Diablo II

Diablo II is a 2000 action-RPG developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment for Windows and macOS, and one of the most influential and beloved games in its genre. A sequel to 1997's Diablo, it continues the struggle against the Lords of Hell as a new hero pursues the corrupted Dark Wanderer across four acts spanning deserts, jungles and the depths of Hell itself, culminating in a confrontation with the demon Diablo. Players choose among distinct classes, the Amazon, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin and Sorceress (with Druid and Assassin added in the expansion), each with deep, branching skill trees that, combined with randomised loot, item affixes and rune-based crafting, created near-endless build variety. Its isometric hack-and-slash combat, addictive 'just one more level' loot chase, and robust Battle.net online multiplayer and player-versus-player set a template that countless action-RPGs have followed. The 2001 expansion Lord of Destruction added two classes, a fifth act and major systems, deepening an already enormous game. Critically acclaimed and commercially massive, Diablo II sustained an active community for decades and was honoured with the faithful 2021 remaster Diablo II: Resurrected. It is widely regarded as a defining pillar of the loot-driven action-RPG and a high point of Blizzard's catalogue.