The Darkening of Tristram returns to Diablo 3 soon, here's what you need to know

The classic The Darkening of Tristram event returns shortly to Diablo 3, which celebrates the anniversary of the classic franchise. What better way to remember where it all began, than to go back? For this limited time event, players will be able to step back into a version of Diablo 1, only rebuilt in the more modern engine of D3. Some players wonder why this hasn’t been added to Diablo 4, and that’s probably a fair shout.

However, the dungeon was designed years ago for Diablo 3, so it could take a significant amount of work to build The Darkening of Tristram in Diablo 4. For now, we’ll have to settle for seasonal content and limited-time events.

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Diablo 3 brings back The Darkening of Tristram event to resurrect Diablo 1, for a limited time

Diablo 3’s The Darkening of Tristram event will be available for a limited time, beginning on January 3, 2025 at 4 pm PST. This will end on January 31, 2025. There are two parts to this event, one of which has already begun. The journey into Tristram’s past begins with a group of mysterious cultists. In Adventure Mode, you’ll be able to spot Cultists that will give you clues that will ultimately lead to a portal.

You'll likely find yourself back here in Act 1 for the event (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

While you wait on Season 7’s Witch Powers, why not return to Tristram with Diablo 3’s The Darkening of Tristram? Once January 3, 2025 rolls around, you’ll be able to enter the portal, and dive back into some familiar areas of Diablo 1. Sure, you can already visit Tristram in D3, but not in the same way.

According to Blizzard Entertainment’s blogpost, the Diablo 3 The Darkening of Tristram version you enter uses “glorious RetroVision” to recreate the familiar cathedral. It’s a far more grimdark experience than what you’d normally find in the previous iteration of Blizzard’s hit Action RPG.

Completing various activities in this event will yield cosmetic rewards, which include unique transmogrification effects, achievements, portraits, pets, and much more. The Blizzard website teases a cool red banner, as well as what looks like a Butcher pet/minion.

It is interesting that Blizzard has continued to put this in Diablo 3, even though the game is no longer receiving new, seasonal content. At this time we also don’t know if there will be anything new, when it comes to the actual content of the event, or if it will be the same as last year.

For example, last year’s event, players went to the Old Ruins in Act 1, while in Adventure Mode, for part of the event. It will be interesting to see if anything has changed for this event, when it begins on January 3, 2025.

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