It's always sad to see a game like Destiny 2 come to an end. Through all its ups and downs, it remained a fun experience for many players who enjoyed the looter shooter genre. While it's hard to replace what Destiny 2 offered, the good news is that there are still games out there that capture some of that same magic. You just need to know what your cup of tea was while playing Destiny 2, and go for the game that offers it.
Saying Goodbye to Destiny 2 is the Hardest Thing I'll Ever Do in Gaming
Saying goodbye to Destiny 2 hurts because I'm not just leaving a game behind but a version of my life I can never return to.
In this list, instead of focusing on quantity, I'll highlight three games that share similarities with Destiny 2. They don't exactly offer the same experience, but each brings enough unique content to stand out as a potential replacement.
3 Helldivers 2
Endless Space Missions
Helldivers 2 is not a looter shooter like Destiny 2 by any means. You won't play it to grind endless gear drops. Instead, Helldivers 2 features captivating and cinematic gameplay that will hook you from your very first moments in the game. The atmosphere is brutal. Bugs or machines, they come from everywhere, creating chaos across the battlefield. However, all that chaos is created by the enemies themselves. As for you, you're just an ordinary soldier with a few cool toys, trying to survive the day. It's an experience that never gets old, and you'll enjoy every mission you drop into, especially with friends.
After buying the game, there's no real sense of progression other than leveling up and collecting currencies to unlock weapons, armor sets, and ship modules. Soon enough, you'll unlock everything, and how long you keep playing will depend on how much you're enjoying the game. It's a very different game from Destiny 2, but I still had to suggest it, as some of its cosmetics and space combat feel similar to Destiny 2. More importantly, Helldivers 2 truly captures that feeling of being in space and fighting aliens.
2 Warframe
Space Looter Shooter
Warframe is probably the closest game to scratching the space looter shooter itch left by Destiny 2. The game has loads of content, such as quests and planets to explore. Some of these planets even have open worlds full of more quests to take on. Additionally, there are over 60 Warframes and thousands upon thousands of upgrades for weapons and characters. Something like that is expected from a game that has been out for more than 10 years.
The combat in Warframe is fast-paced, where you'll constantly find yourself moving and shooting while enemy waves get bigger and bigger. You unlock abilities that let you dash everywhere and abilities that destroy everything around you, and there are barely any cooldowns to stop you from using them. It's pure chaos. Additionally, Warframe's daily and weekly grind constantly changes to keep the experience fresh and engaging. Simply put, there are hundreds of hours to sink into Warframe after starting the game for the first time.
Of course, after all that, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and like you're years behind on grinding. That's probably true, since you can't compare a new player's inventory to someone who has been playing for many years. Not to mention, new players need to learn many mechanics, items, and currencies. However, there's no real pressure to catch up with anyone, as you can fully play Warframe at your own pace. You can access most of the old content anytime you want to get all the important items. You can also ignore systems you don't understand until you have more time to check and research them.
Personally, I couldn't enjoy Warframe's fast-paced combat, as I prefer a more tactical approach. That's the main reason why I never dove deeper into its other mechanics. But every time I start Warframe, I can easily see how much work the devs have put into the game, and they deserve all the flowers for that.
1 Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Looter Shooter With Solid PVE
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
While The Division 2 isn't in space, its gameplay loop is one of the closest things you can get to a Destiny 2 gameplay. Of course, not being set in space doesn't take away from The Division's theme, as the game has a phenomenal atmosphere across Washington and New York. The game has a large collection of quests and PvE content, enough for around 30 to 40 hours of gameplay. After that, the endgame content kicks in, and you start your endless grind for a better build.
Here's Why The Division 2 Is Better Than Destiny 2
As great as Destiny 2 is, its quality is challenged by The Division 2 in several key ways. Here's where it beats Bungie's love child.
Speaking of builds, The Division 2 is one of those games that gives you the freedom to build your character however you see fit. You can create a sniper, front-line shooter, support, Technician, or even a healer build. It all depends on the weapons and gear you equip. Having the ability to build your character like that encourages players to farm and grind for gear. You can even target specific types of gear to receive them as rewards whenever you complete a PvE activity. This makes the endgame loop much more enjoyable and closer to Destiny 2's endgame.
The Division 2's endgame is a major part of its gameplay, as the entire progression system is built around grinding that loop. The game's combat is also tactical and team-oriented, where having a team will usually lead to better and easier results. You can still complete activities on your own, but not as efficiently as when you have a team. Additionally, during combat, you really need to understand enemy patterns, your build, and the surrounding environment to know where to position your agent and which enemy to take down first.
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