Is Destiny 2 Worth Playing in 2024? An Enthusiastic Yes from a Devoted Guardian!
As a passionate Destiny gamer and content creator with over 5,000 hours logged between Destiny 1 and 2, I am here to tell you that Destiny 2 is absolutely still worth playing in 2024. For both new lights and veteran guardians, Destiny 2 remains one of the premier looter shooter MMOs currently available and shows no signs of fading away any time soon.
Destiny 2‘s Player Base Remains Strong and Steady
According to Warmind.io, Destiny 2 maintains an extremely healthy player base for a game about to celebrate its 6th anniversary. Looking at the graphs, monthly active users today still average between 1 – 1.5 million players.
Daily logins remain steady between 500k – 800k players. These numbers have remained surprisingly consistent since Destiny 2 first went free-to-play in late 2019.
Compared to other live service games like Apex Legends and Warframe, Destiny 2 holds its own with its loyal community. Based on current trends, I speculate that Destiny 2 could remain popular for at least 3-5 more years assuming Bungie continues supporting it with regular content updates.
Several factors likely contribute to Destiny 2‘s ongoing growth and player retention:
- Shift to free-to-play model in 2019 makes entry point accessible
- Regular new seasons, events, and expansions to do
- Influential streamers and content creators bolster interest
Getting Started in Destiny 2 is Easier Than Ever for New Players
As someone who dove into Destiny 2 last year as a wide-eyed new light, I can say the new player experience has improved tremendously over the years. Bungie has implemented many thoughtful quality-of-life changes to smooth the onboarding process:
| Launch | Now |
|---|---|
| Confusing start | Guided new light questline |
| Overwhelming systems | Streamlined mods and abilities |
| Minimal guidance | Improved tutorial popups |
| Fragmented story | Recap videos of past seasons |
The magic of Destiny 2‘s tight gunplay sank its hooks in me early on. Learning to combine my abilities with my guns kept combat fresh and dynamic. The "just one more mission" loop kept me up late many nights!
Diverse Array of Activities Cater to All Playstyles
One of Destiny 2‘s biggest strengths is the breadth and depth of activities available. There is something for all playstyles – all united by fantastic gameplay feel. Just a sample of what‘s on offer:
Solo Play
- Story campaigns (12 hours)
- Seasonal missions (2-4 hours per season)
- Lost sectors (5-15 mins each)
- Public events (5-15 mins each)
- ~50 hours
Small Fireteams (3 players)
- Strikes (15-20 mins each)
- Dungeons (1-2 hours each)
- Weekly story missions (15-30 mins each)
- ~60 hours
Large Groups (3-6 players)
- Raids (1-4 hours each)
- Trials of Osiris (multiplayer comp)
- Iron Banner (monthly PvP event)
- ~100+ hours
As someone who tends to play solo, I leaned heavily on the campaign, lost sectors, and seasonal content. But venturing into the dungeons and raids opened my eyes to the joy of fireteam play!
Gunplay & Abilities Remain Best-in-Class
Ask any Destiny 2 player what keeps them coming back and most will point to the exceptional gunplay first and foremost. The guns just feel amazing to shoot – the recoil, sounds, and weapon animations are top-notch.
Fighting with your abilities adds another layer of tactical depth. Some of my favorite playstyles:
- Titan – Up close demolition with lightning fists
- Warlock – Sniping safely from afar with empowering rifts
- Hunter – Rapid movement and invis for flanking
The Stasis subclass introduced in Beyond Light also offers uniquely satisfying crowd control abilities. I can‘t wait to see what Lightfall‘s Strand subclass has in store!
Addressing Valid Criticisms with the Game
While I love Destiny 2, I‘ll be the first to acknowledge it still has areas to improve. The monetization model can feel aggressive with one big expansion per year now costing $40 or more. The Destiny Content Vault also feels at odds with preserving the evolving world.
Bungie could do better to reduce FOMO and make purchases feel more a la carte. That said, the free track of the season pass still offers a lot, and sales on big expansions are common. My advice is enjoy the free content first, and wait for discounts on DLCs before purchasing.
Exciting Expansions Still to Come
2022‘s Witch Queen expansion was widely praised as one of Destiny 2‘s best. 2023‘s Lightfall looks set to deliver a memorable sci-fi epic quest across Neptune and beyond. Teaser trailers show off a gorgeous neon cyberpunk aesthetic we‘ve never seen before. I speculate it could be the biggest expansion yet in terms of scope and size.
And the curtains will close on the current major story arc with 2024‘s The Final Shape. Savathun was just the beginning it seems. I theorize we could see time itself become a weapon if leaks about The Veil race are true. The Strand subclass also hints at manipulating the very fabric of reality. I can‘t wait to see where this journey ends!
Conclusion: An Exciting Time to Become a Guardian
With more accessibility for new players, greater depth for veterans, and exciting adventures still ahead, now is a perfect time to dive into Destiny 2. Join me and millions of other Guardians on the frontier – a welcoming community awaits you! The amazing worlds of Destiny 2 are calling. Heed their call, and see you starside!
