Diablo III: Reaper of Souls is a strong fit if you want more campaign, a new class, and a reason to keep playing after the story. Its biggest additions are a fifth act, the Crusader, and Adventure Mode, which makes bounties and randomized Nephalem Rifts the core of a repeatable loot loop. It is a more conditional choice if Diablo III’s combat and gear-grinding never appealed to you—or if you are deciding between editions without checking what your platform’s version includes.
What Reaper of Souls adds
Blizzard’s March 25, 2014 launch announcement described the expansion as adding Act V, the Crusader, a level cap of 70, Adventure Mode, randomized bounties, Nephalem Rifts, and the Mystic artisan. These are the expansion’s launch-era features, not a guide to present-day balance or store pricing.
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A new story chapter
Act V carries the campaign through Westmarch and the Pandemonium Fortress, bringing Malthael into the conflict. That gives the expansion more than an endgame update: there is a substantial new setting and story to play through.
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The Crusader is a heavily armored, defensive hero built around shields, flails, close-range attacks, and holy abilities. Blizzard’s class guide identifies the Crusader as requiring Reaper of Souls and lists Wrath as the class resource. Its mix of defense and holy ranged attacks offers a different style from simply continuing with an existing character.
#1 Best Overall
Adventure Mode, bounties, and rifts
Adventure Mode lets players take on bounties across the campaign’s acts, while Nephalem Rifts offer randomized dungeons and loot. These are the main additions for players who want repeatable activities after finishing the story. GameSpot reviewer Carolyn Petit called Adventure Mode the expansion’s most significant addition, saying it made existing content more rewarding.
The Mystic
The Mystic adds options for customizing loot. In Petit’s review, those include changing a randomly generated item property and changing an item’s appearance. This gives equipment more room for adjustment, though it remains part of a game centered on finding and improving gear.
Rank #2
- Diablo III: Reaper of Souls is an expansion pack for the action role-playing video game Diablo III
The main pros and cons
| What to weigh | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| More campaign | Act V adds new locations and Malthael’s story, so the expansion offers narrative content as well as systems for repeat play. |
| More class variety | The shield-and-flail Crusader brings a heavily defensive, holy-attack play style. The class requires Reaper of Souls. |
| A more substantial endgame loop | Bounties and randomized rifts provide repeatable activities and loot after the campaign. This is the clearest reason to expect to keep playing. |
| Loot customization | The Mystic lets players alter an item property or appearance, as described in the review. |
| It does not replace Diablo III’s core appeal | The expansion builds on the same combat-and-loot foundation. If that loop is the problem, its additions may not be enough. |
| Repeat play is still loot-driven | Adventure Mode makes repeatable rewards more accessible, but players who dislike replaying activities to improve gear may not enjoy the endgame as much. This is an inference from the mechanics, not a measured player finding. |
Who is likely to enjoy it?
It is a better fit if you already like Diablo III
The expansion makes the most sense for someone who enjoys Diablo III’s combat and gear progression and wants more campaign content plus activities to return to afterward. The story and Crusader are meaningful additions, while Adventure Mode gives the game a longer-term loop.
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It may not change a detractor’s mind
In a review published March 27, 2014, GameSpot’s Carolyn Petit rated the expansion 8/10, but also warned: “If you’ve played Diablo III before and found that it wasn’t for you, the changes Reaper of Souls makes to the game won’t be far-reaching enough to change your mind.” The expansion broadens the experience; it does not turn it into a different kind of game.
Rank #3
Check the edition before you buy
Edition names and contents vary by platform, so check the exact listing for your system and account for any base game or expansion you already own.
- Xbox: The Xbox Ultimate Evil Edition listing says it contains both Diablo III and Reaper of Souls. The listing also says online multiplayer requires Game Pass Essential, Premium, or Ultimate, sold separately. That subscription detail is Xbox-specific and may change; check the current store listing before relying on it.
- Nintendo Switch: Blizzard’s 2018 Eternal Collection announcement says the edition includes the base game, Reaper of Souls, and Rise of the Necromancer.
- Other platforms and regions: The sources establish neither current standalone PC pricing nor region-specific availability. Confirm the edition contents and current checkout price on your platform’s store before buying.
A listing called “Diablo III: Eternal Collection” or “Diablo III Reaper of Souls console edition” can be a useful search starting point, but the title alone does not confirm seller, region compatibility, stock, or price. Verify those details on the actual listing.
Verdict
Reaper of Souls is most compelling as an expansion to a game you already enjoy: it adds a complete story chapter and class, then gives you bounties and rifts for continued play. If you are unsure whether Diablo III itself suits you, the campaign additions are real, but the central combat-and-loot loop remains the deciding factor.
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