Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 391 sampled Steam reviews (294 positive / 97 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing7% mention it
- Progression & loot6% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Progression & loot24% mention it
- Combat12% mention it
- Bugs & crashes11% mention it
- Story & writing8% mention it
- Multiplayer & servers8% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
56%
34 reviews
5-15h
61%
51 reviews
15-40h
68%
41 reviews
40-100h
77%
39 reviews
100h+
82%
226 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 86 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 1397 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 48 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 81% | 75 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 24, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 6361 total reviews in window · weighted 225.3 up / 54.1 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (26)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 95
“Path of Exile is a fascinating and a really big game and simply talking about it can take hours. The game is focused on online gameplay and even though you can play solo, the most fun comes from adventuring with some friends. Path of Exile is a must have for all Diablo fans. It offers dozens of hours of great fun and does that completely free of charge.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Grinding Gear Games has created something special here, and given it gratis to the world.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“I can't say what their future holds as I'm not much of an economist (nor am I really a magpie). But I can say I've had many, many hours of fun in a game that still has much more to show me and which all of us, right now, can play for nothing at all. We're being spoiled.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Considering that Path of Exile costs you nothing beyond some Internet bandwidth, it provides an embarrassment of pleasures.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Once you get a hang of the numerous systems, Path of Exile becomes one of the best action-RPG experiences you can have. [December 2013, p.88]”
- 84
“An exceptionally generous free-to-play action-rPG. What it lacks in punch it makes up for in depth and value for money.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Path of Exile is an excellent addition to the ARPG roster. Easily competing with the likes of Diablo and Torchlight. This independent hack-and-slasher manages to surpass its idols, while carving out its own particular niche; and with an asking price of nothing, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't check it out: Path of Exile is the hidden gem of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Quotation forthcoming.”
- 88
“Path of Exile successfully captures the spirit of older action RPGs and updates it for an experience that's as visually appealing as it's fun.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A very solid ARPG that brings some of the genre's best elements together mashing them up into a melting pot of free to play goodness.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“A worthy contender to Diablo and Torchlight as the premium hack 'n' slash experience.”
read full review ↗ - 84
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer
Eurogamer
GameSpot
PC Gamer
MMORPG.com
IGN
RPG Fan…and 14 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 3.29 Reliquarian Ascendancy ChangesJul 15, 2026
- Path of Exile 3.29 Expansion TimelineJun 8, 2026
- 3.28.0e Patch Notes PreviewMar 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 3.28.0c Patch Note PreviewMar 17, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- An Update on 3.28 Expansion TimelineFeb 9, 2026
- Play the Legacy of Phrecia Event on January 29th PST!Jan 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Path of Exile 3.28 Expansion TimelineJan 12, 2026
- 3.27.0c Patch Notes PreviewNov 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- New Foulborn Uniques in Patch 3.27.0cNov 11, 2025
- What We're Working OnNov 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window