The underrated 84 Metacritic co-op ARPG with the best combat in the genre (and it makes Diablo 4 feel clunky)

Despite having a rough launch in 2023 and still having several unresolved issues over two and a half years later, Diablo 4 is still one of the best ARPGs on the market by all standards. Path of Exile 2 is up there with fantastic class customization and builds, though the Soulslike gameplay hasn’t hooked all fans. Between Last Epoch, the underrated Grim Dawn, PoE 1 and 2, the still-in-the-works Titan Quest 2, and more games, the competition for Diablo 4 is quite rich.

It’s not every day that a new game comes out to challenge the status quo of hack-and-slash titles or action RPGs as a whole, but inadvertently, that’s what happened when Shape of Dreams was released. Shape of Dreams was fully released just a couple of months ago, and while it’s marketed as an action Roguelite rather than a full-blown ARPG like Diablo 4, it does pack a lot of those sweet RPG features that elevate its action loop. Though the game has a more-than-respectable 84 score on MetaCritic and over 92% positive reviews on Steam, it has flown under the radar of many gamers, and you shouldn’t be among them.

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Why You Shouldn’t Sleep on Shape of Dreams if You Like Diablo 4

At a glance, Shape of Dreams and Diablo 4 seem quite different. However, they aren’t all that much, as proven by their respective features:

• Shape of Dreams is an action Roguelite with a MOBA-like skill bar and ability system, and the typical isometric combat of ARPGs. Apart from the Roguelite elements, Diablo 4 shares these features for the most part.
• Shape of Dreams features co-op for up to 4 players, and the same goes for multiplayer in Diablo 4.
• Highly customizable skills and builds are the bread and butter of both Shape of Dreams and Diablo 4, including the option to swap things around while playing.
• Shape of Dreams features 8 unique characters, whereas Diablo 4 has seven classes to choose from.

Differences Between Shape of Dreams and Diablo 4 Explained

I’m not saying Shape of Dreams is Diablo 4 or that it’s straight-up better, as they do still have some key differences. For example, Shape of Dreams is best for quick sessions of play where you finish a run or two, and its progression is more based on moment-to-moment choices and modifiers that make each run different. Instead, Diablo 4‘s loot progression makes your build something that gets better the more time you sink into playing, rather than quick power-ups in short sessions.

Which Character to Choose in Shape of Dreams

Much like Diablo 4‘s classes determine what your experience playing the game will look like, so do Travelers in Shape of Dreams. This is due to characters having their own starting skills, called Memories, which have distinct effects and can be customized at will, while also giving you passive effects unique to your Traveler. However, upon completing the game’s tutorial, only two Travelers are immediately available, and they are Lacerta and Mist.

• Lacerta: A marksman using a rifle, fire, and explosives to dispose of his enemies.
• Mist: Quick, agile sword combat with a focus on dealing massive damage while protecting herself.

The remaining six Shape of Dreams characters can only be unlocked by meeting certain conditions, such as gathering enough Dream Dust as a currency or defeating a given boss multiple times. These are:

• Aurena: A melee support character focused on healing herself and allies while dealing damage.
• Bismuth: Speed and ranged magic for quick runs and good damage at the cost of survivability.
• Nachia: A ranged support with a penchant for summoning spirits to heal and deal damage.
• Shell: A wooden samurai assassin capable of moving swiftly while landing deadly melee blows.
• Vesper: Paladin-like character with a huge hammer to defeat enemies and the most armor in the game.
• Yubar: A spellcaster with abilities about teleportation and AoE damage.

Diablo 4 May Be an Undisputed ARPG King, But Shape of Dreams’ Combat is a Must-Try

The combat is where Shape of Dreams shines, though, as I think it feels snappier than Diablo 4‘s by a huge margin. This is still fundamentally different, though, as Shape of Dreams is more based on the equivalent of MOBA skill shots rather than casting skills on yourself or nearby targets, so there’s some getting used to it before it feels good. However, when you master it, the responsiveness of skills and how you position your character are very rewarding, and it feels like getting decent gear in Diablo 4 every single time, which to me is a big plus.

Customization is the Name of the Game in Shape of Dreams

Another important thing is that your Shape of Dreams character determines your starting skills, but you can get new ones each run and get to a point where none of your skills are from your starting kit. Furthermore, each skill can be customized with Essences, which, if you’re familiar, act pretty much like Path of Exile 2‘s Support Gems. You slot them into a given Memory and boost its performance or effects, which can completely change the gameplay. Both Essences and Memories can be purchased from vendors found throughout the map of a given run, but they can also drop at the end of each map section you complete.

This gives the combat incredible flexibility, and with this kind of fast-paced, quick-progression approach, Shape of Dreams feels more like leveling in Diablo 4 than its actual endgame, while also getting that kind of power level much faster. Being a Roguelite, Shape of Dreams does give you resources to customize your build and maximize your run, but it also means that when you die, it’s over. Its snappy runs make up for it, though, so I never found it punitive. Rather, I can tell that when I die, it’s my fault for taking on modifiers like Intense Curses, going to map nodes that are too dangerous, or fighting bosses too early.

Why You Should or Shouldn’t Play Shape of Dreams

The scope is different, and I realize that the allure of Shape of Dreams is not the same as that of Diablo 4, especially as someone who has historically preferred games with long-term replayability, like MMOs. Yet, I think the combat is what stands out here, and the game does deliver on its promise that there is no meta build and that each run is unique, which makes toying with Travelers, Memories, and Essences a hidden gem in the genre.

Released

June 5, 2023

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact