Right before the beginning of the early access period forDiablo 4began, the game generated a bit of controversy thanks to the race to level 100 incentivized by the developers. The first 1000 players to hit level 100 in Hardcore mode playingDiablo 4solo will be immortalized in-game on a statue of Lilith. With the first players now having crossed the threshold, it appears that the race will be heating up as players hope to earn a spot in gaming history. But rushing toDiablo 4’s finish line means missing out on one of the game’s best elements—its story.
TheDiablofranchise has always had interesting lore that players can dig through if they choose to, but most fans will focus on the moment-to-moment gameplay and addictive loop of slaying enemies, acquiring powerful loot, and taking on more powerful enemies. As a result, thestories ofDiablogameshave largely been told through in-game lore and cutscenes, almost becoming an afterthought.Diablo 4changes this by featuring some extremely compelling side quests and NPC interactions that, while completely optional, should not be missed.
RELATED:Diablo 4’s Secret of the Spring Riddle Prematurely Spoils its Solution in the Prologue
Diablo 4’s Story Is a Series Highlight
Whenlooking back at theDiabloseriesin its entirety, it’s clear thatDiablo 4’s story has the greatest production value behind it compared to other installment narratives. Even if players may prefer the actual lore and story of another game in the franchise, the inclusion of fully-voiced dialogue and more nuanced NPC interaction immediately setsDiablo 4apart from its predecessors. Arguably, the main factor that placesDiablo 4’s story at the top of the pile is its use of a compelling villain in the form of Lilith.
Whereas each game in theDiablofranchise has a clearly-defined villain, it hasn’t been until now that players have been given a peek behind the curtain at their motivations and personalities.The story ofDiablo 4and what players learn about Lilith and her plans for Sanctuary help to give motivation to the antagonist outside the typical “bring Hell to Earth” storyline found in past games.Diablo 2’s story was famously a huge leap forward from the original game, andDiablo 4has done the same by not just one-upping its predecessor, but the series as a whole.
As is typically the case with great RPGs, the side quests are often where some of the best writing and character interactions can be found in the world of Sanctuary. While the quests themselves aren’t typically that interesting (indeed, lots of fetch quests and “go here, kill that” activities) the conversations that the player can have with quest-givers and the impact of actions and choices made during the quests are. One early quest that was also accessibleduringDiablo 4’s beta periodsfeatures a storyline that is equal parts harrowing and heartbreaking, seemingly referencing the legendary horror filmHellraiser.
Rushing to finishDiablo 4’s story in record time to then plow through the endgame activities in hopes of reaching level 100 diminishes the work that the developer has put into making the game’s content engaging. While the main gameplay loop ofDiablo 4dictates that players should be getting their fill of action, it’s important to not forget the “RPG” portion of ARPG and take into account the many compelling distractions that are available in the world of Sanctuary. One of the game’s best features is its unexpected interactions and side quests that are tucked carefully into well-timed detours from progress, and missing out on these in hopes of being the first to max out a character misses the forest for the trees.
Diablo 4is available now in early access with its full launch coming June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:How Diablo 4 Necromancer’s Book of the Dead Breaks One of the Class' Traditions
