Play Destiny 2 365 days a year? Even the biggest fans can’t keep that up! What alternatives to Destiny are there in 2018 when the PS4, Xbox One, or PC craves for variety?
Destiny 2 in 2018
2018 has been a tough year for Destiny 2 so far. After a mixed launch in autumn 2017, where the MMO shooter received a lot of praise but even more criticism, 2018 has been all about restructuring.
Players were quickly disappointed by the rudimentary endgame, the monotonous PvP, and many other questionable design decisions in the game, and voiced their dissatisfaction more and more. Bungie promised improvement and laid out an emergency plan for Destiny 2, aiming to align the game more with fans’ desires throughout spring.
After numerous update milestones of the emergency plan were released, the hoped-for big successes are still missing. Many changes did not go far enough for fans, others seemed to be developed away from the community’s wishes, or were not even part of the rescue plan. Player numbers continued to decline.
Bungie seems to have realized the seriousness of the situation and expanded the emergency plan ahead of the second content expansion Warmind. This now extends until autumn and promises finally substantial changes in September 2018.
But until then, many fans are turning their backs on Destiny 2. More will follow after they have played the 2nd expansion included in the Season Pass. For most Guardians, profound changes are needed for them to return to the game. However, these are not expected until a major autumn expansion. Many are therefore increasingly looking for alternatives to Destiny 2.
What can Destiny fans play until then? Which upcoming games scheduled to be released in 2018 can satisfy the Destiny hunger? And is there possibly even an alternative that could displace Destiny 2?
Destiny 2 as an MMO shooter is unique as a sum of its parts, but the individual parts are also present in other games. We now break down Destiny 2 and look at which alternatives exist for the individual “parts that Destiny fans love”, or which will be released in 2018. We have alternatives for:
- Co-op Shooters (on this page)
- Loot Shooters
- Shooters with Sci-Fi setting
- PvP Team Shooters
- and Shooters with special gunplay
Co-op Shooter Alternatives – Here you can shoot together
Destiny 2 is a versatile MMO shooter: You can dive solo into war against the Cabal, you can challenge other Guardians in PvP, and you can play co-op with your friends.
For many Guardians, this co-op aspect is the charm of Destiny. You shoot nasty aliens in the face together while chatting with your friends. You discover secrets together, solve puzzles together, and save the world together. This multiplayer co-op experience, requiring teamwork and communication, is what most Guardians love about Destiny.
In which online shooters is the co-op aspect also highly valued?
Anthem
- Release: Q1 2019
- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Model: Buy2Play
The first game on our list is Anthem – a shared-world action RPG from BioWare and EA. Although the title was originally intended for autumn 2018, it has now been postponed to Q1 2019. So you have to be patient for a while longer until you can play Anthem.
However, many Destiny fans have high hopes for Anthem and the game is regarded as one of the hottest alternatives to Destiny 2, so we have kept the title in our selection despite the delay to 2019.
Co-op in Anthem? In Anthem, you can explore an alien world with your friends, face dangers together, and gradually improve your characters. You play as a “Freelancer” – a character equipped with a combat suit that can fly, jump, climb, and dive through the world. Stylish weapons and special abilities can also be added to this suit.
Thus, Anthem shares the co-op shooter characteristics with Destiny. However, it is not played in First-Person but in Third-Person perspective. The game ranks first among the most anticipated MMOs in 2018, as chosen by our readers.
The developers plan for Anthem to be expanded with updates and DLC over months and years. There is talk of a 10-year journey.
Warframe
- Release: First release March 25, 2013
- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Model: Free2Play
Warframe is a multiplayer online shooter reminiscent of Destiny in gameplay and setting and also focuses on co-op action. It is played in Third-Person.
Co-op in Warframe? In a science fiction world, you experience various adventures together with up to three other players as a kind of cyber-ninja. Almost all activities are geared towards co-op. The eponymous Warframes are biomechanical combat suits that you can switch between missions. They allow you different combat techniques: From sturdy melee fighters to agile snipers to morbid plague-spewers, everything is included.
Remarkable in Warframe is the variety of movement options. The arsenal of weapons from axe and staff to bows and laser cannons is also impressive. While playing, you earn specific materials with which you can craft new weapons and Warframes. Those diving deeper encounter surprisingly complex systems.
Warframe is Free2Play but refrains from Pay2Win. Most items can be grinded. Additionally, the real money exchange currency is freely tradable in the game.
The developers at Digital Extremes continuously expand Warframe. In October 2017, the massive “Plains of Eidolon” update marked the first time the game received an open world. Further worlds are planned to be added in the future.
Learn more about Warframe here.
Fortnite
- Release: July 25, 2017
- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Model: Buy2Play
Fortnite is a current co-op shooter that mixes elements of a survival game with a shooter, tower defense, and Minecraft.
Co-op in Fortnite? In teams of up to four players, you explore a destructible world where you gather resources during the day and work together to build your own fortress with weapons and traps. At night, hundreds of mutated enemies come, aiming to flatten your fortress and eliminate you. Work together as a team to survive as long as possible. Several classes are available.
Fortnite also has a popular and free “Battle Royale” mode. 100 players are dropped onto a map where they can fight each other. The last one standing wins.
In the future, Fortnite is set to expand further.
Learn more about Fortnite here.
On the next pages, we will present further alternatives. Page 2 has the Loot Shooter alternatives!
