File 11 · Online action shooter review
Destiny 2
Space-fantasy action with unrivalled shooting and six-player raids worth organising a calendar around.
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score
Nobody makes firing a weapon feel like Bungie does. In Destiny 2 every hand cannon kicks, every ability lands with a thump, and your Guardian double-jumps and glides through arenas with a grace few shooters match. Three classes — Titan, Hunter and Warlock — mix elemental subclasses into builds that range from walking tank to grenade machine.
The activities climb in ambition. Strikes are breezy three-player missions. Dungeons add puzzles and bosses for a committed trio. Raids are the summit: six players, voice chat, mechanics that demand real co-ordination, and an atmosphere nothing else in the genre touches. There is competitive multiplayer too, though the co-operative side is the reason to be here.
The problem is the front door. New players arrive to a director full of destinations, currencies and story threads that assume years of context, and some older campaigns are no longer playable. A friend who already plays is almost essential. Set aside an evening just to learn the menus.
Cost is the other caution. The base game is free and generous enough to show off the shooting, but current expansions, dungeon access and seasonal passes are separate purchases. Bundles and sales help; buying piecemeal at full price does not. If the gunplay grabs you, wait for a bundle, find a clan, and it can be a wonderful long-term hobby.
Score breakdown
The new-player path is confusing, with years of story and systems arriving at once.
The best-feeling guns in the business. Movement, abilities and sound are superb.
Raids and dungeons are genre highlights, with a deep build system behind them.
Free base, but the best activities sit behind several purchases that add up.
Polished on every platform with full cross-play and cross-save.
Scores are our editorial opinion. How the weighting works.
What stands out, what to weigh up
Stands out
- Best-in-class shooting and movement
- Raids and dungeons are outstanding
- Deep, expressive builds
- Cross-play and cross-save
Weigh up
- Bewildering for newcomers
- Costs add up across expansions and passes
- Older story content has been removed
In-game screenshots
Official images © Bungie, shown for the purpose of review.
Your first session: four tips
- Finish the introductory quest
It introduces your subclass, the Tower and the basics of gear. Ignore everything else until it is done.
- Pick a class by jump
Hunters double-jump, Titans lift, Warlocks glide. Movement matters more than any ability at first.
- Use the in-game fireteam finder
It matches you with groups for strikes and dungeons, and many hosts are happy to teach.
- Wait for a bundle
Play the free activities first. Expansions are regularly discounted together, often heavily.
Our verdict · 8.2 / 10
Magnificent to play, awkward to join. Try the free portion with a friend as guide, and only buy in once you know you will stay.
Best for: Groups who want a weekly raid night
