I went into Path of Exile 2 expecting a familiar grind, but it still caught me off guard. Wraeclast is back, mean as ever, only now it's sharper and easier to read without losing that nasty, cursed feel. Muddy coastlines, broken temples, things whispering in the dark—you get the idea. If you're the type who likes to smooth out the early slog, it helps to know where to gear up; as a...

Booting up Path of Exile 2 for the first time, you can tell within minutes that this isn't trying to be a light upgrade. It's harsher, smarter, and way more demanding. Even players who already know the genre well will need a bit of time to adjust. That's part of the appeal, really. The game throws you into systems that feel huge at first, and if you're the sort who likes planning ahead, chasing...