Diablo

Diablo is the Spanish word meaning "devil" and is used in various contexts in popular culture. In video games, it refers to a long-running fantasy action role-playing game series from Blizzard Entertainment.

The first Diablo, released in 1996, introduced Sanctuary, a demon-haunted world where players descend through randomized dungeons to confront Diablo, the eponymous demon lord. The game's loot-driven progression, atmospheric storytelling, and isometric hack-and-slash gameplay helped define the action role-playing game (ARPG) genre.

Diablo II (2000) expanded the world, added more character classes, and introduced online play via Battle.net; its expansion, Lord of Destruction (2001), added new acts and end-game content. Diablo III (2012) featured modernized visuals and a refined loot loop, followed by the Reaper of Souls expansion (2014) and the Rise of the Necromancer pack (2017).

Diablo IV (2023) returns to a darker tone and introduces an open-world structure and ongoing seasonal content, with classes such as Barbarian, Druid, Sorcerer, Rogue, and Necromancer. Across entries, the series emphasizes cooperative play, deep character customization, and a continuing narrative about the conflict between humanity and demonic forces in Sanctuary.

The Diablo franchise is one of the best-known and best-selling PC game series, with a broad impact on the ARPG genre and a lasting fan community.