Recs.
Updated
Grim Dawn is an old-school themed action RPG hack'n slash game with a dark story and gritty graphics. A return to form for the genre that should be familiar to anyone who has played Diablo 2.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Hand-crafted level design with minimum procedural generation
Grim Dawn takes a different approach to level design than some other recent action RPGs. Instead of using procedural generation, each level is carefully handcrafted, which makes the scenes appear more lively. There is still a procedural element that adds some randomization, but the world map always stays the same. Another benefit to ditching procedural generation is the ability to create secret rooms with lots of loot or rare items.
Pro Drop-in co-op (online and LAN)
Co-op is pretty convenient as players can drop in and out of your gaming session at any time. This way there is no wasted time waiting to find players to play with.
Pro Complex leveling system with thousands of possible builds
When you create a character, you choose one of five classes. Then you select skills as you level up. At level 10, you can select a second class, which gives you 25 class combination possibilities.
Each character has dozens of skills, plus there is an additional passive skill tree unlocked by cleansing shrines. On top of that, you can customize weapons by crafting "modifiers" that add unique stats and skills. All of this creates literally to thousands of character possibilities.
Pro True successor to classical action RPGs
This game is very dark and grim. While other action RPGs have been released over the past decade, none have delivered quite what fans of the genre have been asking for. If you’re looking for an updated version of Diablo 2, Grim Dawn is the game for you.
Cons
Con Long runs back into town (actually untrue - you have instant diablo-2-esque portal all the time)
Selling loot is a hassle at times. Like when your inventory is full of bone chips, useless scrolls, and low quality gems but no town for many screens. Still good game but too many town trips just to drop trash items makes selling and upgrading swords a huge pain in the you know what!
Con Static pre-rendered levels
This may cut down on replayability a bit as all the levels in the game are pre-rendered, meaning that each playthrough will have the exact same layout, making for something that can get tiring and too familiar. Similar games have gone with randomized levels, which can keep the game fresh. While Grim Dawn is meant to be a throwback to earlier games in the genre, some newer features found in more recent released would have been welcome.
Con Pre-rendered levels reduce replay value
Each playthrough will have the exact same layout, creating the possibility that the game will grow overly familiar and boring. Similar games have gone with randomized levels, which can keep the game fresh.
Con Lots of trips to town
The majority of loot in the game will be useless, which means you’ll have to trek back to town often to sell off the junk and make room for the items you actually use.