Path of Exile 2 is an action RPG from New Zealand studio Grinding Gear Games. It’s the sequel to Path of Exile, with a new combat system, eight classes and a huge passive tree. The game has been in early access since December 6, 2024 and is currently at version 0.5.5e. Full version 1.0 is due on December 11, 2026 as free-to-play. So we’re rating the early access state as of October 21, 2026, not a finished game.
Review
Path of Exile 2
Already one of the best action RPGs in early access: tough boss fights, deep builds and crossplay. But it’s an unfinished game, the campaign is missing its final two acts, and for now you pay for access. We’re rating its state as of October 21, 2026.
- Genre
- Action RPG
- Developer
- Grinding Gear Games
- Release
- Early access since December 6, 2024; version 1.0 announced for December 11, 2026
- Platforms
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Price
- €27.75 / $29.99 on Steam (Early Access Supporter Pack); free from 1.0
- Co-op
- Online up to 6 players, crossplay
What works
- Fights against more than 100 bosses where dodging and positioning matter
- A huge passive tree and support gems for your own builds
- Crossplay and shared progression on PC, PS5 and Xbox
- Big updates for free, no paid expansions
What doesn’t
- Early access: the campaign is missing its final two acts
- You pay for access for now, free only from December 11, 2026
- Difficulty and complexity can put newcomers off
- No offline mode
Rated on player reception as of October 21, 2026 (early access, version 0.5.5e) · Steam 75.1% positive (227,450 reviews) · Metacritic no score (game in early access)
What Path of Exile 2 is about
You pick one of eight classes: Warrior, Ranger, Huntress, Mercenary, Monk, Sorceress, Witch or Druid. But the class is only a starting point. Active skills come from skill gems, and you can modify each one with up to five support gems. According to Steam, the passive tree has 1,500 skills, and in the second act, after the Trial of the Sekhemas, you choose an ascendancy, a class specialisation with its own small tree.
Every campaign area ends with a boss fight, and according to Steam there are over 100 bosses in the game. After the campaign comes the endgame on the Atlas and leagues, where you start with a new character and a new economy. You can play alone or in online co-op for up to six players. How to get started is in our beginner’s guide.
Early access state as of October 21, 2026
The current version is 0.5.5e from October 6, 2026. The Forbidden Rites event league and the Runes of Aldur challenge league from May’s Return of the Ancients update are running, and both end with the 1.0 release. Owners of access get big updates for free. On December 11, 2026, version 1.0 is set to add the ninth class, the Duelist, and the final two acts of the campaign, and the game will be free from then on. What we know about the full version is in our full release guide, and how leagues work in our leagues guide.
What critics praise and what bothers players
Metacritic doesn’t give the game a score yet because it’s in early access. The reviews listed there were written in December 2024 when early access started. IGN praises the redefined action and surprisingly fleshed-out endgame, even in its predictably rocky early access state. Destructoid writes that even in its current state, Path of Exile 2 has set a new bar for the ARPG genre. Jeuxvideo.com called it more accessible and better looking than the first game, but still a complex old-school game whose difficulty can discourage newcomers.
Players on Steam are more cautious. The game has 75.1% positive out of 227,450 reviews, which is Mostly Positive. The 7/10 score is based on player ratings alone, because Metacritic has no score, and it rates the early access state. It may change after 1.0 launches.
Crossplay, platforms and Steam Deck
The game runs on PC through its own client, Steam or Epic, on PS5 and on Xbox Series X|S. According to Grinding Gear Games, it has full cross-play and cross-progression on all supported platforms. Mac and Linux aren’t supported. Since September 24, 2026 the game has been Steam Deck Verified. There’s no offline mode; you only play online. The details are in our crossplay guide.
Price and requirements
Until version 1.0 you can only play with an access pack. On Steam the Early Access Supporter Pack costs €27.75 / $29.99 and also includes 300 points for the cosmetic shop. The shop is cosmetic only, and Grinding Gear Games promises the game won’t be pay-to-win. From December 11, 2026 Path of Exile 2 will be free. Prices on all platforms are in our price guide.
The minimum is a GTX 960 with 3 GB of VRAM and 8 GB of RAM, with an RTX 2060 and 16 GB of RAM recommended, and you’ll need 100 GB of space. More in our system requirements.
Who Path of Exile 2 is for (and who it isn’t)
It’s for you if you enjoy action RPGs where you build your own character from a huge tree and gems, and you don’t mind tough boss fights. You can also play with friends in co-op and across platforms.
Skip it if you want a finished game with the whole story. And if you don’t want to pay for early access, wait until December 11, 2026, when the game is set to launch for free.
Verdict: Is Path of Exile 2 worth it?
Yes, if you love action RPGs and don’t mind an unfinished game. If you’re not in a hurry, wait for the free version 1.0. We’re giving it 7/10.
Even in early access, critics count Path of Exile 2 among the best action RPGs, and players rate it mostly positively. Points come off for the unfinished campaign, paid access before full release and the high difficulty. We’re rating its state as of October 21, 2026; the score may change after 1.0 launches.
Playing Path of Exile 2? All our guides are on the Path of Exile 2 hub. Start with the beginner’s guide, and our full release guide covers what version 1.0 brings. You can find party members on the GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
We’re giving it 7 out of 10 for its early access state as of October 21, 2026. The score is based on player ratings on Steam, 75.1% positive out of 227,450 reviews. Metacritic doesn’t score the game while it’s in early access.
Not yet. Until version 1.0 you can only play with an access pack; on Steam the Early Access Supporter Pack costs €27.75 / $29.99 (price as of October 21, 2026). From December 11, 2026 the game is set to be free-to-play.
Grinding Gear Games has announced full version 1.0 for December 11, 2026 (PST). It adds the Duelist class and the final two acts of the campaign.
Yes. According to Grinding Gear Games it has full cross-play and cross-progression on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Online co-op supports up to six players.
Yes, it has been Steam Deck Verified since September 24, 2026. Mac and Linux aren’t supported.
No. The game requires an internet connection and has no offline mode.
This review is based on player ratings on Steam, on early access reviews from IGN, Destructoid and Jeuxvideo.com on Metacritic, and on official information from Grinding Gear Games. Information verified on October 21, 2026. All our guides to the game are on the Path of Exile 2 hub.