Let's talk about Map Design in PoE2 - or should I say Map Design in Maggot Lair 2?

Guys, I’m done. Completely. Never in my life did I think a game could make me develop claustrophobia, but Path of Exile 2 has pulled it off. Congratulations, Grinding Gear Games. You’ve taken me from an enthusiastic player to a mentally shattered husk in just 150 hours. Bravo.

Let’s talk about map layouts
Why the hell does 80% of this game feel like I’m wandering through the narrowest canyons, the tightest back alleys, and the skinniest corridors imaginable? I don’t play multiplayer, but I can only imagine how utterly miserable it must be trying to group up in these cramped, suffocating areas.

Even the monsters don’t know what to do with these maps. They’re constantly getting stuck, glitching out, or awkwardly shuffling around like they just realized they’re in the wrong room. Even the league mechanics like ritual and breach aren't really working out on most maps. How do I even complete a ritual in a small corridor? Did anyone playtest this? Or did the devs all collectively decide, “Yeah, we love hallways so much, let’s make an entire game out of them.”

And then there’s the combat. Tell me, how am I supposed to dodge stacked AoE one-shot mechanics on a 1x1 meter square of free space? Am I playing a hardcore ARPG or trying to win Twister on a tile the size of a postage stamp?

I can’t take it anymore. I’m so done. I’m tired of grinding through the Atlas, forcing myself to play map after map that feels like absolute torture, just to find the occasional gem like Savannah, Streaming Springs, or Sandpit. But those? They’re the exception. At least half the maps feel like they were designed by someone who thought “fun” was optional.

Don’t even get me started on backtracking. It’s been talked to death, and rightfully so. But combine that with these claustrophobic layouts, and the whole experience feels less like a game and more like a slow, grueling punishment.

What were they thinking?
Honestly, did the devs just collectively agree that tiny, narrow corridors were a good idea? Were they all hobbits who feel at home in cramped spaces? Or did they think, “Hey, remember that Act 2 Maggot Lair level from Diablo 2? Yeah, it was annoying as hell but kind of memorable because it was unique. Let’s base our entire game around that vibe.”

Well, congrats, GGG. You’ve given me Diablo 2 Maggot Lair PTSD, wrapped in 150 hours of a love-hate relationship that’s finally soured beyond repair.

So long, and thanks for the claustrophobia
Look, I’ve had good times with Path of Exile 2. Truly, I have. But the map design? It’s the hill I’m dying on. After 150 hours, I’m tapping out.

Take care, exiles. I’ll see you all in the full release. Maybe. If they’ve added some damn breathing room by then.