Maps, The Ultimate Enemy Boss in the game.

Path of Exile 2 has been an incredible journey for me as a longtime fan who started playing during the early access period. The new features, mechanics, and overall design are exciting and engaging. However, I feel compelled to share crucial feedback regarding the tight map designs, as they significantly affect gameplay and player enjoyment.

Firstly, the maps in Path of Exile 2 often feel like a blueprint for how *not* to design maps. When playing with a friend, the collision between characters turns even simple navigation into a struggle. Add crowded areas full of obstacles, and it becomes nearly impossible to dodge monster waves effectively. This frustration is compounded in events like Rituals, Expeditions, and other maps bonusses, where the already tight spaces become even more cramped with objects and enemies. These event areas, combined with collision detection, transform the map itself into a formidable adversary. While I understand the maps are procedurally generated, improving the underlying code could address these issues and drastically improve the experience. At times, it feels as though I’m battling the map design more than the monsters within it.

The frustration isn’t merely about dying in the game. Death in Path of Exile 2 carries steep penalties:
- Loss of 10% experience, a devastating setback when grinding for levels.
- Forfeiture of loot dropped on the floor, which can no longer be collected.
- Loss of all map bonuses, making the investment in these maps feel wasted.

These consequences exacerbate the already infuriating nature of tight map designs. Playing on these maps—especially indoor ones—often feels like an uphill battle against the design itself. The narrow pathways and overly detailed environments make it hard to maneuver, let alone strategize effectively. Navigating alone through these tight spaces is challenging enough. When playing with a friend, as I’ve done since launch, it becomes unbearable. Repeatedly, I’ve died because of player collision, being blocked by my friend and the restrictive map layout, unable to avoid one-shot mechanics or deadly attacks.

Adding to this is the excessive richness of map details, intended to make the maps visually appealing, which obstructs visibility of the ground. This obscures crucial gameplay elements such as enemy abilities, traps, and loot. It creates a situation where the aesthetics actively work against the player’s ability to navigate and survive, leading to immense frustration. What initially seems like a visually stunning environment quickly becomes a tedious experience filled with unnecessary annoyances.

These issues leave me feeling that I’m fighting the map design first and the monsters second. My friend and I, both nearing level 80 and having played together since launch, agree on this. The map design often overshadows the gameplay itself, forcing us to battle against tight spaces, excessive details, and poor collision mechanics. It’s not just challenging—it’s discouraging.

Path of Exile 2 has immense potential, but these map design issues need urgent attention. The frustration stemming from tight spaces, poor collision detection, and obstructive visuals significantly detracts from the overall enjoyment. Improving the procedural generation code could fix many of these problems and allow the game’s incredible mechanics to shine without being overshadowed by its maps.