Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Gory dungeon crawler has strong multiplayer features.
Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know Diablo III: Eternal Collection is an action role-playing game for the Nintendo Switch in which heroes fight to save a fantasy world from demons and monsters. Viewing the action from a fixed raised perspective, players use swords, axes, maces, hammers, and magic to attack hordes of human and nonhuman enemies (spiders, ghouls, trees, etc.), often resulting in sprays of blood, gore, and limbs that stain the environment red. Thousands of enemies will be slaughtered over the course of the campaign. The player's character -- who can be male or female -- is a noble warrior clearly fighting on the side of good, but he or she makes little effort to solve any problems using means other than violence. Parents should also be aware that this game contains occasional instances of mild profanity, and that while there are no scenes meant to be sexy or sexual, one of the enemies that players face is a topless female demon.
Community Reviews
What’s It About?
DIABLO III: ETERNAL COLLECTION marks the first time this classic PC game has appeared on Nintendo hardware. It puts players in the armor of a heroic warrior attempting to protect the world of humans from being consumed amid a war between heaven and hell. The game begins with players choosing the class (and gender) of their protagonist, ranging from the physically adept barbarian, a master of swords and axes, to the dark magic wielding witch doctor, who can summon the undead to aid her in battle. Each has a unique set of skills and abilities that eventually become unlocked through play. Players are then thrown into the world of Sanctuary, which is broken into multiple areas above and below ground besieged by demons, succubae, ghouls, and other menacing creatures. These monsters must be dispatched en route to completing quests, with objectives ranging from collecting artifacts to dispatching bosses. As the story progresses, the player's character takes on several companions, each with their own backstory, and works to earn advanced abilities, discover legendary weapons, and craft more powerful gear. The adventure can be experienced alone, with a group of friends in the same room using one or multiple Switch consoles, or with a party online. The Eternal Collection includes not just the base game, but also a pair of expansion packs and some Legend of Zelda-themed flourishes, including a Triforce portrait frame, a Cucco companion pet, and the ability to change gear to make it look like Ganondorf's armor.
Is It Any Good?
For some players, the Switch edition of this classic dungeon crawler may well prove the best way to experience it. Diablo III: Eternal Collection isn't quite as visually spiffy as other versions (though if you're playing on the Switch's smaller screen rather than a TV, you'll hardly notice the difference), but it makes playing together with friends in the same room easier than ever, thanks to the ability to locally connect up to four Switch consoles. The Switch's portability means you can play with friends anywhere. What's more, playing with the Switch's Joy-Cons (or a Pro Controller) provides more direct control over your hero, including the ability to flick a joystick to quickly evade an attack -- very handy if an enemy suddenly casts a spell with a massive area of effect.
These perks -- plus the inclusion of two major expansions and several little Zelda-themed extras -- aside, Diablo III: Eternal Collection remains the gold standard of dungeon crawling adventure. It provides an epic world with scores of locations to explore and an engaging story spun organically and efficiently during both quieter moments in towns and in the heat of combat. With hundreds of skills and skill-altering rune combinations, each class is unique. Combat can feel completely different from one moment to the next based on how you've equipped your character, with wonderfully imaginative attack animations that help ensure fighting the legions of hell never grows old. For players capable of handling the game's more gruesome elements, Diablo III: Eternal Collection will provide weeks -- perhaps even months -- of high-quality, old-school hack 'n' slash action.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in the media. Is the impact of the violence in Diablo III: Eternal Collection affected by the distant camera that limits some of the intensity of the gory imagery? Would the bloody violence be intensified by a closer camera or even first-person viewpoint?
How does playing with friends change the gaming experience? Do you enjoy working as a team, or do you prefer going it alone?
Game Details
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
- Release date: November 2, 2018
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Last updated: September 30, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
-
Torchlight II
Bloody fantasy tale is easy to play, stands test of time.
-
Hearthstone
Popular card game shuffles fun with amusing turn-based play.
-
World of Warcraft
Become a hero in an enormous online fantasy world.
For kids who love fantasy
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate