Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection is a great way to slay on the go
Since its launch in 2023, I’ve put well over a thousand hours into Diablo IV. I could have done something much more constructive with that time, sure, but I have no regrets; slaying demons and growing ever-more powerful in the process is just a great way to unwind at the end of a hard day. And now there’s a new way to play that means I’ll likely spend even more time in the dark world of Sanctuary, with Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection now available on Switch 2.
If you’re unfamiliar with Diablo IV, it’s the latest entry in an action RPG series that’s been going for 30 years. In each entry you’re able to play as characters across multiple classes, fighting against the forces of hell to protect the world of Sanctuary. Diablo IV is the most expansive yet, with a large open world to explore, an epic story to unravel, a varied selection of characters classes, and a vast amount of endgame content.
Like nearly all actions RPGs, the gameplay loop of Diablo IV is truly addictive when you get going, with you heading out to explore the world and complete activities, gaining experience and loot along the way, then returning to a town to look over your spoils and perhaps tweak your skill tree. Over time, you’ll unlock more ways to customise your best gear to grow ever-more powerful. But to tackle the hardest content Diablo IV has to offer, you’ll have to make use of synergies between your gear, skills and various gameplay systems.
Being the Age of Hatred Collection, Diablo IV arrives on Switch 2 bundled alongside its two expansions, which offer additional character classes to play as, more locations to explore, additional story content and more gameplay systems to engage with. And while the first expansion was disappointing on its own, the second more than makes up for it.
While it’s quite a demanding game with lots happening on-screen, especially when you reach the endgame, the Switch 2 version of Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection doesn’t disappoint in terms of visuals or performance. Two graphics options are available: one which prioritises visuals, offering increased resolution and special effects while targeting 30fps, and another that tones the visuals down a little to target 40fps. Needless to say, there’s not much between them, but 40fps does make the gameplay seem much smoother. The framerate does drop a little when things get hectic, however.
The main thing to be aware of before buying Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection is that you need to have an online connection to play it – there is no offline play like there is in the Switch version of Diablo III: Eternal Collection. So, while it is great to be able to play Diablo IV on the go, you’ll not be able to play absolutely anywhere.
If that’s not an issue for you, though, then you should definitely consider picking up the Switch 2 version of Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection. It offers tens (if not hundreds or thousands) of hours of intense and rewarding action RPG gameplay, with seasonal updates keeping things fresh and the option to play alongside others in co-op. And if you’re already a Diablo IV player looking for way to make spending time in Sanctuary more accessible, it will serve you very well indeed.
