Gear is better now not only in terms of its base stats, but also in terms of its other characteristics. After patch 2.0.1 was released on February 25, I took my level 44 witch doctor out for a spin for the first time in ages, and after playing for about an hour, I'd already collected rare and legendary weapons and armor that far outstripped anything I'd been using before. The recent changes to Diablo III are dramatic and immediately noticeable.

However, thanks largely to significant changes made in a recent patch in advance of the upcoming Reaper of Souls expansion, Diablo III is a better game now than it's ever been, and is a worthy contender for your time if you're looking to kill legions of monsters and score some sweet loot. With these great games on the market that scratch the same itch, Diablo III is less essential. Now, those looking for great multiplayer hack-and-slash dungeon crawls have more options, like the colorful and appealing Torchlight II and the deep, grim, free-to-play Path of Exile.

Much has changed since we reviewed Diablo III at its launch in May of 2012, both in the game itself and in the PC gaming landscape.

Diablo 3 story review