Destiny: Rising
It’s set in an alternate prequel timeline during the Dark Age/Warlord era. You play as named Lightbearers (characters like Wolf, Ikora Rey, Jolder, etc.) fighting Fallen, Hive, Cabal, and Vex to protect humanity. The game features first- or third-person shooting, Sparrow exploration, story campaigns, strikes, raids, Crucible PvP, clans, fishing, events, and gacha banners for heroes and weapons.
What’s great:
- Gunplay and movement feel surprisingly close to actual Destiny — smooth sliding, jumping, abilities, and shooting, especially with a controller or on PC emulator (mouse + keyboard).
- Visuals, audio, and overall polish are excellent for a mobile title.
- Generous launch rewards and a decent pity system; you can progress meaningfully without spending at first.
- Huge open zones (like Jiangshi Metro), co-op activities, and frequent events.
- Launched very strong: hit #1 on App Store charts in many countries, 4.9/5 on iOS, millions of downloads fast, even got nominated for Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards.
What’s not great:
- Heavy gacha monetization: multiple currencies, energy/stamina limits, hero-specific weapon locks, and strong P2W elements in endgame and PvP.
- No character creator — you collect preset heroes with fixed kits.
- Story is non-canon, fairly cheesy, with some flat or AI-sounding voice acting.
- Gets repetitive and grindy after the honeymoon phase; noticeable player drop-off in recent months.
- Pure touch controls are functional but nowhere near as crisp as controller/emulator.
Verdict (as of November 2025):
Solid 8/10 for what it is — easily one of the best mobile looter-shooters ever made and a legitimate way to get your Destiny fix on the go. If you love Destiny’s core gameplay loop and don’t mind gacha systems, it’s absolutely worth trying (especially on PC emulator for the best experience). Just temper expectations: it’s not Destiny 3, and the monetization gets aggressive the deeper you go.
