People keep asking whether Path of Exile is still worth playing in 2026, and I get it. With PoE 2 in the mix, it's easy to assume the first game's basically done. It isn't. PoE 1 is still the place you go when you want speed, weird builds, and that "one more map" spiral that somehow eats your whole evening. If you're diving back in, it also helps to know where to look for specific Path of Exile items so you're not stuck praying to RNG for days.
Combat that rewards going all-in
The moment your setup comes online, the game stops feeling like a careful dungeon crawl and starts feeling like controlled chaos. You're not poking at packs. You're erasing them. It's loud, fast, and messy in a good way. And PoE 1 doesn't really apologize for it. Some ARPGs try to slow you down, keep every build on a leash, make sure nothing gets too wild. Here, "too wild" is kind of the point. You'll die to something silly, laugh, and queue another map anyway.
Build freedom that can bite back
The passive tree still looks like a dare. Your first reaction is usually, "Nope." Then you start clicking. Then you realise you can bend almost any class into something offbeat if you've got a plan. Skill gems and support links are where the real personality shows up, because you're not just picking an ability, you're reshaping it. Of course, freedom cuts both ways. Lots of players brick a character early. It happens. But once you've learned why it happened, your next build feels ten times better.
An endgame with a dozen rabbit holes
PoE 1's endgame is still huge, and it's not just "run maps forever" even if you can. The Atlas gives you goals, knobs to turn, and a sense that you're building your own routine. Then you drift into Delve, Heist, crafting, boss rushing, league mechanics you swore you'd ignore, and suddenly you've got five tabs of loot you "might use later." Trading and the player economy keep it grounded, too. A random drop can actually matter, which makes every session feel a bit different.
Getting over the hump without burning out
If you're new or coming back rusty, the learning curve can feel like a wall. Tooltips won't save you, and crafting can look like a spreadsheet with teeth. The trick is to focus on one goal at a time: fix resistances, sort your links, then chase upgrades. And if you'd rather spend your limited playtime mapping instead of grinding low-value content, some players use eznpc to buy currency or items and smooth out progression without turning the whole game into a second job.
