Steam Free Dark Fantasy RPG Is Your Next 1,000 Hour Playthrough

Steam users looking for something new to play should look no further than this free-to-play RPG that may have slipped under your radar for far too long.

There are a lot of great RPG games out at the moment with the big one being Crimson Desert, but for those who have open-world fatigue Pearl Abyss’ latest blockbuster title might not be for you.

Some players might be looking for a more focused experience, something in the realm of Diablo but much less controversial…

If that sounds like you, then perhaps Path of Exile is worth a go.

Set on the continent of Wraeclast, Path of Exile is a free-to-play dark fantasy RPG that comes highly recommended by players.

It can be played online with friends or random players and combines a gripping narrative with tight and strategic combat.

Character customisation and expression is both encouraged and celebrated, with each player truly having the opportunity to make their character their own. Online play is also recommended with a rich and thriving in-game economy.

Something else the game shouts about often is how it’s “completely free and will never be pay-to-win.” DLC can be purchased for a boost but the game is well-balanced so new and old players can stand on equal footing.

Grinding Gear Games

There’s even a sequel you could try straight after, but unlike its predecessor Path of Exile 2 isn’t free-to-play.

The first game currently sits on the Steam store with a Mostly Positive rating, following over 140,000 reviews.

Plenty of players have also recommended the game outside of Steam too, like one Reddit thread discussing games you could easily sink 1,000 hours into.

On said thread one player boasted that they’d logged around 1,500 on Path of Exile, which is nothing compared to their playthrough of Ultima Online which they reckon has consumed 35,000 hours of their life…

Critics also rate the game highly, with PC Gamer featured on the game’s Steam page for saying “Path of Exile was a great game in 2013, but a slew of free expansions have only made it better. It’s one of the best ARPGs out there, and absolutely the best value.”

There are a lot of games out there currently fighting for both your time and attention, however despite being over a decade old Path of Exile is still a game well-worth trying on Steam if you’re looking for something new, and free, to sink your time into.