Path of Exile is a free dark-fantasy action RPG from Grinding Gear Games for PC, Mac, Xbox and PlayStation. You build a character, fight through a ten-act campaign and then push the Atlas endgame. There are no matches to win: success means beating harder bosses and finishing goals before each three-month league ends.
What is Path of Exile?
Path of Exile is an online action RPG made and published by New Zealand studio Grinding Gear Games. It fully launched on October 23, 2013, and today runs on Windows, Mac, Xbox and PlayStation. It is free to play, and the studio says it will never be pay to win; most purchases are cosmetics or storage tabs. Players often call it PoE 1 to tell it apart from the separate sequel, Path of Exile 2.
You are an exile sent to Wraeclast, a cursed continent. The game is famous for deep build freedom: a huge passive skill tree, skill gems you link together and a crafting system with endless options. New content arrives in leagues. As of October 2026 the current league is Curse of the Allflame (3.29), which launched on July 24, 2026. Our Curse of the Allflame guide covers the league in detail.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Grinding Gear Games |
| Release | October 23, 2013 |
| Platforms | PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation |
| Price model | Free to play, cosmetic and convenience purchases |
| Genre | Action RPG (PvE) |
| Campaign | 10 acts, then the Atlas endgame |
| Current league | Curse of the Allflame, 3.29 (since July 24, 2026) |
What is the objective of Path of Exile?
Your first goal is to finish the ten-act campaign. After that, the game opens into the Atlas, a map of endgame areas you run using Map items. Each map's modifiers change how hard it is and what it drops. Over a league, you aim to complete the Atlas, unlock stronger content and defeat pinnacle bosses with a build that keeps getting better.
A single session might be clearing a few maps, farming the league mechanic, crafting an upgrade or trading for gear. Each league runs for roughly three months, and characters then move to the permanent Standard league while everyone else starts fresh.
How do you win a match in Path of Exile?
Path of Exile has no matches and no scoreboards in normal play, so "winning" is about reaching your own goals. For most players that means a character strong enough to beat the hardest bosses safely. The table shows what counts as success in each main part of the game.
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign (Acts 1–10) | Solo or party | Defeat each act's final boss and reach the endgame |
| Atlas of Worlds | Solo or party | Complete maps, unlock higher tiers and finish Atlas progression |
| Pinnacle and uber bosses | Solo or party | Defeat the boss without running out of portals |
| Challenge league | Your account | Complete league challenges before the league ends for cosmetic rewards |
| Hardcore | Solo or party | Same goals, but one death removes the character from the league |
The current league adds voyages under the sea. You link Charts on a Voyage board, dive in a Bathysphere and gather loot while your Allflame Lanterns keep you safe, then get out before the light fades.
How does ranked or progression work?
There is no ranked queue. Each league has a public ladder showing the highest-level characters, and that is the closest thing to a ranking. Your real progression is your character: levels, passive points, Ascendancy points earned through the Labyrinth trials, and Atlas progress, including the Voidstones you earn from top Atlas bosses. Our Labyrinth guide explains Ascendancy points step by step, and the Path of Exile guides hub collects every article we have.
Beginner tips to win more
- Follow a proven league starter build the first time rather than inventing one.
- Play softcore trade league so you can buy upgrades and learn the economy.
- Keep your resistances capped as you progress; missing resists cause most early deaths.
- Do the Labyrinth trials as you find them so you get Ascendancy points on time.
- Use a loot filter so you only see items worth picking up.
- In maps, push difficulty slowly and upgrade defence before chasing damage.
- Learn boss attacks with videos before spending your rare boss fragments.
- Pick a few league challenges as goals; they give the season a clear finish line.
How can Boosting Games help with Path of Exile?
We sell fixed-price help for players who want to reach the endgame sooner. These are starting prices as of October 2026; the exact price for your option shows before checkout. Browse everything in the Path of Exile services collection or on our Path of Exile boosting page.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Path of Exile Campaign Boost (Acts 1–10) | The ten-act campaign completed. | From $35 |
| Path of Exile Power Leveling | Character levels gained. | From $45 |
| PoE Labyrinth Carry (Ascendancy Points) | Labyrinth runs for Ascendancy points. | From $9 |
| PoE Atlas Progression Boost | Atlas progress pushed forward. | From $39 |
| PoE Pinnacle and Uber Boss Kill | A pinnacle or uber boss defeated. | From $9 |
| Path of Exile Coaching | Live coaching on builds and play. | From $15 |
Honest risk note: Grinding Gear Games' terms forbid sharing your account, and paid boosting goes against them. Piloted orders, where a booster plays on your login, carry the most risk; party play with a booster carries less, and coaching carries none. Read our account safety notice first. We never sell accounts, currency, orbs, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Path of Exile
Pick a service and option, see the exact price before you pay, and follow progress on your private order page.
See Path of Exile servicesAsk Boost Up AINew to the genre? Our page with every game explained compares how each title works, and how it works walks through an order step by step.
Related reading: Path of Exile Curse of the Allflame guide, Path of Exile Labyrinth guide, What is Path of Exile 2 and how do you win? and What is Diablo IV and how do you win?
Path of Exile FAQ
Is Path of Exile free to play?
Yes. Path of Exile is completely free on PC, Mac, Xbox and PlayStation, and Grinding Gear Games sells mostly cosmetics plus convenience items such as extra stash tabs. You can finish the campaign and reach the hardest bosses without spending money. Many players do buy a few stash tabs for convenience, but they are not required to win.
What is the current Path of Exile league?
As of October 2026 the current challenge league is Curse of the Allflame, version 3.29, which launched on July 24, 2026 on PC, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox. Its mechanic sends you on underwater voyages in a Bathysphere, using Allflame Lanterns to stay safe while you gather treasure. Grinding Gear Games has not announced the next league date yet.
Is Path of Exile the same as Path of Exile 2?
No. Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2 are separate games with separate characters, skill systems and economies, both made by Grinding Gear Games. The original game, often called PoE 1, keeps getting its own leagues, like Curse of the Allflame. Progress in one does not carry over to the other, so choose the one whose style you prefer.
How long is the Path of Exile campaign?
The campaign has ten acts. A first-time player usually needs a good number of evenings to finish it, while experienced racers can do it in a few hours. Speed depends on your build and how much you explore. After Act 10 you unlock maps and the Atlas, which is where the long-term endgame begins.
Which league should a beginner play?
Most beginners should start in the current softcore challenge league, because that is where the new content, active trading and most players are. Hardcore means a death sends your character to the permanent Hardcore league, and Solo Self-Found blocks trading and grouping. Standard is permanent and never resets, but it has none of the fresh-economy feel that makes leagues fun.
What does winning mean in Path of Exile?
There are no wins or losses against other players in normal play. Winning means setting your own goal and reaching it: finishing the campaign, completing the Atlas, defeating pinnacle and uber bosses, or earning league challenge rewards before the league ends. Each new league resets the economy, so everyone starts fresh and tries again.
New directions: Path of Exile Pinnacle and Uber Bosses Guide (2026) and all raid and dungeon guides.
Sources: Wikipedia: Path of Exile, RPGamer: Curse of the Allflame, GGG forum: Curse of the Allflame update, Path of Exile: The Game, PoE Vault: 3.29 league start.