Why Destiny 2 Is Too Hard to Just Pick Up and Play for the Average Player

Let me start with this, I love the art style of Destiny. I find it hard to find another game that I love as much with how this series looks and feels when it comes to gunplay and such. I want to play this game all the time, but I find myself overwhelmed by so many things in the game.

Destiny 2 has been around for over eight years now, and in that time, it’s evolved from a fairly straightforward looter-shooter into one of the most complex (posibly too complex) live-service games on the market. For dedicated Guardians who have kept up with every expansion, seasonal story, and sandbox change, the game feels deep and rewarding. But for anyone who hasn’t touched Destiny 2 in months—or worse, years—jumping back in can feel like walking into an advanced college course halfway through the semester.

Here’s why Destiny 2 has become so hard to simply pick up and play.

1. The Overwhelming Amount of Systems

If you left Destiny 2 back when weapons had static rolls and armor 2.0 didn’t exist, coming back now is like trying to learn a new language. Armor mods, artifact perks, elemental surges, subclass fragments, crafting materials, exotic tuning—there’s a dizzying number of interconnected systems.

Even basic questions—like “What’s the current best subclass?” or “Which weapons are still viable?”—require external research. Bungie doesn’t do a great job explaining how these layers fit together in-game, leaving returning players feeling lost before they even step into a strike.

2. The Seasonal and Expansion Overload

Destiny 2’s ongoing content model is a blessing and a curse. There’s always something new, but the flip side is that older content gets vaulted or reworked, and the story moves on without much recap.

If you haven’t played since Beyond Light, you’ll have missed the Witch Queen’s entire saga, the Lightfall campaign, and multiple seasonal storylines—all of which feed into the current narrative. The game expects you to know who’s alive, who’s dead, and why the Witness is such a big deal, but gives you almost no way to catch up organically.

3. The Power Grind Never Ends

The concept of Power Level (or Light Level) has been a defining part of Destiny since day one, but it’s become one of the most discouraging aspects for casual players. Each expansion raises the cap, forcing players to grind all over again just to be “viable” in endgame content.

For someone just returning, this means dozens of hours of repetitive activities before you can meaningfully participate in raids or higher-tier Nightfalls. Meanwhile, your veteran friends are hundreds of Power Levels ahead and don’t have much incentive to replay lower-level content with you.

4. PvP Is a Steep Hill to Climb

Crucible, once the quick “jump in and shoot some stuff” mode, now punishes anyone who hasn’t been keeping up. Meta shifts are constant, weapon balance changes drastically from season to season, and new exotic armor pieces can completely alter how certain subclasses perform.

If you don’t have the latest weapons or builds, you’re likely to get melted by players who do. There’s no casual-friendly PvP playlist that truly evens the playing field anymore.

5. The Onboarding Experience Needs Work

Perhaps the biggest issue is that Destiny 2 just doesn’t teach its own systems. The new player or returning Guardian experience is fragmented and confusing. Tutorials explain the absolute basics—movement, shooting, equipping gear—but nothing about how to build craft, manage currencies, or plan progression.

Instead, players are pushed toward YouTube guides, Reddit posts, and community wikis just to understand what to do next. It’s a game that demands homework, and that’s not a great sell for someone who just wants to unwind after work.

6. A Game That Rewards Obsession

At its best, Destiny 2 is an incredible hobby—a deep, cooperative shooter with tight gameplay and a passionate community. But at its worst, it’s exhausting. Bungie designs for long-term engagement, not casual drop-ins, and that’s fine for hardcore players.

For everyone else, though, it means Destiny 2 often feels less like a fun game and more like a second job.

Wrap up

Destiny 2 remains one of the most unique shooters out there, blending MMO-style progression with buttery-smooth gunplay. But it’s not easy to love casually anymore. The sheer volume of systems, lore, and grind creates a massive barrier to entry that makes returning players feel left behind almost immediately.

If Bungie wants Destiny 2 to be accessible to new or lapsed players again, it needs a clearer onboarding path, a simplified power system, and a better way to catch up on the ever-evolving story. Until then, many potential Guardians will keep bouncing off before they can even see what makes the game special.