Bungie’s premier looter shooter has been steadily building a loyal player base for over half a decade, with numbers ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 players on Steam alone. Now, with all the buzz around Bungie’s upcoming title Marathon and what seems to be Destiny 2’s next step with an upcoming event, you might be wondering: is this still the right time to jump into Destiny 2?
Personally? I’d say yes. Destiny 2 is still worth playing in 2025.
But if you're just stepping into the world of Destiny 2, there are two main ways to access it: Free-to-Play or Freemium.
As a Free-to-Play Player?
Destiny 2 is technically free-to-play. However, Bungie hasn’t exactly been transparent about what that entails. As someone who’s been playing Destiny 2 for five years, I can confidently say this is Bungie’s clever way of getting people into the game, and then nudging them toward buying expansions once they’re hooked.
As a free player, you’ll have limited access to content. You can run a selection of Strikes (PvE missions) and Crucible (PvP), but anything beyond that sits behind paywall after paywall.
The good news? Bungie is generous enough to offer access to classic Destiny 1 raids like Crota’s End, King’s Fall, and Vault of Glass. These are awesome pieces of endgame content. But if you’re hoping to dive into more modern raids—like Salvation’s Edge, arguably Destiny 2’s most challenging—you’ll have to pay.
For new players, this can feel overwhelming. Many might find Destiny 2's structure off-putting at first glance.
My Advice?
If you're unsure whether Destiny 2 is your kind of game, try the free version first. Get a feel for the gameplay loop: complete Bounties, chase powerful gear, and test out some of the Exotic weapons they offer. If that spark hits and you want more? That’s when you start picking up expansions.
Playing with a friend makes this experience better as well, so if you got someone to convert as a Guardian, then bring them along with you.
What Are Expansions?
Expansions are Bungie’s big content drops—adding entire storylines, subclasses, gear, missions, and raids. They also unlock tons of content that’s otherwise gated.
The current expansion, The Final Shape, caps off a major saga where Guardians finally confront and defeat the Witness in an epic raid. Alongside this are seasonal stories, now presented as three “Episodes” spread out over time. Each Episode features its own Battle Pass, dungeons, and story beats—but you don’t need to worry about those unless you’ve already committed to The Final Shape.
Now, if you want to understand Destiny 2’s full story, you’re out of luck. Bungie has “vaulted” earlier story content—like the Red War campaign—so you’ll have to hit up YouTube channels like MyNameIsByf to fill in the blanks.
That said, you can still purchase older expansions that haven’t been vaulted. I recommend picking up:
- Beyond Light
- The Witch Queen
- Lightfall
Shadowkeep isn’t essential, but if you find a good bundle on sale (and they go on sale a lot), go for the full collection.
Returning Player?
If you’re coming back after a long break—maybe since Forsaken or even earlier—there’s a lot to catch up on. The game has evolved massively, and there’s a new roadmap ahead.
The Destiny 2 subreddit has a comprehensive spreadsheet guide for both new and returning players. It’s super useful. Yes, Destiny 2 can feel overwhelming, and Bungie hasn’t always done a great job onboarding players. But don’t worry—“New Lights” are always welcome.
Is It Still Worth It?
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably this close to hitting that big Download button—and honestly, you should. I say this as someone who isn’t even a fan of looter shooters: Destiny 2 is a phenomenal game that appeals to all kinds 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.
Don’t worry about Raids just yet. While they’re some of Destiny 2’s best content, it’s best to hold off until you’ve gotten a feel for the game overall. Otherwise, you might end up spending five-plus hours frustrated by the mechanics.
Destiny 2 is definitely a demanding game—but if you can get past the steep learning curve and Bungie’s sometimes clunky new-player experience, you’ll find an MMO shooter that offers depth, fun, and community.
With The Final Shape laying the groundwork for the future and new content already lined up, there’s no better time to dive into Destiny 2 before the next wave hits.