Game · in order
Diablo Games in Order
The four mainline Diablo games tell one connected story across the world of Sanctuary. Release order is story order: Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo III, then Diablo IV.
Diablo Games in Order — complete list
Check off what you've finished — it saves automatically · See all your lists → ·
Why this order?
Diablo is one of the defining action-RPG series, and its appeal is simple: descend into Sanctuary, slay demons, and chase ever-better loot. The good news for newcomers is that the order is almost entirely intuitive. For the four numbered games, release order and story order are the same thing, so the list you see by default is also the chronological path through the Eternal Conflict between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells.
Release order runs Diablo (1996), Diablo II (2000), Diablo III (2012), and Diablo IV (2023). Each game opens a fresh chapter and is built to be playable on its own, so you do not strictly need the earlier titles to enjoy a later one. That said, the lore genuinely builds across the series: the fall of Tristram, the wanderings of the Prime Evils, the Worldstone, and the rise of new heroes and villains all connect. Playing in order rewards you with payoffs that land harder when you have seen what came before.
The one thing that trips people up is Diablo Immortal (2022), a free-to-play mobile and PC entry. Here the distinction matters: by release date it arrived between Diablo III and Diablo IV, but its story is set earlier, roughly five years after Diablo II and well before Diablo III. So in the in-world timeline it slots between II and III, even though you would have played it after III. It is real and canon, yet it is a separate game with its own monetization model, not part of the numbered mainline run, so we treat it as an optional aside rather than a required stop.
If you enjoy this kind of loot-driven dungeon crawl, Diablo's lineage runs parallel to genre cousins like Path of Exile and Torchlight, while Blizzard's own World of Warcraft shares its high-fantasy DNA. Start at the beginning, or jump into Diablo IV and work backward when the lore hooks you.
Timeline 1996–2023
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Diablo games are there?
There are four mainline numbered games: Diablo (1996), Diablo II (2000), Diablo III (2012), and Diablo IV (2023). A separate free-to-play entry, Diablo Immortal (2022), released between Diablo III and Diablo IV, though its story is set earlier, between Diablo II and Diablo III.
What order should I play Diablo in?
Play in release order, which is also story order for the numbered games: Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo III, then Diablo IV. The four mainline games tell a connected tale across Sanctuary, so this single order works for both newcomers and lore fans.
Do I need to play the older Diablo games first?
No. Each game is designed to stand alone and is accessible to newcomers. But the lore builds across the series, so playing in order gives later story beats more weight.
Where does Diablo Immortal fit?
Diablo Immortal (2022) released after Diablo III, but its story takes place earlier in the timeline, between Diablo II and Diablo III. It is canon but separate from the numbered mainline games, so it is optional rather than required.
Can I start with Diablo IV?
Yes. Diablo IV is built to welcome new players and explains its world without requiring the earlier games. You can always go back to Diablo II and III afterward to enjoy the deeper lore.
Is release order the same as chronological order for Diablo?
For the four mainline numbered games, yes. Each was released in the order its story takes place, so the default release list doubles as the in-world timeline. (Diablo Immortal is the exception: it released after Diablo III but is set earlier in the story.)
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
← Browse all orders