The Destiny game franchise has always been closely associated with shooting, loot, and science-fiction worlds, but Destiny: Rising takes the series somewhere it hasn't been before: mobile devices. Developed as the first mobile game in the franchise, it brings familiar ideas from Destiny to a format designed around touchscreen controls and portable play.
You can switch between first- and third-person perspectives, depending on how you want to approach combat. The game also puts more emphasis on individual characters than the main Destiny games typically do. Each hero has their own abilities, personality, and story, so choosing who to take into battle is part of figuring out how you want to play.
There is plenty of shooting, naturally. Different weapons have their own traits and playstyles, and you'll be able to experiment with combinations as you work through missions and take on different enemies. But Destiny: Rising isn't only about running through campaign missions on your own. Six-player co-op Strikes, PvE activities, PvP modes, clans, and social spaces all give the game an online multiplayer focus.
That makes it feel like more than a straightforward mobile version of Destiny. Some of the familiar pieces are here, but the character-based approach and range of game modes give it a slightly different shape. And because it's designed for mobile from the start, you can play with touchscreen controls or a compatible controller rather than having to make do with a simplified version of a console control scheme.
Why Should I Download Destiny: Rising?
If you're already familiar with Destiny, the obvious attraction is getting that universe into a mobile game. If you're not, there's still a fairly substantial sci-fi shooter here to get into.
Combat is the main event. Destiny: Rising supports both first-person and third-person views, so you're not locked into one perspective throughout the game. The third-person option is particularly interesting because it changes the feel of the action and puts more attention on the characters themselves.
And there are quite a few of those characters. Rather than creating a single Guardian and sticking with them, you can play as different heroes, each with their own abilities and backstories. That changes the way you approach fights, too. Some characters will suit particular situations better than others, so choosing your team isn't just about picking whichever character you happen to like most.
Weapons give you another way to shape your playstyle. There are numerous weapons to collect, along with different traits and combinations to experiment with. The idea is to find setups that work for the way you prefer to play rather than simply collecting equipment for the sake of it.
Then there's the multiplayer side. Campaign missions provide the main story experience, but you can also team up with other players for six-person Strikes and other PvE activities. PvP modes offer something more competitive, while clans and shared spaces give players somewhere to interact when they're not shooting things.
The range of modes is probably one of the more important parts of the game. You can jump in for a shorter activity, work through campaign content, or spend more time playing with a regular group. It's designed to accommodate different ways of playing rather than making every session look the same.
Is Destiny: Rising Free?
Yes, Destiny: Rising is available as a free-to-play mobile game. You can download the game without buying it upfront and access its core shooting, campaign, PvE, and PvP content. The game also includes a range of characters, weapons, and progression systems to work through as you play.
As with many free-to-play mobile games, players should expect additional in-game systems beyond the basic download.
What Operating Systems Are Compatible with Destiny: Rising?
Destiny: Rising is designed for mobile devices running Android and iOS. The game supports touchscreen controls, but players can also use a compatible controller if they prefer a more traditional setup. That's useful for a shooter, particularly if you're used to playing Destiny on a console or PC and find touch controls less comfortable.
Because this is a modern 3D shooter with online multiplayer, your device will need to meet the game's current hardware requirements. You'll also need an internet connection for its online features.
What Are the Alternatives to Destiny: Rising?
GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE is another mobile game that combines character-based combat with a science-fiction setting. It focuses heavily on collecting and upgrading a roster of characters, each with different abilities and roles. Compared with Destiny: Rising, its combat is built around a different perspective and control system, while Destiny puts more emphasis on traditional first- and third-person shooting.
Delta Force is a better fit if the shooting itself is what interests you most. It's a military shooter with large-scale multiplayer modes as well as other combat-focused experiences, so it feels much closer to a conventional PC or console shooter. Destiny: Rising is more character-driven and brings in abilities, progression, and sci-fi elements that give its combat a different feel.
Shadowgun Legends is another mobile sci-fi shooter worth considering. It combines first-person shooting with missions, weapons, character progression, and multiplayer activities. Like Destiny: Rising, it is designed around the idea of having a persistent character and gradually building up your arsenal. Destiny: Rising goes further with its playable heroes and mixture of first- and third-person gameplay, while Shadowgun Legends sticks more closely to a traditional first-person shooter format.
