piece of gear, the appeal of Diablo is universal.
Related:Diablo 4: Which Class Should You Play?
If you’ve playedDiablo 3and you’re on the fence aboutDiablo 4, or maybe you’ve never played a Diablo game and you’re looking for a good place to start, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ll take a look at a few key aspects of each game, and figure out which one is better: Diablo 3 or Diablo 4?
6Story - Diablo 4
The Diablo universe has some great lore that is expanded upon in each of its entries. Diablo 3’s story is widely regarded as the worst in the series, with poor writing and characters that take themselves too seriously.
That said, and although it may not mean much, Diablo 4 has a way better story than its predecessor. Lilith is a compelling villain, and figuring out her plan for Sanctuary by following her trail is intriguing. If you’re playing Diablo purely for the story, Diablo 4 is definitely the better choice.
5Gameplay - Both
Combat is probably the most important thing to get right in an ARPG. After all, it’s the thing you’ll be spending the most time doing. If the game isn’t fun to play, there really isn’t any point in chasing skill points or legendary items. Of course, you won’t have to worry about that in Diablo 3 or 4.
Both games have excellent, satisfying combat, but are still quite different from each other. Diablo 3 is faster-paced and flashy; at higher levels, you can blow up entire screens of enemies with the click of a button. Diablo 4, on the other hand, is slower and more methodical, where each encounter takes a bit more time and planning.
Ultimately, which game has the better combat and gameplay depends on your personal preference. If you enjoy faster-paced gameplay, Diablo 3 is better. Or, if you prefer to take your time, Diablo 4 delivers the better experience.
4Gear - Diablo 4
Gear is one of the most important aspects of any ARPG. Your gear enables your build, and is the thing you are also striving to upgrade. So, which game does gear better? Overall, Diablo 4 has better gear choices and more interesting stats, providing a more satisfying quest for the perfect item.
Related:Diablo 4: Build Tier List
With the higher number of damage stats available in Diablo 4, each build on each class will want a different combination of stats, unlike Diablo 3, where every build essentially uses the same three or four stats. However, if this is more appealing to you, Diablo 3 may be the better choice.
3Multiplayer - Diablo 4
One of the great parts about the Diablo series is the ability to party up with other players. Fighting against hordes of demons with your friends is a selling point for a lot of players, so the multiplayer experience is definitely worth comparing.
In Diablo 3, you can create parties of four players to take on any content in the game; from completing the story to grinding Rifts, everything can be done in a party.
Diablo 4 features MMO aspects like seeing other players in the open world and in towns, and you may even fight monsters and complete random events together. Additionally, you can party up in groups of four to play together. Diablo 4 also has cross-platform play, so you can play with players on different platforms.
2Endgame - Both
The endgame content is why a lot of players invest their time into Diablo after clearing the campaign. While it may be too early to say, considering Diablo 4 just launched and hasn’t had its first season yet, the endgame content that is there is enough to keep players busy for a while.
In Diablo 3, endgame content revolves around progressing through Greater Rifts. These randomized dungeons scale in difficulty the higher you progress, but offer more and better rewards.
Diablo 4’s endgame content is multifaceted. Nightmare dungeons are comparable to Rifts, offering a dungeon that scales in difficulty as you progress. Additionally, world bosses are present that represent massive fights for multiple players to tackle together, with rare loot awaiting those who succeed.
Overall, which game has better endgame content ultimately comes down to preference. Whether you enjoy the constant grind of Diablo 3’s Greater Rifts, or the immersive exploration of Diablo 4’s Nightmare Dungeons and world bosses, there’s a ton of content in both games.
1Verdict - Diablo 4
Overall, Diablo 4 is a better game than Diablo 3. While not perfect, it fixes some of Diablo 3’s downsides like its story and gear, while offering different and unique experiences to other games in the series.
Diablo 4 is a more methodical experience, requiring more build planning and thinking about items as you level up compared to Diablo 3.On the other hand, Diablo 3 is faster and easier to get into the endgame, but doesn’t leave a whole lot left to experiment with. Both are great games and entries in the Diablo series, but if you’re able to only play one, Diablo 4 is the one to choose.
