Yuber Diablo has always held a special place in my heart; the isometric hack-and-slash gameplay and mountains of loot bring out the hoarder in me. It had been a few years since I last played Diablo, and with Lord of Hatred, I was eager to see what awaited me in Sanctuary with this second expansion.
She Ran Out of Time
Although the previous expansion had completely escaped my attention, Lord of Hatred allows you to dive back in without missing a beat. A concise recap upon booting up quickly brought me up to speed on the plot, even though I hadn’t played Vessel of Hatred. This expansion introduces two compelling new classes: the Warlock, a master of hellfire and demonic summoning, and the Paladin, a holy knight who excels at making life miserable for demons at close range with shields and sacred auras.
Choosing the Paladin, I was immediately greeted by a major story twist in the opening cutscene before reuniting with our old acquaintance, Lorath. Even though my hero is a new character, the game cleverly frames both of their interactions as if they truly shared those past events. Our duo soon sets sail for Skovos, a stunning Greco-Roman-themed island and the ancestral home of the Amazons from Diablo II.
The story moves at a brisk pace in the opening hour, making it clear that Mephisto won’t be defeated easily. After Lilith’s defeat, Mephisto has taken center stage, culminating in his seizure of Akarat’s body at the end of Vessel of Hatred. For now, he is the sole Prime Evil we must contend with, as his brothers Baal and Diablo have yet to appear. Beyond the hunt for Mephisto, this expansion also masterfully explores humanity’s deep origins in Sanctuary.
A Bulwark of Light
Following the gripping opening, you embark on a quest alongside Lorath to bring down Mephisto. Having already completed the base game with another character, I was pleased to find that many perks, such as Paragon levels and gold, carry over, providing my Paladin with the resources needed for top-tier gear right from the start.
After clearing out a few demon mobs and gaining some initial levels, the depth of the build system really opens up. This expansion introduces new skill tree branches for existing classes, offering even more variety, alongside a new talisman system. By using seals within these talismans, you can activate powerful bonuses and even gain set effects without needing to wear the specific armor pieces.
For my holy knight, I opted for a durable sword-and-shield build. The flexibility of the system is excellent, as I could easily respec my points whenever I wanted to tweak my strategy. About an hour in, I found the experience a bit too easy and bumped up the difficulty. While the standard trash mobs still fell quickly, the bosses finally required genuine focus, making the extra experience and gold rewards feel well-earned.
The narrative remains a highlight, proving once again that Blizzard is the undisputed master of cinematics. Although many studios produce beautiful work, Blizzard’s storytelling through cutscenes still has that extra touch of magic that sets it apart.
A Live-Service World
Despite its evolution, Diablo IV remains a live-service game at its core. As someone who primarily prefers a solo experience, I still find it disappointing that a constant online connection is mandatory. The in-game shop is the first thing to greet you upon startup, and it never feels far away once you’ve logged in.
With new seasons arriving roughly every three months bringing a fresh wave of items, cosmetics and gear sets, the game can be a true nightmare for completionists. When a season concludes, your character is moved to the Eternal Realm, the standard version of the game stripped of the seasonal mumbo jumbo. Personally, I choose to create my new characters directly in the Eternal Realm to avoid the pressure of grinding through every season or battle pass.
Hopefully, the developers will one day consider an offline mode for dad gamers like myself who just want to play at their own pace.
Final Thoughts
Lord of Hatred is a spectacular expansion, delivering a narrative rollercoaster that keeps you hooked right up until the final showdown. Beyond its strong story, the game offers a massive amount of content. In addition to the two new classes, older classes have been reworked, providing endless ways to approach and replay the game.
As is tradition with Diablo, the endgame is all about perfecting your character, offering more than enough challenges for both solo and group play to keep you occupied for hours, weeks, or even months. It is a dense, high-energy experience that truly doubles down on what makes the franchise so addictive.
Additional Information
Release Date: April 28, 2026
Reviewed On: PS5. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Relevant links: PlayStation Store (NL-BE, NL-NL, US), Steam, Battle.net
