Diablo 4 Review: A Beautiful Letdown That Lives in Diablo 2’s Shadow

the honesty index diablo 4 review

Fun Fact: Diablo 2 didn’t just define the action RPG genre—it practically built it. Released in 2000, it was brutal, rewarding, and addictive in all the best ways. With layered systems, deep class builds, and a perfectly tuned loot grind, it set the bar so high that most games today are still trying to catch up.


the honesty index diablo 4 review

So when Diablo 4 came along with all the right buzzwords—open world, dark gothic tone, rich lore, seasonal content—players had hope. A new era, maybe? A return to the throne? Sadly, no.

What we got instead is a gorgeous game that feels more like a surface-level remix of better ARPGs. It’s polished, yes. Pretty, absolutely. But meaningful? Not really. In this Diablo 4 review we will give an honest and unbiased look at the game.



🎮 Diablo 4 Is Built for the Casuals, Not the Classics

If you’re brand new to the genre—or just looking for a smooth experience with cool cinematics and easy loot—Diablo 4 works fine. The campaign is decent, the controls are sharp, and the visuals are some of the best in any ARPG to date. You can pick it up, swing an axe, cast some spells, and feel powerful quickly.

But if you came here for the long haul—for the Diablo 2 levels of buildcraft, experimentation, theorycrafting, and endgame longevity—you’re going to be disappointed fast.

Class diversity is shallow. Every Sorcerer starts to feel like every other Sorcerer by level 50. The skill trees look complex, but they don’t really allow for unique identity or deep expression. By the time you hit the endgame, you’re not building a character—you’re checking boxes from a Reddit post.


🧟 No Soul in the Endgame

Diablo 4’s biggest flaw is its hollow endgame. The loop feels like busywork: repeat dungeons, grind meaningless stats, hope the next patch brings something worthwhile. Compare that to Path of Exile or even Last Epoch—games that actually reward long-term play—and Diablo 4 just doesn’t hold up.

Even the ladder system, which should be a hook, feels like an afterthought. Seasons arrive, but they rarely reinvent or add substance. The challenge is missing. The thrill of experimentation is missing. The game keeps going… but the excitement doesn’t.


💸 Blizzard Isn’t the Same

Let’s be real. This isn’t the Blizzard that gave us StarCraft, Warcraft 3, or Diablo 2. That studio cared about innovation, risk, and crafting genre-defining experiences.

Today’s Blizzard feels corporate, risk-averse, and safe. And it shows.

Monetization is aggressive. Skins, mounts, and seasonal passes all feel baked in from the start. When players have to pay full price, then get nudged into a cosmetic cash shop immediately afterward, it sends a message—and it’s not a good one.

Let’s face it you are lucky to spend less than $100 for any blizzard product in 2025.


🧠 What Players Are Really Saying

Yes, Diablo 4 has a “Mostly Positive” rating on Steam, but a closer look tells a different story. Many of the positive reviews have 20–29 hours logged—meaning they’ve barely scratched the surface before bailing. A large chunk of the fanbase is already heading back to Diablo 2: Resurrected, reluctantly buying a remaster of a game they already owned because, frankly, it’s just better.

And sure, the game isn’t terrible. It’s not a disaster. But it’s also not the game we were promised. It’s not the game Blizzard should’ve made. And it’s definitely not the spiritual successor to Diablo 2 we were all hoping for.


💥 KHI Score Breakdown: Diablo 4 Review Where It Falls Short

Let’s not sugarcoat it—this game is not the second coming of Diablo 2. This is a Diablo 4 review that is honest.

🕹️ Gameplay (20/35)

Combat is satisfying, no doubt. The visuals and flow of battle feel amazing. But it’s the lack of class expression and a hollow endgame that hurts most. There’s no real incentive to experiment or grind when everything starts to feel the same. Compared to Path of Exile or Last Epoch, the progression is paper-thin. Hardcore ARPG players are walking away fast.

🎨 Graphics & Art (20/20)

Now here’s where it shines. Visually stunning with dark, detailed environments that scream Diablo. It’s brooding, immersive, and modern in all the best ways. You’ll screenshot every cursed chapel and flaming portal.

✍️ Story & Writing (10/15)

Lilith is a compelling villain, and voice acting is strong across the board. But the writing? Mid. There are moments of depth, but they fade fast once the grind begins.

🔊 Sound & Music (10/10)

Sound design hits every note with satisfying crunches and ambient dread. The soundtrack sets the mood, even if it doesn’t stick in your head like Diablo 2’s Tristram theme.

💰 Content & Value (4/10)

You get content, but not the kind you want. A lot of filler. Some players are clocking 20-29 hours and calling it a day. Then there’s the aggressive microtransactions—because apparently $70+ just isn’t enough.

💡 Innovation & Impact (3/10)

An open-world ARPG sounds awesome on paper. In practice? It’s a big world with little payoff. Nothing here pushes the genre forward. If anything, it makes you miss the tight, purposeful design of Diablo 2 even more.


🎯 Final Thoughts: Looks Great, Plays Fine, But Lacks Heart

At the end of the day, This Diablo 4 review finds that Diablo 4 is like a Hollywood reboot—flashy, fun for a while, but hollow once the credits roll. It’s a game built to impress visually, but not to last.

If you’re new to the series or not looking for depth, you’ll probably enjoy your time in Sanctuary. But if you’re a veteran who remembers staying up until 3 a.m. grinding Baal runs in Diablo 2, you’re likely to uninstall and move on.

KHI Score: 67/100

Some notes so we are on the same page

We understand this Diablo 4 review is tough because Diablo 4 is a beloved title, almost all the games blizzard has made have become cherished by many. Some are even titles that have carried a playerbase for 20+ years.

We understand that the things we write might be unsettling or annoying to some of these hardcore fans.

The main issue is the same as World of warcraft, during the rise at it’s speak it was a giant during the days of wrath of the lich king. Many people after this point would leave in the millions.

In this diablo 4 review, we are not by any means saying diablo 4 is a “bad game” but we need to point out the issues and not be blind to them in order to maintain we are an unbiased REAL reviews company that says the real truth without any bullshit.

I get it sucks, and I understand losing something you love hurts, but in the end blizzard isn’t the same company as it was and at least you have memories to look back on fondly.

Many people I talk to lately can only tell me about the fun times they had BEFORE new blizzard not a lot of them can seem to tell me how they had fun “today” which is why this review is the way it is.

Some truths have to be accepted so we can move on and grow from them. By no means would we ever advocate for you to abandon a game you love, that’s half this sites main purpose is to advocate for the people to find things they are passionate about.


Look at other review sites and see for yourself, what others are saying.

Also See:
Avowed Review – Obsidian’s Epic RPG Worth the Hype?
Black Myth: Wukong Review – A Mythical Masterpiece or Overhyped Spectacle?

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