In the beginning of action-RPGs/hack’n’slash games was Diablo. But, as time passed, the concept became pretty interesting, so copycats came to life. Some games made a more significant impact than others, as all things are. In this article, we will be taking a closer look at two titles that have been growing in popularity recently: Torchlight 2 and Grim Dawn. 

Both games are highly detailed regarding worldbuilding, crafting, and RPG elements. Both offer you various skills, classes, and weapons to discover during the journey. This article will try to find out which one does it better. Of course, in the end, you should choose the one that feels better for you, but in the meantime, you can treat this article as an informative guide on what to expect.

Let’s go on this titan quest and see whether or not you should play Grim Dawn or Torchlight II. Or if one of those is a good game at all.

Let’s start with graphics. Both games look decent, but they have a unique vibe that we would like to explore.

Torchlight 2

The first game on our list, and potentially the best Diablo Clone/Path of Exile-inspired title, is Torchlight 2. It is a spiritual successor to both games, but without the dark tone they bring. It has excellent mods and fun co-op play with many different builds to have fun with. So, what’s it like graphically?

Well, it’s a lot of fun! Thanks to leaving the dark undertones behind, it seems that the Torchlight 2 was able to create evergreen visuals that most people would only dream of. It’s colorful and full of life; it’s a fairy tale! You can describe this graphics style as charming and vibrant, with a sparkle of fantasy in the best Tolkien-esque style. If you are looking for realism – you should look somewhere else. The best thing about this title is how over the top it is, not how detailed the characters’ faces are.

Grim Dawn

On the other hand, Grim Dawn goes for the darkest from the dark—the worst of bad. The world is gritty, full of sadness, and grim. The characters are detailed, full of somberness, and facial expressions that you would probably not be able to implement in Fantasy Torchlight 2. But you can’t blame the creators, as the game is depressing. The world is a whole of darkness; it’s a postapocalyptic nightmare, so it’s no surprise that people feel uneasy with all that. It’s an immersive experience many critics have praised for its quality and how well it fits into the world.

Verdict

As the tailors say – it’s a tie! We cannot tell you which is better than the other as it is 100% up to you. Whether you like one version better says more about you than those games. If you want something more flashy, colorful, and fun, go for Torchlight 2. Grim Dawn is your game if you prefer something more dark and gritty. We cannot say that one looks better when the art styles differ. Nevertheless, both are worth the money!

Our next round is all about the world the developers have created. Is it immersive? Is it full of life, or is it empty and hollow? Can you say that you believe in it, or is it something entirely out of the ordinary and no one should pay close attention to it?

Torchlight 2

The first one on our list is Torchlight 2. It’s vibrant, it’s colorful, it’s full of possibilities. We have incredible forests, tundras, and even deserts, with the addition of many different and cartoonish elements that create this place as a whole. When it comes to the world, it’s vast, fun, and not empty. 

We have dozens of creatively designed characters, with lots of care being put into them. With each act, the environment changes, similarly to the previous Diablo games, so you can experience completely different places with every step you take further into the plot. In our opinion – it presents itself rather interestingly!

Grim Dawn

On the other hand, we have the one, the only – Grim Dawn. It’s one of those places where you do not want to be. Everything feels destroyed, and the post-apocalyptic feel of it all creates a rather cumbersome feeling. Everything in the environment advances the storytelling and emphasizes how bad things are. 

The eerie atmosphere of cities and the impending doom of the lands in between make your hands shiver. Surprisingly, it looks stunning at the same time. Everything just fits in this game; everything feels connected. All the cities, creatures, NPCs, everyone is created in the same style and within the same environments. In our opinion – it’s something to look forward to!

Verdict

In our opinion – Grim Dawn wins it by far. Even though Torchlight 2 is a fun game, and the vibrant environment it proposes may be attractive to explore, the tragic Grim Dawn world works better in almost all situations. 

It feels more accurate; it’s not only a background, but it adds to the storytelling and vibe of the game. We feel like the effort put into creating these harsh conditions was a much more extended and demanding process than simply drawing up new fantast monsters in Torchlight 2. And that is worth awarding.

So, now we have the basics out of the way, let’s focus on what’s most important – the gameplay. Whether we like it or not, the gameplay is what matters, and in the case of those games – it’s one of the best out there. Both games utilize different mechanics and try to make the game as immersive as possible. So, which one did it better? Let’s find out!

Torchlight 2

Let’s start with Torchlight 2. When it comes to combat, it’s a fast-paced action with fluid combat and many exciting classes to choose from:

• Engineer – AKA Railman; it’s a heavy fighter, kind of a Barbarian of sorts if compared to Diablo, that also uses some steampunk technology based in Ember; 

• Outlander – this guy is a ranger, a nomad of roasts; he utilizes some elemental magic and ranged weapons to attack enemies from far away. The best thing about this class is the damaged output. The worst – how fragile they are. 

• Berserker – here, for some reason, we can see the influence of a Druid class from Diablo; Berserker uses animal attacks to fight against enemies. Berserkers are fast, powerful, and highly wild, so use them carefully. 

• Embermage – and finally, we have the Embermage, also known as mage/wizard/warlock, whatever you prefer. With this one, you have the elemental attacks that you can use to your advantage. Embermages are extremely powerful, like most mages in most games, but it takes some time to get the hang of it, so if you are a total beginner, this may not be the class for you. 

Additionally, you may get a pet to help you in your endeavors, so that’s an additional bonus. Looting is fun; there are plenty of weapons to find out there with the classic rarity system. And that’s pretty much it. You have skills; you can use them as you like among the mighty weapons you have gathered; have fun with friends or solo. It’s a fun experience, that’s for sure!

Grim Dawn

Grim Dawn, on the other hand, offers a bit more complicated system. You have nine classes to choose from:

• Six from the base game – Soldier, Demolitionist, Occultist, Nightblade, Arcanist, Shaman

• Two from the Ashes of Malmouth expansion – Inquisitor, Necromancer

• One from the development –- The Forgotten Gods – Oathkeeper

To explain each one of those would take months, so let’s just say there is a lot to have fun with. Essentially, you have the mages of sorts, characters with weapons-based attacks, or the other category. And there are plenty of those guys in the last one. What makes this game interesting is that you get to choose two classes to combine the best part of each.

Additionally, there is a devotion system, where you acquire different corrupted sirens worldwide to gain more bonuses and abilities. The loot system is similar to what we have described in the previous game. Grim Dawn also adds depth to the gameplay, as your choices will influence the world around you. Whatever you choose in the game will also close some other possibilities for you. So – choose wisely.

Verdict

It’s hard to compare, but if we are obliged to, we would say that the depth of the Grim Dawn system cannot be underestimated. It’s big and full of possibilities, offering more than Torchlight could ever. This does not mean that the gameplay in Torchlight is terrible; instead – it’s not as complex as what we have seen with Grim Dawn.

Next up, we have the story. Every good hack’n’slash must also have an immersive plot. As the people in Square Enix seem to be saying – if the game is bad enough, go with the story. It always helps out! Let’s see what kind of story we are getting ourselves into with those titles!

Torchlight 2

Let’s start with Torchlight 2. The game follows the story of the Alchemist, known from the previous game as one of the available characters who the Ember Blight corrupted. If you are wondering – is it wrong, then – yes, it’s awful. 

The main goal is to stop the impending doom and fight against the plague. Torchlight 2 does not focus too much on the story, but it’s a fun and lighthearted experience that many people would consider attractive. Discovering new loot is more important for the developers, but creating a narrative and a fun and exciting world is also in the game.

Grim Dawn

On the other side, we have Grim Dawn, where the story is full of information and philosophical questions. The world is in ruins, and without proper care, it will fall down even further into the abyss. The Aetherial invasion that created this mess must be reversed in order to bring the world back to its former glory.

It all reads like a good dark fantasy story created by some clever writer. The lore of the game is fascinating, and getting deeper and deeper into it just makes you more and more in awe of what the creators managed to accomplish. When it comes to storytelling – Grim Dawn is definitely up there with the best ones.

Verdict

Once again, it’s a matter of preference, but we just cannot undermine what the developers at Crate Entertainment were able to accomplish. Grim Dawn offers much more depth when it comes to storytelling and approach to the lore than Torchlight 2. However, if you would like some more easygoing fun, then Grim Dawn may not be the best fit for you, as it is pretty demanding when it comes to creating an immersive experience full of terrible yet fascinating fragments.

Last but not least – we have the multiplayer aspect of both those games. It’s fun to play solo, but it’s much nicer to slay monsters with friends around. In this part of our article, we will go over the most important aspects of multiplayer in both games.

Torchlight 2

Torchlight 2 has an incredibly great multiplayer system that only adds to the gaming experience. It has LAN support for online multiplayer; you can create your private games or join a public one. Co-op is also at the top level with this one, allowing you to team up with friends to go through the whole campaign together. Everything is easy to access, user-friendly, and full of fun! Your skills complement each other, so you can get even more out of this game if you’d like to make the most out of it! Definitely worth checking out!

Grim Dawn

Grim Dawn also offers multiplayer, as it allows players to join each other in gaming. The connection is smooth, without any problems whatsoever. Similarly to Torchlight, it also supports LAN and online multiplayer. And that’s pretty much it. There is nothing especially interesting in this multiplayer mode, as it is rather a game to be experienced in solo mode, to fully immerse yourself in the experience, read all the readable, and make all the right/wrong choices. 

Verdict

In our opinion – Torchlight 2 is a clear winner in this round. Mostly because Grim Dawn just does not feel like a game that should be played with a friend. It’s more of a solo experience rather than multiplayer mode. Additionally, the ability to have different skills work together to your advantage is something that cannot be underestimated.

And now, the winner of this rumble is, drum rolls, Grim Dawn! It’s one of the most fun games ever in the hack’n’slash/ARPG world, full of interesting storytelling, an immersive world, and fantastic gameplay. It also has great mods, so watch out for those as well.

But it does not mean that Torchlight is good for nothing. If you like fast-paced action, chill vibes, and a casual approach, this is the game for you! It’s one of the most accessible games on the ARPG market, so it’s more than enough for beginners! The main gripe that people have with this game is that it’s just too simplistic for some tastes.

In the end, both those games were worthwhile; we cherish both worlds and will definitely come back to one or another from time to time. Both Torchlight 2 CD Key and Grim Dawn CD Key are available on RoyalCDKeys, so you can save some money and try both worlds one after another!

There’s also Torchlight 3 for you to check out in your spare time, so if it’s something you like – give it a shot! 

Thanks for stopping by! If you liked this article, be sure to check out other ones on our site. Plenty of informative texts are out there, so you will surely find something you like. That’s it for today. Stay safe, and we will see you in the next one.