Hey friend! If you‘re wondering whether you can play the classic action RPG Diablo 2 for free in 2024, I‘ve got you covered.
As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I totally understand the desire to relive epic adventures like Diablo 2 without spending money. The good news is there are some limited options to play for free or cheap.
But first, let‘s clearly answer the question…
Is Diablo 2 Completely Free Now?
The short answer is: unfortunately no, there is currently no way to legally play the full Diablo 2 or Diablo 2 Resurrected games entirely for free.
Both the original Diablo 2 and the 2021 remaster Diablo 2 Resurrected require purchase to play the full experience.
However, all hope is not lost! Keep reading, I‘ll explain how you may be able to play for free temporarily, score discounts, or find excellent free alternatives.
Can You Play Original Diablo 2 Free Now?
Let‘s start with the status of the original Diablo 2 and Lord of Destruction expansion released back in 2000-2001.
These classic games defined the action RPG genre for an entire generation of gamers. Many have fond memories hacking away at demons and hoarding epic loot.
According to gaming industry experts, there are no free versions, trials or legal emulators available for original Diablo 2.
The only way to access Diablo 2 and its Lord of Destruction expansion today is to purchase them.
Luckily, it‘s quite affordable! Blizzard sells a bundle called Diablo 2: Prime Evil Collection for only $9.99. This includes both original games and allows you to re-experience the dark gothic world of Diablo 2.
Considering modern games cost $60 or more, paying just $10 for this piece of gaming history is a steal!
How About Diablo 2 Resurrected – Can You Play For Free?
Now let‘s discuss Diablo 2 Resurrected, the 2021 remaster with upgraded 3D visuals and quality of life improvements.
While Resurrected normally costs $39.99, Blizzard has run limited-time free trials in the past.
For example, in November 2022 there was a free Diablo 2 Resurrected weekend on Xbox consoles announced on Xbox news.
Gamers could download and play the entire game for free on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. The trial gave you access to all 7 character classes and early Act 1 content.
So while Resurrected isn‘t permanently free, keep an eye out for future free trial events on platforms like Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or PC.
These weekend-long free promotions let you preview the game before committing to purchase. It‘s not the full experience, but a nice bonus for frugal gamers!
How Can You Get Diablo 2 Resurrected at the Lowest Price?
If you love the free trial and decide to buy, here are some tips to get Diablo 2 Resurrected at the cheapest price:
Watch for sale discounts on the Battle.net Shop. The digital version often drops to around $19.99 during promotions.
Browse used physical copies at game stores. You can frequently find pre-owned discs for PS4, Xbox One, or Switch for under $30.
Compare pricing globally – in some regions, Resurrected costs ~$15 USD converting from local currencies. For example, Argentina or Turkey.
Wait for holiday sales like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Christmas deals. Blizzard typically discounts games further during these seasonal sales events.
Following gaming deal sites like Wario64 on Twitter can help you snag Diablo 2 Resurrected at 50% off or more if you‘re patient!
What About "Free" Downloads of Diablo 2?
Now you may be wondering – can I just download Diablo 2 free from some website? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but absolutley not!
There are no legitimate sources offering full free downloads of Diablo 2, Diablo 2 Resurrected, or other Blizzard games.
Any site claiming to have free downloads is illegally distributing cracked or pirated copies of the game.
While it may sound tempting, gaming industry analysts strongly warn against piracy. It poses risks like malware infections, violates Blizzard‘s terms, and infringes on the work of developers.
The only legal free option is the shareware demo for the very first Diablo game from 1996, available on Blizzard‘s website. But this is just a tiny portion of the full Diablo 1.
Bottom line – stick to officially licensed stores for legal and safe copies of Diablo games. Protect yourself and support developers!
Can You Play Diablo Immortal For Free?
There is one free Diablo option available – the newer game Diablo Immortal released in 2022 on PC and mobile.
Diablo Immortal features similar dark gothic realms and satisfying hack and slash combat as the original Diablo games.
It was built specifically as a free-to-play mobile game. The entire core Diablo Immortal game can be played without spending a cent.
All the PvE story content, zone exploration, classes, abilities and loot are fully accessible for free. There are optional in-app purchases for cosmetics or gear boosts, but these are not at all necessary to enjoy hours of gameplay.
So if you want to revisit the world of Diablo absolutely free, give the mobile version Immortal a shot!
Just don‘t expect the same old-school experience as original Diablo 2. Think of it more as a modern bonus for mobile gamers.
Let‘s Compare Diablo 2 Options – Free vs Paid
Here is a quick summary of what Diablo 2 content you can access in free vs paid versions:
| Game | Free Version | Paid Version |
|---|---|---|
| Diablo 2 | No free option | $9.99 on Battle.net |
| Diablo 2 Resurrected | Limited time trials | $39.99 on Battle.net |
| Diablo Immortal | Fully free | Optional purchases |
The only permanently free Diablo game is the newer Immortal for smartphones. To play the defining classic Diablo 2, you‘ll need to buy it.
But again, at only $10 for a game with thousands of hours of replayability? What a bargain!
Epic Diablo-Style Games You Can Play 100% Free
If spending any money is out of the question, check out these satisfying free alternatives to Diablo 2:
Path of Exile
This free-to-play PC action RPG is considered by many to be the true spiritual successor to Diablo 2. It‘s complex, gritty, and entirely free with ethical microtransactions.
With seven expansive character classes, random procedurally-generated maps, and thousands of items to find, Path of Exile will scratch that Diablo itch. The dark fantasy visuals and mechanics are incredibly similar.
Over 25 million players have enjoyed Path of Exile for free since 2013. It‘s one of the most popular and highest rated ARPGs out there.
Torchlight Infinite
Torchlight Infinite is an upcoming free-to-play shared-world action RPG made by the developers of classic Torchlight games – former Diablo designers!
Releasing for PC and mobile in 2024, Torchlight Infinite promises classic hack & slash gameplay with social features like public hubs and multiplayer boss raids. And best of all, no upfront payment required.
For mobile gamers, Torchlight II is also now a premium-free remake with optional in-game purchases to speed progress.
Crusaders of Light
This impressive free mobile MMORPG released in 2017 delivers stunning console-quality visuals and responsive combat fans love about Diablo, with the added depth of MMO features.
With five character classes, massive group battles, and plenty of loot, Crusaders of Light brings a Diablo-style experience to your phone totally free. In-app purchases are limited to cosmetics.
Diablo 1 Shareware Version
As mentioned previously, a limited free demo of the original 1996 Diablo game is available. The shareware includes the first two levels of the full game.
This allows you to experience the roots of Diablo with 90s-era VGA graphics. While not the full game, it‘s an interesting retro freebie for diehard fans.
Other Notable Mentions
Here are a few more great free alternatives if the above options don‘t satisfy your ARPG cravings:
- Dungeon Hunter 5 – Mobile hack & slash with 1500+ weapons
- Hade‘s Star – Space-themed mobile RPG with strong progression
- Gatewalkers – Pixel indie with loot collection & crafting
- Darkness Rises – Mobile RPG with stunning graphics
- Enderal Forgotten Stories – Total conversion mod of Skyrim
With so many stellar free alternatives, you‘ll get your fix of RPG action and loot hunting without paying!
Can You Get Refunds for Diablo 2 if You Change Your Mind?
If you do decide to buy Diablo 2 or Diablo 2 Resurrected after all, you may be able to get a refund if you act quickly.
According to Blizzard‘s policies, refunds are available within 30 days of purchase if the game content has not been played or downloaded.
So if you immediately regret the purchase, request a refund right away before playing or accessing the download. This allows you to essentially "rent" the game for free up to 30 days!
Third-party stores like Nintendo eShop, Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Amazon, etc may have different refund criteria. But try your luck – you never know!
Let‘s Wrap Up: Getting Diablo 2 Free in 2024
Alright friend, let‘s summarize everything we learned about scoring free Diablo 2 access in 2024:
- Keep watch for limited-time free trial events of Diablo 2 Resurrected
- Request a refund promptly if you‘ve bought but not played the game
- Install legit free alternatives like Path of Exile or Diablo Immortal
- Check for discounts in sales to get Diablo 2 at lowest possible price
- Avoid illegal "free" game downloads to steer clear of risks
While not permanently free, with the right strategy you can play Diablo 2 legally at low or no cost. Personally, I‘d say the $10 for original Diablo 2 is money well spent for endless entertainment.
But try out some excellent free alternatives first if you can‘t splurge right now. Or setup price alerts and wait for that perfect 50% off discount.
Hope this inside scoop helps you get your hands on Diablo for free or cheap. Let me know if any other questions come up! Enjoy wreaking demonic destruction.
