Diablo Clones List

Chances are you happened upon this article because you love the Diablo series, but are not too keen on forking over the money for the game quite yet. I don't blame you, considering some say it isn't all that it is hyped up to be, as well as Blizzard working out some early kinks (including some hacker exploited holes!).

Here is a list of some games that can tide you over while you wait for a price drop and Blizzard's ironing to be done.

• Win XP or later
• x-86 compatible 800MHz processor
• 512MB of RAM
• 400MB Hard drive space
• DirectX compatible 3D graphics with at least 64MB of addressable memory
• Internet connection for activation

Easily the first on the list because Torchlight, by Runic Games, was actually developed by Max and Erich Schaefer who were designers on Diablo and Diablo II. You may even hear some familiar sounds as Matt Uelman, the composer for Diablo, joins forces with the Schaefer's to create an awesome Diablo rival.

Why get Torchlight?

• Cheaper ($14.95)
• Awesome character classes - Destroyer, Alchemist, and Vanquisher
• Hack and Slash - The same hack and slash feel you love with lovely drops
• Pets (cat or dog) - You get a companion that fights by your side and can hold and sell loot for you
• Randomized dungeons - Similar to Diablo's map randomization
• Increased side quests - Building upon a main story, side quests are also available for the questing adventurer in you
• Character Attributes - Something Diablo 3 lacks is the ability to distribute attribute points yourself. Torchlight gives you the same freedom Diablo and Diablo 2 does.
• Item types - Enjoy finding rare, magical and legendary item drops throughout the Torchlight world, with the ability to upgrade.
• Editors - You have the ability to edit and create your own levels as well with a separate editing program provided by the devs.
• Steampunk - The game has some steampunk flare to it, so if that is your thing, this may be your thing.

Drawbacks

• No multiplayer

Unknown at this time, but the game engine is the same as the first, so most likely very comparable.

With the release of Torchlight 2 within the week of publishing this, it may be exactly what you are looking for to get your kicks.

Why get Torchlight 2?

• Cheaper ($19.99)
• Added character classes - Engineer, Outlander, Berserker, Embermage
• Hack and Slash - The same hack and slash feel you love with lovely drops
• Pets - You get a companion that fights by your side and can hold and sell loot for you. Types are unknown at this time
• Randomized dungeons - Similar to Diablo's map randomization
• Increased main and side quests - A longer main story campaign mixed with side quests
• Character Attributes - Something Diablo 3 lacks is the ability to distribute attribute points yourself. Torchlight gives you the same freedom Diablo and Diablo 2 does.
• Item types - Enjoy finding rare, magical and legendary item drops throughout the Torchlight world, with the ability to upgrade.
• Steampunk - The game has some steampunk flare to it, so if that is your thing, this may be your thing.
• Multiplayer - the ability to play co-op
• Moddability - The downloadable mod allows you to mod the game and share with other players to have unique game experiences
• Weather effects - There is weather!
• Day cycles - Like Diablo, Torchlight 2 brings in the cycles of day and night, adding more eye candy
• Character customization - You will have the ability to create your character by modifying things like hair and face types.
• Fishing - Why go outside to fish when you can do it in game?
• New Game Plus - Like Diablo's hell mode, after you beat Torchlight 2 in "normal" mode, you can continue playing for a more difficult experience.

Drawbacks

• Not released

• Processor: Pentium - 800MHz or better

• RAM: 256MB

• Video Card RAM: 16MB, 3D hardware acceleration required

• DirectX Version: 8.0 or above

• Keyboard and Mouse: Supported

• Operating System: Windows 7, Vista, and XP

• Download Size: 176 MB

Fate has quite a few subsequent additions to the franchise, which all started in 2005. It is said to be modeled after Diablo II's game play. Check out some of the neat features of Fate.

Why get Fate?

• Cheap - $5-$10
• Pets - Get a cat or dog who can fight alongside you and store items, as well as make town runs to sell things for you. I am surprised they could a cat to do that. Pets are also transformable, meaning you can upgrade them!
• Fishing - Considered one of the best investments a player can make, fishing can help players not only feed and upgrade pets, but also allows players to find some of the best loot in the game.
• Death of Choice - A neat feature is when a player dies, he/she is given the ability to make a choice on what the consequence is (like being brought back to life at the exact location in exchange for experience points).
• Descendants - Once you have completed the game you can give another round, retiring your first player and playing with a descendant of your first character. Pretty neat if you are in to family history and continuing the legacy.
• Modable - Yes, there is a mod community
• Skill points and attributes - Unlike Diablo 3, you can actually spend your skill points as you please.
• Upgrade Items - With sockets and gems, you can make your items more powerful and to your liking
• Fame - The more you do the more famous you are. And being famous gives you perks, like better equipment. And for those who are good with money but not people, you can also purchase fame.
• Zoom - This is something I wish Diablo III had, a zoom in and out feature. Fate does.

Drawbacks

• No multiplayer

• Processor: 1.8 Ghz Intel Pentium IV or equivalent or AMD Athlon XP or equivalent

• RAM: 512 MB

• Video Card RAM: 64 MB NVIDIA GeForce 3 or equivalent or ATI Radeon 8500 series with Pixel Shader 1.1 support or equivalent

• DirectX Version: 9.0c

• Keyboard and Mouse: Supported

• Operating System: Windows 2000 / XP

• Hard Drive Space: 5GB

Arguably the best Diablo clone, Titan Quest has some awesome and compelling elements to attract all types of gamers.

Why get Titan Quest?

• Cost - $5
• Multiplayer - Play with 2-6 players
• 3 Worlds - Play in ancient Sparta and Greece, Asia and the Silk Road, and ancient Egypt.
• Mythology - If you are a fan of Age of Mythology, this game has the right mix for you. Fight mythical creatures and mingle with the gods!
• Expansion - The Immortal Thrones Expansion Pack
• Modable - You can create your own mods and worlds
• Skills - Your choice in skills makes a world of difference. As the game progresses, so does the difficulty, which relies on your good skill choices to be most effective. Don't screw this up.
• Classes - Your class is based on the skills you choose in the game, which may end up altering your class as you go
• Ragdoll physics - Nothing beats watching a body of a foe fly through the air like and careening across the landscape. No routine death scene here, each is unique.
• Re-playable - Fine tune your characters or play on Epic or Legendary settings for harder play

Drawbacks

• No cut scenes and minimal dialogue

• Processor: 800 MHz
• RAM: 256 MB
• Video Card RAM: 16 MB 3D video card
• DirectX Version: 8.0
• Keyboard and Mouse: Supported
• Operating System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP and Linux

• Hard Drive Space: 2GB

Released for Windows in 2004, and then released for Linux in 2009, Sacred (the first one, NOT the second) has some neat Diablo-esque features to assist in your craving.

Why get Sacred for PC?

• Classes - 8 total classes, six in the main game and two from the expansion. Gladiator, Dark Elf, Wood Elf, Battle Mage, Vampiress, Saraphim, Daemon, and Dwarf.
• Class paths - Each class starts in a different location, forging different paths with differing side quests
• Runes - continuing the class specific, runes can be class specific and help you increase your skills.
• Horses - You can own a horse to travel faster and help fight. Be careful, your horsey can die :(
• Items - Five classes of items from basic, magical, rare, unique, and set items. If you love grinding to find items, here is your game.
• Blacksmith - Imbue items and upgrade
• Combo Masters - Combine runes and skills into a mega skill!
• Multiplayer - Along with single player you can also play multiplayer!
• Environment - Day and night cycles may play a roll with your character (like the Vampiress).
• Open world - I dislike linear games, hence why Diablo like open worlds are awesome!
• Zoom - The zoom feature again. Wishing Diablo III had that.

Drawbacks

• Locked resolution at 1024x768