I feel tired. I boot up Path of Exile 2. I select my level 49 Chronomancer, and as I traverse the maze-like maps, hordes of four-arm humanoid creatures jump at me, giant insectoid monstrosities pursue me, and abyssal green devils come out of the ground to shoot infernal laser beams. But I keep moving, unstoppable (unbeatable!), freezing and exploding their bodies. I'm drowning in a stream of dopamine, having the most relaxing gaming moment I could have.

I've always admired fans of the so-called "cozy games," people who spend hours working on their farms in Stardew Valley, cleaning their islands in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or selling books in the Tiny Bookshop. I've not only admired them — I wanted to be them. I crave the chance to lose myself in the relaxing, colorful, friendly worlds like they do.. Unfortunately, I can't help but feel bored as hell. Eventually, I understood that I already had my cozy game that I could play to relax, listen to some music and just vibe. The difference is that it is an intense action RPG with a remarkably intricate skill system.

Released in early access in 2024, Path of Exile 2 is the second game in the series that put........

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