First time ARPG buyer, what should I get?

Don’t think you’d go wrong with either game playing through the campaign for the first time. Both are good in that regard. Getting straight to it, POE2 is overall a better ARPG imo. I’m a casual as well, but I’d still pick POE2 if I had to choose one.

D4 I haven’t seriously played since season 3-4. From what I’ve heard, watched and read the game is a lot more fast paced since those earlier seasons. It’s a lot more similar to D3 in that regard now. I prefer a slower methodical approach to combat. New Warlock class is gonna make me pick up the game again to see how it is. Excited to see how that class plays and feels.

Both endgame loops for me are pretty ass, but that’s more so me not liking the overall general direction ARPGs have been headed for years. Don’t have much love for seasonal loop system. I prefer more long term progression. Maps in POE2 is imo a fundamentally different game than playing the campaign is currently. D4 I haven’t experience its recent endgame systems so can’t comment on it. What applies to both though, whether you’re doing maps, or pits.

That “zone” you hit where you’re clearing mobs and just moving through the map, maybe something else on in the background etc, whatever that is, I don’t like it. It doesn’t feel like gaming to me. It honestly feels more akin to doomscrolling.

PoE2 is like crack. Be warned.

You can pretty much pick up and play with D4 and have moderate success.

That will not be the case for PoE2.

D4 if you want a more straightforward experience similar to your D3 days. You may get the hang of it faster. POE2 if you wanna think and have more depth. It is harder though

Poe2 has much more depth, even right now than D4. Imo your decisions should rest on if you think that is an upside or downside.

Totally worth it, unless you like casual brainless games, then go d4

I’ve played both and I’ll try to give a bit more of an in deep answer:

D4: go for this if you’re the “I don’t have more than 40mins a day” type of guy, D4 is very linear and you don’t require thinking AT ALL to cruise to endgame, it’s basically a big number simulator once you have about 4h of gameplay and a bit of items. If you’re into that simple play style then D4 is your game for sure. Still fun, still very cool to try classes but very linear and lacks actual endgame IMO.

Poe2: this is a get stuck for hours and hours of progression until you get a better weapon/armor piece kinda game.

You will see A LOT of walls in your first playthru specially once you get to maps, but at the same time is very regarding once you see the progression of your char. There is a lot of theory crafting involved (you have no idea) and complex build pathing, ofc this can be solved following a guide no problem (which I recommend for your first serious char). You can make your own build and try to wing it and study how to get better and it’s VERY regarding once you learn a thing or two about how the builds works in this game.

TLDR: go for D4 if you into linear progression easy game and you like big numbers without much effort Go for PoE2 if you like a more involved playstyle and want a regarding feeling when you get better and understand more the game.

Either way hope you enjoy the game you chose :)

I personally am not a top down kind of game player either ... i played both Diablo 4 and POE2 and I personally found POE2 more enjoyable but I could not tell you why exactly...

PoE2

POE2s campaign is peak I can only recommend it