The recent launch of Path Of Exile's open beta—a new hack & slash action RPG known especially for its enormous skill tree, as you can see in the pic above—inspired us to collect some of the best looking skill and research trees spanning a variety of genres. It's interesting to see how creatively devs can handle this part of a game.
The Sphere Grid Of Final Fantasy X
source: Zenon1320's gameplay video
The Skill Tree In Hawken
source: Hawken Forums
The Passive Skill Tree In Path Of Exile
source: PathOfExile.com
The Technology Trees In The Civilization Series
source: Civfanatics
The Skill Tree In Borderlands 2
source: Borderlands2.com
The Research Tree In Ascendancy
source: Ascendancy Manual
The Heron, The Shark And The Spider In Far Cry 3
source: own screenshot
The Character Abilities Screen In The Witcher 2
source: The Witcher Wiki
The Skill Tree In Dead Island
source: Gerald Hopkins' gameplay
The Talent Tree In Star Wars: The Old Republic
source: Biowarefans
Make sure to submit your own picks in the comments below, with visual support.