POE 2 Feels Unfriendly to New Players
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I’ve been playing Path of Exile since the 2012 beta, and I’ve always loved the depth and challenge the game offers. For me personally, leveling has never been an issue for the most part, although I do struggle with certain classes at times. That said, for the first time in POE 2—even as a veteran—I find the early leveling experience in a new league to be noticeably rougher than in the past.
What really stands out to me, though, is how discouraging the game feels for new players. I’ve introduced several friends to POE 2 recently, and almost all of them quit in Act 1. They didn’t get far enough to see what makes this game special because the early pacing felt punishing and frustrating. For example, some classes feel like they’re struggling against the game itself from the start, with clunky mechanics, weak damage, or poor defenses before you can even get your build going. Of course, for veteran players with twink gear, or those who already know how to optimize leveling routes, this isn’t really a problem. Experienced players can blast through the campaign. But the average gamer—especially someone brand new to ARPGs or to POE—will often hit a wall right out of the gate. Watching my friends struggle so badly in the first hour of play, before they’ve even had a chance to enjoy experimenting with builds, was frustrating for me as well. It’s discouraging when you want to share a game you love, only to see people bounce off it immediately. I’m not one to complain lightly, but I do believe POE 2 would benefit from a closer look at its new player experience. A smoother difficulty curve, more forgiving pacing in the early acts, or some extra support tools (better tutorialization, or just clearer guidance could go a long way toward making the game more welcoming. POE has always had a reputation for depth, complexity, and mastery—but if the goal is to grow the community, it’s important that new players feel they can enjoy the journey without having to be experts right from the start. Right now, POE 2 risks pushing away the very players it could be winning over. Last bumped on Sep 12, 2025, 3:34:53 AM
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Feels unfriendly to seasoned arpg players too. It's just an unfriendly game.
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I've seen many people try and quit PoE 1 for the same reason. Years ago it was when maps started but nowadays its more around act 6. I ask them why and they say something like "I cant kill anything and everything one shots me. Also I looked on line and everyone said I needed to get good or watch a 3 hour youtube video so I could understand the mechanics better."
With 4k hours played the exact thing happens to me sometimes, but when it does its T16 maps or Pinnacle bosses. Over the years GGG has insistently pushed a more difficult early game. I guess I should feel pride over beating the campaign but instead its just making a chore more of a chore. |
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" - It looks like a typical ARPG, but you are supposed to dodge everything. - Skill tree cannot be sold to the new casual player. - 70% of skills are pure decoration and not to be used, new players cannot know that. - Game is pointless without good choices in support gemstones, gear and potions. New players are unlikely to catch up fast. Gem recommendations are bad. | |
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Problem is the solution is the Call-of-Dutyfication of the game. No thanks.
Game feels fine to me. I'm having a blast. The game is easier than ever. Just auto attack and kill the miller. Unless the expectation is that new players should be blasting in 5 minutes, they're going to be slower. Which is fine. |
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" The danger in defending these rough mechanics is that it becomes a kind of gatekeeping: “I overcame this, so it must be fine — if you can’t, you’re just bad.” That mindset ignores the real issue, which is that POE 2 is trying to be both a game for veterans and a game that attracts new players. If the first experience new players have is feeling like they’re struggling against the game itself, they’ll quit long before they reach the parts of POE that shine. No one is asking that new players should be “blasting in 5 minutes.” What many are asking is that the early experience feel engaging, responsive, and rewarding enough to hook people in. That doesn’t mean it has to be easy — it means it has to feel good. And right now, for many, it doesn’t. |
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" I don't know about the "many" there. Clearly some people feel this way, but I don't think it's nearly as many of them as you seem to believe. Some of us are having a great time, and the steadily climbing player numbers would seem to indicate that the new player experience, in particular, ain't all that bad. Living the Hollow Palm live, and loving it. Stay sane, exiles!
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" I agree with you perhaps. I just think for myself, that I even struggle at times leveling. Where the game does not feel intuitive, gear is scarce and you can find yourself just dying to random non sense and league mechanics for the first 10-14 levels very often. Once you get going , everything is easy and the game becomes a blast. I love POE, but I think it would benefit from making the first 10 levels a bit easier, maybe a few quest to reward some gear, or crafting tutorial and award few augments etc.. I just wanted to offer this opinion in hopes that it helps to make the game better for everyone. |
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Well idk about that.
For me and my friends - game is too easy now. Acts - you somewhat need to play a game still and its fun. But when you reach maps- its all gone. You craft your gear with ease or put like 10 divs in ur build and unless you you actively sabotage urself - you are good for all content in the game. Like 90% of skills reach damage to oneshot t4 bosses almost instantly. And the only difference is - how many screens they can clear at time and what speed of clearing they have. I insanely confused now tbh. Where is my slower progression? Or are they gave up on that and now its game for 1 week every league, like d3? I wish there was a point to farm for something and hard content to clear. |
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The problem is the balance. Good luck getting a friend to league start sorc or monk. They'll quit the first day.
" I'm enjoying the patch. I can't play this game with friends though. LE and Diablo 4 are much better for playing with normal people. " That's because you are playing OP builds with OP items. Because balance in POE 2 is complete trash. It's the worst I've ever seen in an ARPG--ever. Last edited by FPSPV#4195 on Sep 10, 2025, 8:08:02 AM
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