The year 2022 was full of new mobile ARPG releases.
This included fan favorites like Diablo Immortal and Undecember.
All these ARPGs had one thing in common— Pay-to-win microtransactions!
Torchlight Infinite joined this list in 2022. After spending some time in early access, version 1.0 of the game was then officially released in 2023.
As usual, being the ARPG addict that I am, I decided to give this game a try.
If you’re wondering if Torchlight Infinite is worth playing? Well, I want to say No but this game is kind of fun. So, maybe?
Let’s dive in and figure it out.
Is It Pay To Win?
During the early access period, the developers were very clear about their stance on pay-to-win items. They promised they have no plans to introduce any P2W items to the game.
And then, with the 1.0 launch, they turned the tables and introduced a pet that has P2W elements. This angered the players. Especially since the game already has a cash shop with a Gacha system.
The short answer is yes. Torchlight Infinite has P2W items. And it has a slot machine-like Gacha system for acquiring new characters, quite similar to Genshin Impact.
Addictive Combat Gameplay
Although, once I started playing the game, I completely forgot about those P2W stuff and community backlash. Because I immediately got addicted to the game.
The combat moves in Torchlight Infinite are perfectly done to the point it gets you hooked from level 1.
You don’t have to wait until you level up your character to enjoy the best moves, the game unlocks some really fun skills for you to enjoy from early levels.
These skills include some movement-based actions that are so satisfying to use.
For example, the Berzerker-style character I was playing has a jump-slam attack that can be used continuously without any cooldowns. Just press and hold the button and it keeps slamming. This was so much fun to use.
Uninspired Story & Voice Acting
Unfortunately, the story in Torchlight Infinite was uninspired and skippable. The cutscenes in particular were so bad and it constantly reminded me that this is a mobile-first game.
And the voice acting made things even worse. They just did not fit the character personalities and the dialogs were so cheesy it made me cringe many times.
PC & Mobile Cross-Play
The only thing that made me come back to the game was the cross-play feature between PC and mobile. I love playing ARPGs on my phone whenever I’m away from home and feel bored. It’s fun to farm some loot while waiting in line at places or while visiting relatives.
Compared to other low-quality mobile games, Torchlight Infinite is much more enjoyable when playing on a phone or tablet.
Do People Play This Game?
Apparently, yes. Since the 1.0 launch, a lot of players have started playing Torchlight Infinite. According to Steam Charts, over 3,000 people are playing the game on average.
Is Torchlight Worth It?
I have mixed feelings about Torchlight Infinite. But I’m going to say that it is worth playing.
Mainly because it’s a free-to-play mobile-first title. So the P2W elements are expected. Thankfully, it’s not as bad as Diablo Immortal.
I really enjoyed the combat in Torchlight Infinite. And since I rarely, and I mean very rarely, spend real money in cash shops, I had no trouble enjoying the game.
Give it a try, if you have fun keep playing. If not, just uninstall it. It’s that simple.