Punishing Death Penalties and Repetitive Leveling Undermine Long-Term Enjoyment and Build Diversity

I’d like to share some thoughts about a few systems in Path of Exile 2 that I feel are holding the experience back, especially for players who engage with the game across multiple seasons.

First, the 10% experience loss on death feels unnecessarily harsh, particularly at higher levels where each percentage point represents hours of gameplay. While I understand the need to create consequences for dying, the current system feels more punishing than motivating. It discourages experimentation and risk-taking, especially when deaths can sometimes occur due to unpredictable mechanics, server issues, or unavoidable bursts. Progress in an ARPG should feel challenging but rewarding—not like it can be undone in a single moment.

Another major concern is the repetitive leveling process each league. Having to go through the same storyline and grind out a character (or multiple characters) from scratch every season becomes mentally draining over time. The lack of alternate leveling options makes this process feel more like an obligation than an exciting journey. Balancing game mechanics isn’t enough to keep this fresh if the path to endgame remains static and slow, especially for players who enjoy trying out multiple builds.

The crafting system, while deep and potentially powerful, suffers from a similar issue—too much reliance on RNG. For most players, getting a specific result feels more like gambling than crafting. Without more deterministic options or accessible pathways to targeted outcomes, the system risks alienating players who want to engage with it meaningfully but don’t have the time, currency, or encyclopedic knowledge to navigate its complexity.

Combined with the steep leveling curve and harsh death penalties, the unpredictable and often inaccessible crafting system further compounds the feeling that progression in Path of Exile 2 is more about enduring grind and luck than skill and strategy.

Thanks for taking the time to read through my feedback. I know a lot of work has gone into Path of Exile 2, and I genuinely appreciate the effort the team puts into building such a complex and ambitious game. I’m sharing this because I care about the experience and want to see it grow in a way that’s rewarding for a wide range of players.