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Diablo III vs The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Diablo III
Diablo IIIAn epic hack-and-slash adventure battling the forces of Hell.
The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate
The Bard's Tale III: Thief of FateJourney through time‑warped realms to stop the Mad God Tarjan.
Overview
Description

Diablo III is a dark fantasy action RPG that continues the legendary Diablo saga. Players choose from iconic classes and embark on a quest to defeat the Prime Evil across a sprawling, loot‑filled world. The game offers both a compelling single‑player story and robust online co‑op, letting friends team up to tackle challenging dungeons and seasonal events.

After defeating Mangar, heroes receive a dire warning: the Mad God Tarjan has razed Skara Brae. They must rally refugees and embark on a quest across fractured realms to halt his wrath. This third installment expands the Bard’s Tale universe with new classes, time‑warped worlds, and an auto‑mapping system. The game retains its first‑person, pseudo‑3D exploration of towns, dungeons, and wilderness, now enriched with Geomancer and Chronomancer classes, multiple themed realms, and classic turn‑based combat for a nostalgic yet fresh RPG experience.

Pricing
Paid (One-time)
Paid (One-time)
Category
Action RPG
CRPG
Best for
Action RPG fans
Fans of classic RPGs
Specifications
General
msrp
$59.99
—
release date
2012-05-15
1988-12-31
Specifications
developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Interplay Productions
publisher
Square Enix, Blizzard Entertainment
Electronic Arts
age rating
PEGI 16, ESRB M
ESRB T
multiplayer
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Single player
critic score
83/100
—
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Rich, atmospheric world with deep lore.
  • Highly replayable with seasons and adventure mode.
  • Robust co‑op experience across multiple platforms.
  • Extensive loot and character customization.
  • Rich class variety with two new spellcasters
  • Innovative time‑warp realms provide diverse settings
  • Auto‑mapping eases navigation of complex dungeons
  • Classic retro charm appeals to nostalgia
Cons
  • Endgame can feel grind‑heavy for some players.
  • Microtransaction shop for cosmetic items.
  • Online connectivity required for most features.
  • Dated graphics by modern standards
  • Limited user interface compared to contemporary RPGs
  • Steep learning curve for players unfamiliar with old‑school mechanics
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

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Diablo III
Diablo III

An epic hack-and-slash adventure battling the forces of Hell.

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Ishar 3: The Seven Gates of Infinity
Ishar 3: The Seven Gates of Infinity

Epic time‑travel RPG with 100+ living characters.

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The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight
The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight

Venture through endless wilderness and wield the Archmage's legendary spells

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Realms of Arkania III: Shadows over Riva

Sinister forces haunt Riva in this classic 3D fantasy RPG.

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Diablo III offers modern hack‑and‑slash action, online co‑op, and extensive loot for $59.99, while The Bard's Tale III delivers a classic turn‑based retro RPG experience for free but with dated graphics and no multiplayer.

Key differences

  • •Gameplay style: real‑time hack‑and‑slash vs. turn‑based turn‑based combat
  • •Graphics: modern 3D visuals vs. 1988 retro pseudo‑3D
  • •Multiplayer: online co‑op for up to four players vs. single‑player only
  • •Content volume: seasonal/Adventure mode and loot grind vs. fixed classic campaign
  • •Price: $59.99 one‑time purchase vs. no listed price (free or unspecified)
DimensionWinner

Gameplay & fun factor

Diablo III provides fast‑paced hack‑and‑slash with skill trees, while Bard's Tale III is turn‑based and slower.

Diablo III

Platform availability

Diablo III runs on multiple modern platforms; Bard's Tale III only supports classic DOS emulation on PC.

Diablo III

Price & value

Bard's Tale III has no listed price, implying lower cost; Diablo III costs $59.99.

The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate

Multiplayer / co‑op

Diablo III supports up to four‑player online co‑op; Bard's Tale III is single‑player only.

Diablo III

Content & replayability

Diablo III offers seasons, Adventure mode, and loot grind; Bard's Tale III has a fixed narrative.

Diablo III

Difficulty & accessibility

Bard's Tale III’s turn‑based system may be easier for new players; Diablo III can feel grind‑heavy.

The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate

Graphics & performance

Diablo III features modern 3D graphics; Bard's Tale III uses dated 1988 pseudo‑3D visuals.

Diablo III

Choose Diablo III if…

Players who want modern graphics, online co‑op, and ongoing content and are willing to pay $59.99.

Choose The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate if…

Players seeking a nostalgic, low‑cost single‑player RPG with turn‑based combat and retro charm.

Common questions

What is the cost of each game?

Diablo III costs $59.99 one‑time; Bard's Tale III has no price listed (presumed free or unspecified).

Can I play with friends?

Diablo III supports up to four‑player online co‑op; Bard's Tale III is single‑player only.

Which game has more replay value?

Diablo III offers seasons, Adventure mode, and loot grinding for high replayability; Bard's Tale III has a fixed story with limited replay.