Genre Change Too Much For Me

I’ve spent about 7 hours with Path of Exile 2, and while I was beyond excited to dive in, I’ve ultimately come away disappointed. The game is undeniably high quality—the graphics are stunning, the atmosphere is incredible, and the revamped systems like gear, sockets, skill trees, and gems are fantastic improvements over PoE1. However, for me, the actual gameplay loop is where it all falls apart.

First, let’s talk difficulty. Path of Exile 2 feels like it’s trying to be a Souls-like game, and that’s just not what I—or many others—play ARPGs for. Boss fights are punishing, requiring perfect dodge rolls and flawless mechanics to avoid being one-shot. Even when I managed to beat a tough boss, I didn’t feel any sense of accomplishment or satisfaction. Instead, I felt frustrated and hollow because that’s just not why I play these types of games. I’m here for exploration, character building, loot, and experimenting with mechanics—not being forced to “git gud” at dodging in the campaign.

Another issue is the pacing. The campaign feels slow and tedious, with spongy enemies that take too long to kill and huge gaps between meaningful progression. Combine that with underwhelming loot drops (scrolls and gold from a boss fight? Really?), and it just feels like a grind with very little reward. The need to dodge constantly as a fragile sorcerer only exacerbates this, especially when using a controller, where auto-aiming can fail if you’re too far from a target. It’s a frustrating, clunky experience.

What makes it worse is the contradiction between the game’s accessibility goals and its difficulty. GGG clearly worked hard to make systems like skill gems and sockets more approachable, which is great, but then they made the gameplay brutally difficult, even in Act 1. It’s a confusing design choice that feels like it’s pushing away new players while alienating casual fans of PoE1 who loved the flexibility and approachability of its campaign.

Ultimately, Path of Exile 2 feels like it’s trying to cater to the hardcore “no mistakes allowed” crowd while leaving behind those of us who play ARPGs to relax and experiment. If you love games like Dark Souls and thrive on high mechanical difficulty, you might love this. But if you’re like me and value planning, strategy, and loot over moment-to-moment gameplay, this might not be the game for you.

I’m stepping away for now. Maybe GGG will address the feedback they’re getting and rebalance the game before launch, but as it stands, Path of Exile 2 doesn’t respect the reasons I fell in love with ARPGs—and that’s a huge disappointment.

For the type of game YOU want there is POE1. We, the rest of the peopel that tried POE1 and got bored and left are waiting decades for a game like POE2. Stop trying to steal OUR game.. you already have yours.

Please, leave us with our PoE2 and come back to PoE1.
Everyone will be happy. Thanks.

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Urza_Mechwalker#7393 wrote:

For the type of game YOU want there is POE1. We, the rest of the peopel that tried POE1 and got bored and left are waiting decades for a game like POE2. Stop trying to steal OUR game.. you already have yours.

PoE2 isn’t “your” game, or anyone else’s for that matter—it’s a new release that’s still in early access and open to feedback from the entire community, not just those who happen to like its current state. Dismissing constructive criticism as “stealing your game” is ridiculous, especially on a feedback forum where the whole point is to discuss how the game can improve for everyone.

I’ve been playing PoE1 for nearly a decade, so the assumption that it’s “there for me” and I should just go back to it misses the point. I actually like a lot of what PoE2 is doing—its revamped systems like gems, sockets, and progression fix many of PoE1’s weaknesses. However, the mechanical execution of bosses in PoE2, especially the reliance on dodge rolls and punishing design, doesn’t align with what I (and others) enjoy about ARPGs. PoE1 and PoE2 both have strengths and flaws, but there’s no “perfect” version of the game for me in their current forms.

Lastly, gatekeeping like this on a feedback forum is toxic and unnecessary. If you enjoy PoE2 as it is, that’s great—but trying to shut down feedback from others who want the game to improve for everyone is completely against the purpose of this space.

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egervari#7076 wrote:

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Urza_Mechwalker#7393 wrote:

For the type of game YOU want there is POE1. We, the rest of the peopel that tried POE1 and got bored and left are waiting decades for a game like POE2. Stop trying to steal OUR game.. you already have yours.

PoE2 isn’t “your” game, or anyone else’s for that matter—it’s a new release that’s still in early access and open to feedback from the entire community, not just those who happen to like its current state. Dismissing constructive criticism as “stealing your game” is ridiculous, especially on a feedback forum where the whole point is to discuss how the game can improve for everyone.

I’ve been playing PoE1 for nearly a decade, so the assumption that it’s “there for me” and I should just go back to it misses the point. I actually like a lot of what PoE2 is doing—its revamped systems like gems, sockets, and progression fix many of PoE1’s weaknesses. However, the mechanical execution of bosses in PoE2, especially the reliance on dodge rolls and punishing design, doesn’t align with what I (and others) enjoy about ARPGs. PoE1 and PoE2 both have strengths and flaws, but there’s no “perfect” version of the game for me in their current forms.

Lastly, gatekeeping like this on a feedback forum is toxic and unnecessary. If you enjoy PoE2 as it is, that’s great—but trying to shut down feedback from others who want the game to improve for everyone is completely against the purpose of this space.

it is made for a DIFFERENT public. That is clear as day. There would be zero logic to keep 2 separate games if they wanted to target same audience.

I am not gatekeeping anything. I am trying to avoid people that prefer POE1 from destroying the great thing POE2 is. IF you like POE2.. come and play, but stop tryign to make it POE1 as POE1 already exists!

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Urza_Mechwalker#7393 wrote:

For the type of game YOU want there is POE1. We, the rest of the peopel that tried POE1 and got bored and left are waiting decades for a game like POE2. Stop trying to steal OUR game.. you already have yours.

Maybe you shouldn't be in a feedback forum if you don't like to hear different opinions from your own. Honest advice

Agree with OP.

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Urza_Mechwalker#7393 wrote:

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egervari#7076 wrote:

"

Urza_Mechwalker#7393 wrote:

For the type of game YOU want there is POE1. We, the rest of the peopel that tried POE1 and got bored and left are waiting decades for a game like POE2. Stop trying to steal OUR game.. you already have yours.

PoE2 isn’t “your” game, or anyone else’s for that matter—it’s a new release that’s still in early access and open to feedback from the entire community, not just those who happen to like its current state. Dismissing constructive criticism as “stealing your game” is ridiculous, especially on a feedback forum where the whole point is to discuss how the game can improve for everyone.

I’ve been playing PoE1 for nearly a decade, so the assumption that it’s “there for me” and I should just go back to it misses the point. I actually like a lot of what PoE2 is doing—its revamped systems like gems, sockets, and progression fix many of PoE1’s weaknesses. However, the mechanical execution of bosses in PoE2, especially the reliance on dodge rolls and punishing design, doesn’t align with what I (and others) enjoy about ARPGs. PoE1 and PoE2 both have strengths and flaws, but there’s no “perfect” version of the game for me in their current forms.

Lastly, gatekeeping like this on a feedback forum is toxic and unnecessary. If you enjoy PoE2 as it is, that’s great—but trying to shut down feedback from others who want the game to improve for everyone is completely against the purpose of this space.

it is made for a DIFFERENT public. That is clear as day. There would be zero logic to keep 2 separate games if they wanted to target same audience.

I am not gatekeeping anything. I am trying to avoid people that prefer POE1 from destroying the great thing POE2 is. IF you like POE2.. come and play, but stop tryign to make it POE1 as POE1 already exists!

It would be highly logical to target fans of the original game and provide an experience that they would enjoy. That way you could retain your established audience and get more money.

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egervari#7076 wrote:

"

Urza_Mechwalker#7393 wrote:

For the type of game YOU want there is POE1. We, the rest of the peopel that tried POE1 and got bored and left are waiting decades for a game like POE2. Stop trying to steal OUR game.. you already have yours.

PoE2 isn’t “your” game, or anyone else’s for that matter—it’s a new release that’s still in early access and open to feedback from the entire community, not just those who happen to like its current state. Dismissing constructive criticism as “stealing your game” is ridiculous, especially on a feedback forum where the whole point is to discuss how the game can improve for everyone.

I’ve been playing PoE1 for nearly a decade, so the assumption that it’s “there for me” and I should just go back to it misses the point. I actually like a lot of what PoE2 is doing—its revamped systems like gems, sockets, and progression fix many of PoE1’s weaknesses. However, the mechanical execution of bosses in PoE2, especially the reliance on dodge rolls and punishing design, doesn’t align with what I (and others) enjoy about ARPGs. PoE1 and PoE2 both have strengths and flaws, but there’s no “perfect” version of the game for me in their current forms.

Lastly, gatekeeping like this on a feedback forum is toxic and unnecessary. If you enjoy PoE2 as it is, that’s great—but trying to shut down feedback from others who want the game to improve for everyone is completely against the purpose of this space.

With your feedbacks you're trying to change the DNA of the NEW game, which is called PoE2. And myself, who're not enjoying shooter-rpg-game like PoE1, don't want any changes that will transform PoE2 to more game like PoE1.

Your argument that PoE2 is "made for a DIFFERENT public" misses the bigger picture. As a sequel in a long-running franchise, PoE2 carries an expectation to build on what made the original successful, not to alienate its core audience—or even the broader ARPG audience. If GGG wanted to create something fundamentally different, moving into a completely new genre, then launching a new franchise would have made far more sense than presenting this as the next chapter in Path of Exile’s legacy.

I’m not asking for PoE2 to be a clone of PoE1. I actually appreciate many of the improvements in PoE2, like the revamped systems for gems, sockets, and progression, which address weaknesses in PoE1. My feedback is focused on aspects of the game—like the overly punishing boss mechanics and reliance on dodge rolls—that feel disconnected from the spirit of the genre. These changes aren’t just different; they’re jarring for players who have supported this franchise for nearly a decade and expect it to stay true to its roots.

Trying to dismiss feedback by saying "PoE1 already exists" is unhelpful and toxic. A sequel should naturally evolve the series while respecting what made its predecessors resonate with players. As for gatekeeping, trying to dismiss feedback as “destroying the great thing PoE2 is” is exactly that. Feedback isn’t about tearing the game down—it’s about making it better for a broader audience. Nobody’s asking for PoE2 to regress; we’re asking for a version of the game that respects the diversity of the community it’s meant to serve.