[[2026 Games]] ![|500](https://cdn2.steamgriddb.com/thumb/71c46aef15c9997a5bd7e70b65a720dd.jpg) ## 2026-05-16 I’ve written about my fascination with [[ARPGs and the People who Love them too Much]], and I thought back on it a lot after playing the new **Diablo IV** expansion for the past 60 hours. This is the best **Diablo IV** has ever been, to the point where I’m actually participating in the end-game for the first time and enjoying it quite a lot. But I know my time with it will end eventually. Once I get a season’s worth of play out of it, will I come back again? I doubt it — there just doesn’t seem to be a big enough change between seasons, compared to between expansions. What stuck out to me more than anything else in this expansion, named **Lord of Hatred**, wasn’t the improved character building or streamlined end-game progression, however. It was the *story*. I have to commend Blizzard for somehow getting me to care very deeply about **Diablo**’s setting and characters. The campaign of **LoH** features some of this company’s best writing and cutscene direction, and ended on par with the quality of **FFXIV: Shadowbringers**: the **Kingdom Hearts II** of game expansions.[^1] The expansion was worth the price of admission for this alone. The other thing that made this experience so enjoyable were the boss fights. I’m sure this changes deep into end-game, but **Lord of Hatred**’s MSQ requires you to actually pay attention, lest you die. There are MMO-like mechanics to consider, from dodging AOEs to remembering the attack patterns of bosses so you can time your attacks during the openings. For a genre known for its mindlessness, it was a nice change of pace. I’ve always *enjoyed* **Diablo** as a series, but never would have considered myself an active fan. **DIV:LoH** changed that — I’m now actually looking forward to playing more, partying to complete dungeons with my friends, and see how far I can take my Spiritborn with a homebrewed build. Unlike the fans I mentioned in the post above, I doubt I’ll love it enough to keep playing season after season, but I’ll definitely be there for whatever expansion comes next. [^1]If this doesn’t make sense don’t worry about it. If you know you know. Just know it’s good.