The Ultimate Difficulty Ranking of Every Diablo Game: Prepare for Legendary Challenges!

There are few video game series that have endured for decades, surpassing different console generations and even imitations of their original works. Blizzard's Diablo series has achieved exactly that. The first game in the series was released in 1997, with the most recent installment, Diablo 4, hitting the shelves in June 2023. Blizzard has made numerous improvements to the original concept that contributed to the series' success, but ultimately, Diablo consistently differentiates itself from its competitors.

One element that contributes to the popularity of the Diablo games is their fluctuating difficulty level. They can make players feel invincible, capable of obliterating enemies, only to present a formidable adversary that can deplete their health in mere seconds. Not all Diablo games are equal in this regard; some are almost too effortless to beat, while others challenge players right from the start.

5 Diablo 3

While there may be some debate over the other games in the franchise, it is widely agreed that Diablo 3 is the easiest entry by a significant margin. Many logistical issues and poorly designed mechanics affected the economy and late-game aspects of Diablo 3, but despite continuous updates from Blizzard over the years, the game remains incredibly easy to play.

Blizzard introduced a multitude of new classes to Diablo 3's roster, and each one can easily become a formidable force with little planning required from the player. Enemy mobs come at a rapid and relentless pace, often filled with both regular enemies and elites. However, players rarely have to worry about their health pool, as these enemies can be swiftly dealt with. There are a few boss fights that increase the level of challenge to some extent, but overall, players seldom feel that their skills are truly being put to the test.

4 Diablo Immortal

Blizzard's mobile release Diablo Immortal may deserve a higher ranking on this list. It offers four difficulty levels, with the toughest one being unlocked only after hours of play. However, players may encounter frustrating difficulty spikes that veer beyond being challenging. The game's excessive monetization undermines the authenticity of any difficulty players face.

The reason behind this is that, for the most part, players can easily overcome any challenge by spending money. Although it's possible to complete the game without spending a cent, it becomes a tedious grind to do so, especially since the game constantly emphasizes its monetization features. Additionally, players are hindered by rare upgrade materials and the arduous task of reaching the level cap of 60, which almost seems impossible without purchasing the necessary materials.

3 Diablo 2

: Although Diablo Immortal may pose challenges to free-to-play users, it can hardly be labeled as a genuinely demanding game when these players can effortlessly overcome obstacles by simply resorting to their credit cards.

When it comes to this spot, arguments can be made for both Diablo II and Diablo IV. However, what slightly pushes the second entry of the series lower on this list is the simple fact that the game is significantly older. Diablo II was originally released in 2000, while its remastered version, Diablo II: Resurrected, became available in 2021. In both cases, the game maintains the elements that made it challenging during its prime. The aforementioned difficulty spikes and the diverse range of challenges it presents to players are just as effective as ever.

However, the game's difficulty is somewhat diminished by the option for players to conduct brief research and discover the numerous overpowered builds that exist in Diablo II. Similar builds also exist in Diablo IV, but they are consistently being patched out. This is no longer the case for Diablo II, and it has been this way for quite some time.

Additionally, the game's loot drops are unpredictable and can be a hit or miss. Some players may spend 50 hours playing and struggle to find a single Legendary item that suits their character, while others may encounter them frequently. The availability of Legendary items significantly impacts the difficulty of Diablo II, and a player with multiple Legendaries will have no trouble completing the game.

2 Diablo 4

The latest installment in the Diablo series has brought the game back to its roots in various ways, one of which is its difficulty levels. Players can choose between two starting levels - Adventurer and Veteran - and can unlock the challenging Hell and Torment difficulties as they progress further in the game. In particular, Torment mode offers a punishing experience, but there are additional factors that contribute to Diablo IV being one of the toughest games in the series.

Character builds now play a more crucial role than ever before, surpassing even the importance seen in Diablo II. Having an ineffective build will result in players struggling against even the game's weakest enemies, not to mention the numerous elite enemies and bosses scattered throughout the world. Although Diablo IV allows players to easily modify their character's abilities, it is still necessary for players to have a well-thought-out plan for these changes to be beneficial.

1 Diablo

In addition, the late-game content brings forth Nightmare dungeons, offering players some of the most formidable challenges ever encountered in a Diablo game. It is worth mentioning that Blizzard consistently fine-tunes the game's inner mechanics to ensure character balance. Players will encounter great difficulty in finding a character build that remains excessively powerful beyond a single patch update.

When the original Diablo was first released, Blizzard ventured into unexplored territory. While their highly esteemed high-fantasy series Warcraft was widely known, Diablo introduced a dark and mature world that deviated from what most of the ARPG market had to offer. Stepping into the blood-soaked fields surrounding Tristram was a petrifying start to a journey, and soon it became apparent that the fear was entirely justified.

In contrast to other Diablo games, the initial installment of the series did not aim to make the player feel like an overwhelmingly strong hero. On the contrary, right from the early stages of the game, it was not possible to engage mobs of enemies directly. Instead, players had to strategically lure out two or three adversaries and engage them individually, gradually whittling down the larger group.

The construction of one's character build played a crucial role, as the enemies were formidable and formidable enough to easily overpower an ill-prepared player who dared to venture too deep into unknown territories. This level of challenge still remains relevant today. While the subsequent Diablo games excel in creating a sense of empowerment, it was only the first game that truly succeeded in instilling fear by making every enemy appear as terrifying as they truly were.