The short route
To understand the main story before Diablo V without playing through thirty years, start with Diablo II: Resurrected, continue with Diablo III and Reaper of Souls, then finish Diablo IV and its campaigns. The first Diablo adds context, but later entries recap its essential events.
The fifth game begins from a new position: Diablo has won and Sanctuary has fallen. We do not yet know which heroes matter, so playing every season out of fear of missing one reference is unnecessary.
The complete release order
The recommended sequence is Diablo, Diablo: Hellfire as an optional add-on, Diablo II with Lord of Destruction, Diablo III with Reaper of Souls, Rise of the Necromancer, Diablo Immortal, Diablo IV with Vessel of Hatred and Lord of Hatred, and finally Diablo V in 2029. Diablo II: Resurrected effectively replaces the original and includes Lord of Destruction.
Hellfire was developed by Synergistic Software and published by Sierra, so it remains an optional detour in this route. Immortal takes place between Diablo II and III, but this guide places it after the third game because it follows release order. Players prioritizing chronology can move it directly after Lord of Destruction.
Which expansions really matter
Lord of Destruction completes Diablo II with a new act and two additional classes. Reaper of Souls contains Diablo III’s ending. Vessel of Hatred and Lord of Hatred continue Diablo IV. Lord of Hatred editions include Vessel of Hatred, so a new player does not need to buy both separately. Rise of the Necromancer adds a class, not a campaign of comparable weight.
An expansion is not the same as a season or cosmetic pack. Our DLC, expansion and season pass guide explains which purchases add permanent story content.
Where to begin today
Diablo II: Resurrected is the best route into the classic structure. Diablo IV is the most direct entry into current systems. Blizzard says in its Diablo V presentation that inventory, runes and some requirements draw from Diablo II, while crafting looks to Lord of Hatred.
If you only play one before 2029, choose Diablo IV to reach Sanctuary’s latest state. If you play two, add Diablo II: Resurrected to understand the elements the fifth game wants to recover.
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