The Diablo series is one of the most popular action role-playing game (ARPG) series ever made. It has hack-and-slash gameplay that draws in both casual and serious gamers. Diablo is liked by everyone, whether it’s for the deep build crafting or the never-ending search for the right piece of gear.
If you’ve played Diablo 3 and aren’t sure if you want to play Diablo 4, or if you’ve never played a Diablo game and want to know where to start, you’re in the right place. We’ll look at a few important parts of each game to see which one is better: Which game is better, Diablo 3 or Diablo 4?
Diablo 3 vs Diablo 4: About
Diablo III is a 2012 hack-and-slash action role-playing game that can only be played online. It is the third game in the Diablo series and was made and released by Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard Entertainment made and released Diablo IV in 2023. It is an action role-playing game that can only be played online. It is the fourth main game in the Diablo series.
| Feature | Diablo 3 | Diablo 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release date | May 15, 2012 | June 5, 2023 |
| Developers | Blizzard Entertainment | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows |
| Composers | Joey Lawrence, Laurence Juber, Glenn Stafford, Russell Brower, Derek Duke, Edo Guidotti | Ted Reedy, Leo Kaliski |
| Genres | Dungeon crawl, Hack and slash | Hack and slash, Massively multiplayer online game, Adventure game |
| Designer | Leonard Boyarsky, Stone Librande, Jay Wilson | Luis Barriga |
| Series | Diablo | Diablo |
Diablo 3 vs Diablo 4: Storyline
The story of Diablo 3 starts with Tyrael calling on the player character, the Nephalem, to stop the forces of the Burning Hells from bringing Diablo back to life. The Nephalem go through the world of Sanctuary and fight the Lord of Terror and his followers. But the win doesn’t come without a price. When the Worldstone is destroyed, a wave of corruption from demons spreads across the land.
| Feature | Diablo 3 | Diablo 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | 20 years after Diablo 2 | 50 years after Diablo 3 |
| Villain | Diablo | Lilith |
| Tone | Lighthearted | Dark and serious |
| Gameplay | Fast-paced | More methodical |
| World | Linear | Open-ended |
Fifty years have passed since the events of Diablo 3. The Burning Hells are back in Sanctuary, and the forces of Hell are threatening to take over the world again. The Wanderer, who is controlled by the player, needs to stand up and stop the monsters from destroying Sanctuary.
Diablo 3 vs Diablo 4: Combat
All of the Diablo games have the same basic gameplay loop: players have to fight their way through hordes of monsters while slowly leveling up and getting better and, more importantly, cooler gear. The action in Diablo 3 is the classic hack-and-slash style, with a focus on very violent and bloody levels where players kill hordes of enemies and equip different skills and attributes. Combat is an important part of this kind of game, and Diablo 3 does it pretty well.
Diablo 4 is based on a similar idea, but the game moves a little slower now. Battles have to be planned more carefully and methodically by the players. Also, the dodge feature and a couple of new spells make the game feel more new and exciting. It is annoying that players have to wait so long to use some fun functions. Overall, there have been small fixes and improvements to the quality of life in Diablo 4, but it’s hard to say which game is better in this way.
Diablo 3 vs Diablo 4: Multiplayer
The fact that you can play with other people is one of the best things about the Diablo games. A big draw for many players is being able to fight hordes of monsters with their friends, so it’s important to compare the multiplayer experience.
In Diablo 3, you can make groups of four people to do anything in the game, from finishing the story to grinding Rifts. You can see other players in the open world and in towns in Diablo 4, and you can fight monsters and do odd events with them. You can also play with up to three other people in groups of four. Cross-platform play is also a part of Diablo 4, so you can play with people on different systems.
Diablo 3 vs Diablo 4: Visuals
This factor is called “visuals” instead of “graphics” because the graphics in a newer game will be better. Diablo 3 was a very good-looking game for the time it came out. All of the cutscenes, animations, and monster designs looked great and different. It’s clear how hard people worked on them. Also, the mood was good, and everything worked well together.
Diablo 4’s graphics are beautiful, but what’s more amazing is how well they compare to the biggest graphics games of today. There’s not much more that could be said about this. Like its predecessor, it has great-looking character models, cutscenes, and monster designs. The backgrounds and environments of Diablo 4 are worth pointing out because they fit the game’s general dark tone so well and were made with so much care and effort. Again, even though it was close, Diablo 4 wins this round.
Diablo 3 vs Diablo 4: Soundtrack
In general, the music of Diablo games have been very good. Diablo 3 is no different, with its loud orchestras and towering symphonies. Diablo 3 had to make a music that was just as good as Diablo 2’s, which was very hard to do. This one is also pretty awesome. The moody atmosphere and disturbing voices work together perfectly to give players an experience they’ll remember long after the game is over.
The music in Diablo 4 might be the best thing about it. Some of the best songs in this genre are in this game. The music changes to fit the mood of each setting that players have to fight through. All of the different themes and tunes are great, and the quality doesn’t change at all. The sound quality is great generally, and most output devices work with it. Focusing on guitar sounds and mixing them with scary tribal music makes for a great sound experience that most players will fall in love with.
Diablo 3
The Good
- Fast-paced combat
- Varied and colorful environments
- Ample endgame content
- Easy to learn, difficult to master
The Bad
- Story is not very engaging
- Loot system can be too random
- Itemization is not very deep
Diablo 4
The Good
- More challenging combat
- Dark and gritty atmosphere
- Deeper itemization
- More meaningful choices in character builds
The Bad
- Slower-paced combat
- Less varied environments
- Endgame content is not yet fully fleshed out
Which game is right for you?
Diablo 4 is a better game than Diablo 3 on the whole. Even though it’s not perfect, it solves some of Diablo 3’s flaws, like its story and gear, and adds new and different things to the series.
Diablo 4 is more methodical than Diablo 3. As you level up, you have to plan your builds and think about the things you have more. On the other hand, Diablo 3 is faster and easier to get to the endgame, but it doesn’t give much room for experimentation. Both games in the Diablo series are great, but if you can only play one, you should play Diablo 4.
FAQs
Yes, Diablo IV is a continuation of the games that came before it. It happens years after the events of Diablo III and continues the story of angels and devils always fighting each other.
Diablo IV takes place 50 years after the events of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls. During that time, both the High Heavens and the Burning Hells have killed millions of people. In the power vacuum, the name of a mythical person comes up again: Lilith, the daughter of Mephisto, who some say was the first human.
Diablo 4 is a shared, open-world online game where players can choose which dungeons and areas to explore. Acts gave the other Diablo games a more linear story development, but Diablo 4 is said to give you more freedom over where you go and what you do, even though the story is still going on.
