Did You Know There's A Free-To-Play Destiny Mobile Game Spin-Off That Launched Recently!?

Did you know that there is a Destiny mobile spin-off? Many people likely do not, because it has not received very much attention so far. Developed by NetEase under license from Bungie, Destiny: Rising launched globally on August 28 for both iOS and Android devices. It is a free-to-play looter-shooter, very much in the spirit of Destiny 2, but with added gacha mechanics. The game has already drawn a mixed reception, so let us discuss its strengths and its shortcomings.

Destiny: Rising is set in an alternate timeline that takes place before the events of the original Destiny. Rather than focusing on the traditional Hunter, Warlock, and Titan classes that players are familiar with, the game introduces “Lightbearers.” These are collectible characters, each equipped with their own distinctive abilities and weapons. The gameplay can be experienced either in first-person or third-person view, depending on preference. By default, Destiny: Rising uses touchscreen controls, but you should probably just connect a controller, which the game fully supports. On top of that, NetEase offers PC emulation through its MuMuPlayer software, though other emulators such as BlueStacks also work. 

Players who have actually tried Destiny: Rising often comment on how well it captures the “feel” of the mainline series on a mobile platform. Gunplay is reported to be smooth, responsive, and close in quality to the console and PC versions. Abilities blend seamlessly into combat, aiming feels precise, and battles have a sense of impact and weight that is often difficult to replicate on smaller devices. This is a notable technical achievement. Translating a shooter as mechanically complex as Destiny onto smartphones without losing its essence is not an easy task, and the fact that controller support exists makes it even more appealing. The game also boasts a considerable amount of content at launch, including story missions, co-op modes, side activities, and deep character progression systems.

Unfortunately, the reception as not been so hot. The first major issue is the narrative. Destiny as a franchise has earned a reputation for rich lore and engaging world-building, but Destiny: Rising does not live up to those expectations. Many describe the story as bland and the dialogue as uninspired. The voice acting is said to lack energy, while the script feels underdeveloped. Fans who are accustomed to Destiny’s usual depth and atmosphere are understandably disappointed. Furthermore, the Lightbearer characters, who are central to the game, have personalities that players describe as flat and unremarkable.

There is also the monetization, which always makes or breaks games like this one. Destiny: Rising is built around a gacha system for acquiring new Lightbearers. This means that players draw characters through randomized pulls, which will inevitably frustrate many Destiny fans who may not be familiar with this kind of business model. While the system is somewhat more generous than other gacha titles at first, offering free pulls and rewards to encourage new players, the generosity fades the longer you invest time into the game. That is how it goes when it comes to gacha games. Some powerful weapons and upgrades are locked behind specific characters, too, which is what I like to call “pay-to-win.”

Longevity is another concern. Once the main story missions are completed, players are funneled into daily strikes, repetitive cooperative missions, and grinding for resources. This gameplay loop is very similar to Destiny 2, but without the same level of variety or depth. For established fans, this kind of repetition may feel familiar and acceptable, but newcomers might find it tedious and uninspiring. On top of that, players have pointed out various bugs, visual issues, and interface problems. While these are likely to be addressed in future patches, they are still worth bringing up.

So, to be fair, Destiny: Rising is not without merit. If your goal is to experience a Destiny-like adventure while on the go, this mobile title seems surprisingly competent. The gunplay stands out as polished, the roster of Lightbearers is diverse enough to encourage experimentation, and the overall content at launch can easily occupy dozens of hours. However, I am not sure about the game’s long-term future. It needs fairer monetization, improved storytelling, and the addition of varied activities to keep players engaged over time.

At this point, from what I can tell, I would only recommend Destiny: Rising to hardcore Destiny enthusiasts. These are the fans most likely to overlook the gacha mechanics and narrative weaknesses in order to enjoy more time within the universe they love. The broader audience, however, will likely not be as forgiving. Therefore, I am not optimistic about this limited audience being enough to sustain the game. Hopefully, I am wrong.