Lord of Hatred proves that this Diablo game will forever reign as the king of the franchise

The identity of Diablo 4 has changed drastically in the past two years since its launch, with core features undergoing reworks and overhauls that have ultimately improved the game. While the seasonal changes Diablo 4 routine brands have had an impact on the overall state of the game, it's the expansions that really show an evolution in the game's core identity. With Lord of Hatred on the horizon, it has become increasingly clear that Diablo 4 draws heavy inspiration from the series' past, with one entry in particular serving as the heaviest influence.

Even if Diablo 4 has seen a series of highs and lows over the course of its life, the game is arguably the best place it's ever been at the start of Season 11. The release of the Paladin class for those who pre-purchase Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is just the icing on the cake for a solid season of improvements, with more to come when the Lord of Hatred expansion releases in April 2026. Diablo 4 itself may not be every fan's cup of tea, but the fact that it draws so much from Diablo 2 to great acclaim reveals that the classic entry is responsible for the success of the modern franchise, and this is likely to continue with the upcoming expansion.

Diablo 4 is slowly turning into Diablo 2, and Lord of Hatred solidifies this trend

While Diablo 4 draws from each entry in the series, such as the butcher from Diablo 1 and the Paragon system from Diablo 3, Diablo 2 is the basis on which the majority of Diablo 4 is built. Diablo 4 reintroduces players to Lilith, who was first mentioned in Diablo 2and brings back a similar Skill Tree system and weapon fixing system. Beyond the base game, the tent features i Diablo 4s expansions have been central parts of Diablo 2 experience, almost making the game feel like it's turning into another version of Diablo 2 completely.

Diablo 2 features added in Vessel of Hatred

mercenaries
Nahantu and Kurast
Runes

Vessel of Hatred and the 2.0 update for Diablo 4 really changed the game from its launch mode and brought it more in line with Diablo 2. The Mercenary system that allowed players to hire NPCs to help them returned with this expansion, and has since become an essential feature for players looking to remain competitive in Diablo 4 meta. Runes were also one Diablo 2 feature that got in Diablo 4 via Vessel of Hatred and have similarly become meta stacks. The setting of Vessel of Hatred in the jungles of Nahantu and the city of Kurast felt familiar Diablo 2 fans too, because the place was the place for Diablo 2 Act 3, where players battled Mephisto and the corrupt Children of Zakarum.

Diablo 2 features in Lord of Hatred

Paladin class
Horadric cube

Comes with the announcement of Diablo 4s second expansion, Lord of Hatred, are even more Diablo 2-original features. The first of these features is already available in the form of the Paladin class, a fan-favorite class and one of the most requested classes to be added Diablo 4. The Horadric Cube also returns in Lord of Hatred, bringing with it a new crafting mechanic that sounds like its Diablo 2 counterpart, where some items could be transformed into others using recipes in the cube.

With Diablo 4 using so many Diablo 2 features, it's clear which game is the franchise favorite

Even if Diablo 4 is currently the definitive one Diablo experience, it is difficult to see past its main influence. With so many of its oft-talked about mechanics stemming from Diablo 2it's clear that the franchise owes so much of its continued popularity to this entry. Diablo 2 is widely considered to be the best entry in the series, so it's not surprising Diablo 4 would build on its foundation. But to what degree Diablo 4 has adopted functions from Diablo 2 shows that Blizzard captured lightning in a bottle back in 2000, and replicating that success means relying on its proven mechanics 25 years later and likely beyond.