Destiny 2: The Witch Queen expands the free-to-play looter shooter with a focused campaign set in a new destination. Players take on the role of a Guardian investigating how Savathûn and her Lucent Hive stole the Light, using an arsenal of guns, abilities, and new tools to navigate combat and exploration on PC.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on shooting, ability use, and loot collection in first-person perspective. Guardians customize loadouts across three classes with reworked Void subclasses that incorporate Aspects and Fragments for varied builds around effects like Volatile and Devour. The expansion introduces weapon crafting at the Enclave on Mars, where players shape firearms with specific perks, shaders, and stat combinations instead of relying solely on random drops.
A new weapon archetype, the Glaive, combines melee strikes, projectile fire, and a deployable energy shield for close-range defense. Combat gains depth from Lucent Hive enemies, who wield Light-based powers and resurrect via their Ghosts unless finished off in melee. The Throne World destination mixes patrol zones, public events, and secrets across palace interiors and swamp regions, encouraging exploration alongside story missions that scale in difficulty.
Power level progression ties into mission recommendations, with gear upgrades supporting higher challenges. Legendary difficulty locks player power below recommended levels, adds modifiers, and limits revives in encounters for greater tension and superior rewards compared to the standard Classic option.
Game Modes
Story missions form the centerpiece, playable solo or in fireteams with branching objectives and puzzle elements integrated into shooting sequences. The Wellspring serves as a six-player matchmade activity focused on controlling key points in the Throne World against ongoing Hive threats.
Endgame options include the Vow of the Disciple raid for coordinated teams tackling complex encounters inside a pyramid ship. Dungeons provide three-player challenges with their own Exotic rewards. Broader Destiny 2 systems feature Vanguard strikes for three-player cooperative runs, Gambit for hybrid PvE-PvP matches, and Crucible playlists emphasizing 6v6 or 3v3 competitive formats with rotating rulesets.
Patrols and world activities in the Throne World support solo or small-group play, while seasonal rotations historically added temporary events and rewards tied to the expansion's year.
Story and World
The narrative follows Guardians unraveling Savathûn's schemes through evidence boards, post-campaign quests, and interactions with vendors like Fynch. The Throne World presents a corrupted yet opulent environment where Hive forces hold sway, blending familiar Destiny factions with the new Lucent Brood that mirrors player abilities.
Exploration reveals hidden mechanics and lore details about the Light's theft, supported by cinematic sequences and mission-specific twists that differentiate it from prior campaigns.
Current State and Updates
The expansion's content remains fully accessible years after launch, with the Throne World, campaign missions, crafting system, and associated activities integrated into the live game. Rotations continue for raids, dungeons, Crucible events, and strikes, maintaining variety for returning players. The base Destiny 2 experience stays free, while the expansion unlocks its specific destination and story.
Is It Worth Playing?
Reviews highlight the campaign as a standout for its inventive mission design, challenging Legendary option, and integration of new systems like crafting and Glaives. Critics and players note strong reception for the story pacing and combat innovations, with the expansion frequently described as a high point in the series. Steam user feedback for the Deluxe Edition sits at mostly positive levels.
The game suits those who enjoy cooperative FPS gameplay with loot progression, ability customization, and narrative depth. New players benefit from the approachable Classic difficulty and free base access, while veterans find value in the raid, dungeons, and ongoing activity rotations. With an active player base supporting matchmaking and a stable post-final-update environment, the content delivers consistent engagement for fans of the looter shooter format.
