Path of Exile 2 Early Access Review: A Game-Changer with a Few Frustrations

Let me start by saying that Path of Exile 2 in Early Access is absolutely amazing. As a long-time Diablo player, I didn’t think another game could hook me as deeply, but PoE 2 managed to blow my expectations out of the water. The gameplay is engaging, the mechanics are fresh, and the sheer depth of content makes this one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I’ve had in years. It’s packed with innovation and challenges that keep you on your toes, and the gritty atmosphere combined with the intricate skill system is nothing short of addictive.

That said, no game is perfect, and PoE 2 has its share of rough edges. While I’m still having a blast, there are a few issues that really frustrate me:

The Frustrating Block Mechanics

One of my biggest gripes is how easily you can get blocked by other players or their skills. This becomes especially annoying when you’re in a group, and a teammate uses a skill that creates a massive wall spanning the map. If you’re unlucky, you can find yourself stuck in a corner, forced to destroy the wall before you can continue—or worse, left scrambling to find a way around. This problem extends to simply running into teammates during mapping or leveling; it disrupts the flow of combat and exploration in ways that are more annoying than immersive.


Getting Cornered by Mobs

Despite some changes to mob behavior and hitboxes, there are still situations where you get completely cornered by enemies with no viable way to escape. It’s incredibly frustrating to be trapped, especially when you don’t have the tools or skills to get out. And let’s face it, 90% of the time, you don’t. In these moments, you’re left with no option but to accept defeat, which feels more like a design oversight than a challenge.


Losing Waystones After Dying

This one is particularly frustrating: when you die—especially in those situations where you get cornered—you lose the entire waystone you’ve activated. To me, this doesn’t make sense. Losing progress because of a mistake or tough battle is fine, but completely losing the waystone is overly punishing and discourages risk-taking. It makes those deaths feel even more unfair, especially when cornering mechanics leave you no chance to escape.


Ascension Respec and Costs

Another big issue is the current state of ascension respeccing. The inability to fully respect your choices is baffling, and the cost associated with partial respeccing is absurd. Just today, I tried to change a few points and ended up paying over 300k currency, only to realize I hadn’t even reset everything. This kind of mechanic feels unnecessarily punishing and discourages experimentation, which is a big part of what makes ARPGs fun in the first place.


Final Thoughts Even with these issues, Path of Exile 2 has me completely hooked. Grinding Gear Games has delivered a game that’s exciting, complex, and deeply rewarding.

indeed