Path of Exile 2 cover art

Path of Exile 2

A demanding action RPG where deliberate execution and deep build optimisation meet layered crafting variance.

On Steam ↗
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION6 /10READS1 /10VARIANCE6 /10OPTIMIZATION9 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    6/10

    Slower, more deliberate combat raises the mechanical precision demand

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    1/10

    PvE only; bosses are scripted, not adaptive

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    6/10

    Drop systems and crafting RNG remain central to the experience

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    9/10

    Build theory and passive tree navigation reward deep system knowledge

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

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Game details

Released
2024
Developer
Grinding Gear Games
Platforms
Series X|S, PC, PS5, Mac
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
IGDB users
88/100
Role-playing (RPG)Hack and slash/Beat 'em upAdventureActionFantasy