Polygon’s Monument of Triumph obituary made it official: the Destiny 2 we knew is closing its live-service chapter. Bungie keeps the lights on for existing players, but the steady drumbeat of seasons, expansions, and weekly resets is no longer the load-bearing structure. Guardians who want the loop, the gunplay, and the squad-up dopamine without sunk-cost guilt have options now that did not exist five years ago.
We ranked seven Destiny 2 alternatives on PC. The list mixes free-to-play looters with paid expedition shooters, cooperative bug-blasting with grim sci-fi power fantasy. Each pick targets a specific reason Guardians are looking elsewhere.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Cost | Standout | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warframe | Free-to-play space ninja power fantasy | Free | 50+ playable Warframes | Windows |
| The Division 2 | Grounded gunplay with loot depth | $29.99 | Tactical PvE setpieces | Windows |
| Borderlands 3 | Couch and online co-op looter | $39.99 | Billions of guns gimmick | Windows |
| Deep Rock Galactic | Squad PvE that respects your time | $29.99 | Procedural cave hunts | Windows |
| Remnant 2 | Soulslike third-person shooter | $49.99 | Archetype builds | Windows |
| Outriders | Power-based class shooter | $39.99 | No live-service grind | Windows |
| Helldivers 2 | Democracy-themed bug squad ops | $39.99 | Strategem call-ins | Windows |
Why Guardians are leaving Destiny 2
A few themes recur across Reddit and Steam discussions:
- The seasonal model became its own job. Destiny 2 asked for a weekly cadence and a season pass spend in perpetuity. The Monument of Triumph essentially formalises the wind-down.
- Sunset weapons and rotating content stung. Players who grinded for god rolls watched them get vaulted, then watched expansions vault themselves.
- Bungie’s pricing tiers fragmented the entry point. Knowing which DLCs are required to play current content has been a chronic friction.
- The PvP scene shrank, then shrank again. Trials of Osiris populations are thin compared to peak years.
- Story whiplash. Lightfall to The Final Shape to The Edge of Fate redirected the narrative repeatedly.
The picks below each address a specific gap.
The 7 best Destiny 2 alternatives on PC
Warframe — free-to-play space ninja power fantasy
Warframe by Digital Extremes is the obvious first stop for ex-Guardians. It is free, the gunplay loop is fast, and the power fantasy goes much further than Destiny ever allowed. You collect dozens of Warframes (over 50 in 2026), each with a kit that ranges from telekinesis to necromancy to literal animal-shapeshifting. The end-game progression is wider than Destiny’s because every frame is essentially a class you can build into multiple specs.
For Guardians who want a loot loop with no sunset mechanic, Warframe is the closest answer. Every weapon and frame you earned in 2019 still matters in 2026.
Where it falls short: The new-player experience is famously dense. You will hit five overlapping currency systems in the first ten hours. Some old quests have aged poorly.
Pricing:
- Free: Yes, the full game is free with no paywall on content
- Paid: Platinum currency for cosmetics and convenience, prime accessory packs from $19.99
- vs Destiny 2: Free, broader power fantasy, denser onboarding
Switching from Destiny 2: Spend the first weekend with the Whispers in the Walls quest line for current-era content. Ignore the sprawling early junctions until you have a frame you like.
Download: Warframe on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Warframe when you want the closest Destiny replacement that costs zero dollars to keep playing forever.
The Division 2 — grounded gunplay with loot depth
The Division 2 by Ubisoft Massive is the grounded sister title to Destiny. The setting is post-collapse Washington and New York rather than space-magic, the guns are recognisable rifles and SMGs, and the loot system rewards specific build crafting (red core for damage, blue for armour, yellow for skills). The PvE setpieces, especially the raid content and the legendary missions, hold up.
For Guardians who liked Destiny’s loot grind but want the aesthetic of a tactical shooter rather than a fantasy MMO, this is the cleanest swap.
Where it falls short: The seasonal model still exists, though at a slower cadence than Destiny. The Dark Zone PvP has a small dedicated player base and is rough for newcomers.
Pricing:
- Free: A free trial of the early game
- Base: $29.99, Warlords of New York expansion $29.99 (regular discounts to $9.99 base)
- vs Destiny 2: Cheaper full package, grounded setting, smaller current population
Switching from Destiny 2: Plan your first build around the SHD watch passive tree before grinding gear sets. Specialization choice locks specific weapon types.
Download: The Division 2 on Steam
Bottom line: Pick The Division 2 when you want loot-driven gunplay in a grounded setting that respects build crafting.
Borderlands 3 — couch and online co-op looter
Borderlands 3 by Gearbox is the loudest looter on the list. The “billions of guns” claim is more or less true, the character classes (Vault Hunters) have deep skill trees, and the four-player co-op works on couch, online, or both. Mayhem mode and the DLC packs (especially Bounty of Blood and the Director’s Cut) add hundreds of hours.
For Guardians who want their loot dopamine with comedy and split-screen co-op, Borderlands 3 is the most off-Destiny pick that still scratches the same itch.
Where it falls short: The humour is divisive. End-game raids are slimmer than Destiny’s. The franchise is between mainline releases and the player population has thinned.
Pricing:
- Free: No
- Base: $39.99 with all DLC bundled in the Director’s Cut and the Ultimate Edition (regular discounts to $9.99)
- vs Destiny 2: Cheaper with all content, narrower power fantasy
Switching from Destiny 2: Pick a Vault Hunter whose action skill matches your Destiny class. Moze maps to Titan, FL4K to Hunter, Amara to Warlock.
Download: Borderlands 3 on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Borderlands 3 when you want a louder, funnier looter with proper couch co-op.
Deep Rock Galactic — squad PvE that respects your time
Deep Rock Galactic by Ghost Ship Games is the antidote to seasonal grind fatigue. You queue with up to three friends as dwarves, drop into procedurally generated caves, mine minerals, kill bugs, extract. Mission length is 20 to 30 minutes. The four classes (Driller, Gunner, Scout, Engineer) cover melee, suppression, mobility, and turrets respectively. There is a season pass, but it is generous and finishable in casual play.
For ex-Guardians who want the strike experience without the weekly homework, this is the cleanest fit on the list.
Where it falls short: There is no traditional loot grind. Mission variety is high but environmental art is consistent (caves are caves).
Pricing:
- Free: Demo and free weekends
- Base: $29.99 (regular discounts to $9.89)
- vs Destiny 2: Cheaper, shorter sessions, no power treadmill
Switching from Destiny 2: Run Mining Expeditions on Hazard 3 with strangers before bumping difficulty. Class identity in DRG is sharper than Destiny’s subclass split.
Download: Deep Rock Galactic on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Deep Rock Galactic when you want a co-op shooter you can play in 30-minute windows and never feel behind.
Remnant 2 — soulslike third-person shooter
Remnant 2 by Gunfire Games is the most build-craft-heavy pick. Third-person gunplay sits on top of soulslike traversal, the archetype system lets you dual-class (Hunter and Medic, Gunslinger and Engineer), and the worlds are procedurally seeded so two campaigns will hit different bosses and side stories. The DLCs (The Awakened King, The Forgotten Kingdom, The Dark Horizon) expand the system significantly.
For Guardians who liked Destiny’s exotic-weapon perks but wanted them tied to a real build system, Remnant 2 hits.
Where it falls short: PvP does not exist. Some bosses have unforgiving difficulty curves. The seed system can frustrate when you re-roll for a specific drop.
Pricing:
- Free: No
- Base: $49.99, Ultimate Edition with DLC $69.99 (regular discounts to $24.99)
- vs Destiny 2: Cheaper, no PvP, deeper build crafting
Switching from Destiny 2: Run the campaign on Veteran difficulty for the closest equivalent to Destiny’s heroic strikes. Re-roll adventures for specific gear drops.
Download: Remnant 2 on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Remnant 2 when you want a deep build-craft shooter with no live-service strings.
Outriders — power-based class shooter
Outriders by People Can Fly is the closest thing to “Destiny without the live-service”. You pick a class (Trickster, Devastator, Pyromancer, Technomancer), grind a finite endgame, and the credits roll. There is no battle pass, no weekly reset, no FOMO. The Worldslayer expansion added a meaningful endgame and a horizontal progression system.
For ex-Guardians burned out on permanent live-service, this is the spiritual closer to Destiny on the list.
Where it falls short: The launch was rough and the always-online requirement makes solo play awkward. The story is forgettable.
Pricing:
- Free: No, occasional Steam free weekends
- Base: $39.99, Worldslayer expansion bundled in $49.99 (regular discounts to $9.99)
- vs Destiny 2: Cheaper, fully finishable, no live cadence
Switching from Destiny 2: Pick a class that mirrors your Destiny playstyle (Devastator for Titan tank, Trickster for Hunter mobility, Pyromancer for Warlock damage).
Download: Outriders on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Outriders when you specifically want a Destiny-shaped game that has a credits screen.
Helldivers 2 — democracy-themed bug squad ops
Helldivers 2 by Arrowhead is the Destiny-adjacent shooter that took the cooperative-PvE crown when it launched. Third-person gunplay, four-player squads, stratagem call-ins that demand specific button inputs mid-firefight, and a meta-narrative where the global player base liberates planets together. The Major Order system gives the live-game feeling without the seasonal homework.
For Guardians who want co-op chaos with stakes that feel global, Helldivers 2 is the highest-energy pick on the list.
Where it falls short: Difficulty ramps fast and friendly fire is permanent. The publisher’s account requirements caused a public spat in 2024.
Pricing:
- Free: No
- Base: $39.99
- vs Destiny 2: Cheaper, no seasons, shorter sessions
Switching from Destiny 2: Drop in on Trivial difficulty until the stratagem inputs feel automatic. The recoil model is heavier than Destiny’s.
Download: Helldivers 2 on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Helldivers 2 when you want cooperative chaos with global stakes and no battle pass treadmill.
How to choose
- If you want zero ongoing cost: Warframe. Free, deep, no sunset.
- If you want loot-driven build crafting: Remnant 2 or The Division 2.
- If you want short sessions: Deep Rock Galactic or Helldivers 2.
- If you want couch co-op: Borderlands 3 is the only split-screen pick.
- If you want a Destiny-shaped game with a credits screen: Outriders.
- Stay on Destiny 2 if you have an active fireteam, current expansion access, and you genuinely like the gunplay. The game is not gone, just less demanding.
FAQ
Is there a single-player Destiny alternative?
Remnant 2 and Outriders both run solo end to end. Outriders’ story is closer to Destiny’s beats. Remnant 2 has the deeper build system.
What is the closest free game to Destiny 2?
Warframe. The gunplay is faster, the power fantasy goes further, and there is no sunset mechanic.
Can I play Helldivers 2 with three friends?
Yes. Squads are exactly four and friend-only lobbies work cleanly.
Which Destiny 2 alternative has the best raids?
Warframe (Eidolon hunts and Profit-Taker scale up to raid intensity), Remnant 2 (multi-phase boss fights with seeded modifiers), and The Division 2 (Operation Iron Horse and Dark Hours) all hold up.
Is The Division 2 still being updated?
Yes, on a slower cadence than Destiny 2. The seasonal model is lighter and the gear sets stay relevant longer.
Do any of these support cross-platform play with friends on console?
Warframe, Borderlands 3, Helldivers 2 (limited to PS5 and PC), and Deep Rock Galactic (Xbox and PC). The Division 2 does not.
