Destiny 2: Beyond Light Critic Reviews

Beyond Light is an incredibly strong reminder that what Bungie has been delivering to Destiny is more than an expansion-a-year live service game, but an ever-evolving, grim dark world filled with rich lore, nuanced characters, and questions yet unanswered. While the plot has a mix of missed (or purposefully delayed) opportunities with developing some characters while creating some powerful, gut-wrenchingly emotional moments with others.

Beyond Light brings a fresh start of sorts for a game trying to continue the success after Forsaken and reclaim a bit of that spark lost during Shadowkeep and subsequent seasons.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is a new foundation for the game. Bungie is looking to build on that foundation in a way that is more future-proofed than Destiny 2 ever was. I think this was a great start. Not only does it allow for easier access to new players, but it provides for a cleaner experience for everybody. Sure, this is nowhere near the fantastic content brought to Destiny in the Forsaken expansion, but Beyond Light still has a lot to offer.

Beyond Light is a fun campaign on a beautiful and expansive new world, but Destiny 2 is still some way from being the best version of itself.

Beyond Light might not be the biggest expansion, but it does feel like we've entered a new chapter in the game's life, with new priorities and an approach that makes the game more resonant in a way that goes beyond satisfying shooting. On the whole, Destiny 2 might be more of the same than it is different, but what's the same about it--like its phenomenal raids and tight, satisfying gameplay--is still largely pretty great, and what's different is mostly making the game all the more worthwhile.

Beyond Light is undoubtedly in the upper tier of Destiny expansions, but its arrival has disrupted the game in ways that pose big challenges for Bungie in the months ahead.

One of Destiny 2’s best expansions thus far, providing an assured roadmap for the series to move into. It is just more Destiny though.

Despite a few hiccups, Beyond Light sets the stage for a triumphant year of Destiny 2. If the franchise continues this way, the best is yet to come.

Beyond Light is approaching the quality of both Forsaken and The Taken King.

Beyond the Light is an extension that delivers an experience at the border between excellence and inertia. On the one hand, Bungie delivers many answers for its universe and for the fans, and offers an incredibly beautiful new destination, but on the other, it is clear that the studio has not changed the formula it initiated several years ago one iota.

Destiny is still a great game, with an almost unmatched gunplay, but it feels like this expansion takes more than it gives. Only recommended for hardcore fans of the game.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is the beginning of something great, the beginning of a probably radiant cycle that looks to the glories of the future by answering the dark questions of the past.

The hope is to see a nice escalation that, within a year, will lead players to welcome Savanthun's return with the right enthusiasm.

While the new location, the plot and Stasis as a new subclass type do enhance Destiny 2, Beyond Light adds too little overall.

I didn't get my socks blown off by Beyond Light. But it did have its moments, and it did convince me that there will be plenty more of those moments yet to come.

Beyond Light's weak story leaves a lot to be desired, but new stasis abilities help make the game feel fresh again.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is another solid expansion to the ever-evolving shooter that you know and love, but falls prey to the same content scarcity and repetitious grind it’s always had. The campaign is short, but enjoyable, and the raid is awesome enough to make the less pleasant parts of the grind worth it in the end.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is worth the investment for existing fans of the genre and franchise. Otherwise, the best way to experience this expansion is through Game Pass on Xbox or PC.

Post-sunsetting and content vaulting, Destiny 2: Beyond Light had some big expectations to meet. Instead, it plays things safe, delivering a boring main campaign, the usual Power grind and routine busywork to keep players engaged. Even with some interesting story bits, strong art direction and a fun raid, it's hard to recommend for both new players and die-hard fans.

Under normal circumstances, Beyond Light would have been a somewhat decent expansion with little new content, despite an engaging plot. However, the vaulting of much of the old content – most of which paid in hard cash by the users – represents an unforgivable sin since all the new activities and equipment of Beyond Light fail to come close to the amount of content removed. If Bungie continues to walk on this self-destructive path, it risks to irreparably compromise the future of Destiny 2.