Diablo II Is Back in the Spotlight: Why the 2000 Classic Still Rules ARPGs

Diablo II defined loot-driven action RPGs, and in 2026 it even got its first new class in 25 years. Here's why it's still worth playing and where to start.

Every modern loot game owes something to Diablo II. Released in June 2000 by Blizzard North, it turned clicking on demons into one of the most addictive loops in gaming: kill, loot, compare, repeat. Over a quarter of a century later, it's not just remembered – it's still being played, still being updated, and in 2026 it even received a brand-new class.

What made it a legend

Five (then seven) iconic classes. The original game launched with the Amazon, Necromancer, Barbarian, Sorceress and Paladin. The 2001 expansion, Lord of Destruction, added the Druid and the Assassin plus a fifth act. Each class had distinct skill trees and dozens of viable builds, which is why players still argue about the "best" one today.

Loot that mattered. Items came in normal, magic, rare, set and unique qualities, each with randomized properties. Finding a unique item you'd been hunting for weeks felt incredible. The Horadric Cube added crafting and transmutation, and later runewords became their own obsession.

Randomized worlds. Dungeons and wilderness areas were generated differently on each run, so farming never felt quite the same twice.

Battle.net. Blizzard's online service let up to eight players team up (or fight each other), and it was a huge part of why the game exploded. Diablo II sold a million copies in about two weeks – a record at the time – and around four million by 2001.

Diablo II: Resurrected

In September 2021, Blizzard released Diablo II: Resurrected, a remaster that kept the original game logic but rebuilt the graphics and sound for modern hardware. Its clever trick: you can switch between the new visuals and the original 2000-era graphics at the press of a button.

2026: Reign of the Warlock

As part of Diablo's 30th anniversary celebrations, Blizzard shadow-dropped Reign of the Warlock on February 11, 2026 – the first paid expansion for Diablo II: Resurrected and the first new class for the game in 25 years.

• The Warlock is a demon-summoning class built around summoning, binding and devouring demons.
• The update also brought enhanced Terror Zones with more player control over difficulty, a new endgame challenge in the Colossal Ancients, built-in loot filters, better stash management, and The Chronicle, a collection tracker for completionists.
• The DLC costs $24.99, and the same day the base game launched on Steam for the first time and arrived on Xbox Game Pass.

Built-in loot filters alone are a big deal: for decades, wading through junk drops was part of the experience. Now the game can hide the clutter.

How it holds up today

• The core loop is timeless. Few games make the "one more run" feeling as strong.
• It's slower than modern ARPGs. Movement and combat are more deliberate than Diablo IV or Path of Exile 2, and the early hours can feel sluggish.
• Inventory management is still a thing. Even with improvements, you'll juggle space more than in newer games.
• Builds are deep but unforgiving. Skill points are a commitment, so a little planning (or a guide) helps.

Where to play it

Diablo II: Resurrected is available on PC (Battle.net and now Steam), PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. If you have Game Pass, that's the cheapest way to try it.

Who should play it

• ARPG fans who want to understand the genre's roots.
• Diablo IV players curious about why veterans talk about Diablo II with such reverence.
• Anyone who loves the loot grind – this is the original, and it's still one of the best.

Diablo II proved that a great loot game can last decades. With the Warlock and a wave of modern quality-of-life features, there's never been a better time to return to Sanctuary.

This article was written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games are updated regularly, so details may change.