Is Destiny 2 Worth Playing in 2025? — Here’s What You Need to Know

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Destiny 2, Bungie’s flagship loot-shooter game, has been consistently growing a dedicated player community for more than five years, with Steam boasting anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 players at any given time. With the excitement surrounding Bungie’s upcoming project Marathon and rumors of Destiny 2 preparing another step through an upcoming event, it leaves many asking: is now a suitable moment for newcomers to start playing Destiny 2?

Personally? I’d say yes. Destiny 2 is still worth playing in 2025.

As a fresh newcomer diving headfirst into the expansive universe of Destiny 2, you’ve got two primary routes to embark on this epic journey: The Free-to-Play experience or the Freemium pathway.

As a Free-to-Play Player?

Destiny 2 can be played without any initial cost, but it’s important to note that the details about what ‘free-to-play’ mean in this context aren’t always clear. After playing Destiny 2 for five years, I’ve come to understand that Bungie strategically offers a free version of the game to draw players in, and then encourages them to purchase expansions once they become invested in the game.

Hey there fellow gamer! As a freebie, I’ve got to tell ya, the game world is just a sneak peek for me. I can dive into some Strikes – those PvE missions – and get my hands dirty in Crucible – the PvP arena. But once I step out of that comfort zone, there’s a whole lot more I can’t access without shelling out some cash. It’s all hidden behind paywalls, you see.

Great news! Bungie is graciously providing the opportunity to play classic Destiny 1 raids such as Crota’s End, King’s Fall, and Vault of Glass for free. These are fantastic endgame activities. However, if you wish to explore more contemporary raids, like Salvation’s Edge (widely considered one of Destiny 2’s toughest), you will need to purchase access.

Newcomers might find the layout of Destiny 2 initially intimidating or confusing, potentially causing some to be deterred at first sight.

My Advice?

If you’re not sure if Destiny 2 suits your gaming style, give the free version a try first to get a sense of its gameplay rhythm. Engage in Bounties, pursue potent equipment, and experiment with some of their exotic weapons. If this piques your interest and you crave more? That’s when you can delve into purchasing expansions.

  • READ: 5 Things Marathon Could Learn From Destiny 2

Inviting a friend to join you also enhances the fun. If you manage to recruit someone as a Guardian, it would be great if they could accompany you too.

What Are Expansions?

Bungie’s expansions represent major updates, which introduce complete narratives, new abilities (subclasses), equipment, missions, and challenging cooperative activities known as raids. These expansions also grant access to a significant amount of content that is typically locked away.

In the culmination of a significant narrative arc, known as “The Final Form,” players encounter their final showdown with the enigmatic entity called The Witness in an awe-inspiring raid. Simultaneously, additional tales unfold across multiple seasons, which we now call “Episodes.” Each Episode unfolds over time and offers its own Battle Pass, dungeons, and plot points. However, these don’t concern you unless you’ve already invested in “The Final Form.

Currently, to grasp the entire narrative of Destiny 2, you might find yourself at a disadvantage because Bungie has withdrawn or “vaulted” earlier story content such as the Red War campaign from the game. To get a complete picture, you may need to seek explanations on YouTube channels like MyNameIsByf that provide context and insights for these missing pieces of the story.

It’s worth noting that you can still buy older expansions even if they’ve not been removed from the market. Here’s one I suggest adding to your collection:

  • Beyond Light
  • The Witch Queen
  • Lightfall

skipping Shadowkeep isn’t necessarily a problem, but if you come across an attractive deal on a complete collection during sales (which happen frequently), it might be worth picking up the whole set.

Returning Player?

If it’s been a while since you last played, perhaps since Forsaken or even before that, there are many updates to get acquainted with. The game has undergone significant changes, and we have a fresh plan for its development.

The community-made guide on the r/DestinyTheGame subreddit is incredibly helpful for both fresh and returning players of Destiny 2. It’s truly invaluable, especially since Destiny 2 can sometimes feel overwhelming. And rest assured, “New Light” players are warmly welcomed!

Is It Still Worth It?

If you’ve read this far, you might be on the verge of clicking that big “Download” button—and let me tell you, it’s worth it! I may not typically enjoy looter shooters myself, but Destiny 2 is exceptional and caters to a wide range of players.

  • Love deep sci-fi lore? Buy the story expansions and ignore everything else.
  • A PvP adrenaline junkie? Crucible and Trials of Osiris will test your skills.
  • Just want to chill after work? PvE content like Strikes and Patrols are perfect for that—and they reward gear with low stress.

For now, let’s focus on getting a good grasp of Destiny 2 as a whole before diving into Raids. They offer some top-notch content, but newcomers may find themselves spending more than five hours feeling overwhelmed due to the game mechanics.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to admit that Destiny 2 is no walk in the park—it’s a challenging game indeed! However, once you conquer the initial steep learning slope and navigate through Bungie’s somewhat bumpy introduction for newcomers, you’ll uncover an MMO shooter that delivers depth, enjoyment, and a vibrant community.

As The Final Shape paves the way for what’s to come and fresh material on the horizon, it couldn’t be more opportune to delve into Destiny 2 ahead of the impending new surge.

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2025-04-22 19:13