Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Reviews

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
95 / 100
Feb 23, 2022

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen sets the bar for all Destiny expansions going forward, shifting the paradigm so massively that I could never have expected it. Improving upon problem points in past releases, offering a Legendary mode with difficulty scaling for solos, duos, and trios, and introducing a new crafting system, this expansion has a lot to offer, and that’s without even mentioning that it also includes one of the best PvE raids ever. Witch Queen is a must-play for fans of the looter-shooter genre, and I encourage even those who got burned by Destiny before to give it a try. This is no longer a sign of what is to come. It is here, and it is so, so good.

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Paul Tassi
Top Critic
Unscored
Feb 23, 2022

I cannot call this a “return to form” for Bungie because Destiny has already been so good lately. But if you’ve been missing Halo-style campaigns with variable difficulty, gorgeous level design and impressive fights, Witch Queen checks every box. This is the best thing Destiny has produced in seven years.

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Feb 24, 2022

This is the only noticeable downside to this expansion and it's one that will only affect certain players. Even then, the story alone is absolutely worth dealing with what is realistically a minor inconvenience. Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is an achievement in storytelling for Bungie, which somehow has two more expansions still to come for its ongoing game. The Witch Queen is a must play for fans of the series, casual or otherwise, as it's an intriguing story that is well told, exudes confidence, and hints at an even brighter (or darker) future that's still to come.

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9 / 10
Feb 25, 2022

Whether you are here for the narrative, gameplay enhancements, or new suite of content, The Witch Queen is unlikely to disappoint. If this ambitious trilogy starter is any indication of what's to come, then we are on the verge of a golden age of Destiny content that realises the vision of an evolving and lived-in world that players can be a part of. It's not just the best expansion since The Taken King, it may be the best the series has ever been.

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Feb 25, 2022

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is the next chapter in an already exhilarating game, a chapter that in and of itself reiterates and expands on the existing excellence of the core game. With a thrilling new campaign, an exciting new weapon, the addition of crafting and its impact on the weapon economy, and an upgraded subclass, The Witch Queen is Destiny at its all-time best.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 26, 2022

While there is still more to come with “The Witch Queen,” in the form of the new raid launching on March 5th, the content given in the base expansion is simply Destiny at its absolute best. The campaign is by far the best of the series, both in terms of storytelling and gameplay itself, and might be one of my favorite shooter campaigns of all time. The bar has been raised going forward; the only question is whether or not Bungie can keep it up from here.

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Feb 27, 2022

The Witch Queen is nowhere near over. We still have the raid next weekend and, if Beyond Light is any indication, a lot more to discover once the first team crosses the finish line. It’s difficult to judge a Destiny expansion this early on, but based on the campaign alone, I feel confident in saying this is the best piece of Destiny content Bungie has ever put out. If this is the new standard for expansions, the future of Destiny 2 is extraordinarily bright… and dark.

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9.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2022

The highest compliment I can give any game is when I have to force myself to put the controller down to put my thoughts in a review. Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is that game. Somehow Bungie took a game that I play daily, for hours a week, and made me want to play it more. It's always good getting new content with seasons and past expansions, and I have loved all Destiny 2 additions. However, The Witch Queen feels like we have entered a new age. The Witch Queen has proven that no one is better than Bungie at what they do. The Witch Queen takes every aspect of Destiny and improves on it, and then some. While Destiny is always getting better, The Witch Queen is the best piece of Destiny content ever created.

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8 / 10
Feb 28, 2022

Despite its shortcomings as an entry point for new players, there's a lot packed into The Witch Queen worth appreciating – we haven't even mentioned the new Glaive weapon type that combines melee with long-range attacks, the hugely enjoyable new Lost Sectors, or the overhaul to the Void subclass, bringing it more in line with Beyond Light's Stasis. This pushes the number of viable types to "two", which isn't great, but Arc and Solar should be getting a similar upgrade in the (hopefully) near future. Seasonal content will continue to deliver story as 2022 wears on, but obviously the quality of it cannot be judged yet – the expansion isn't even complete at the time of typing, what with the new Raid yet to drop. Still, this is Destiny 2 at its very best and a pleasingly vital expansion to what remains a superb game.

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9.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2022

The Witch Queen expansion brings an incredible amount of new content and lore to Destiny 2, all wrapped in an engaging and often awe-inspiring experience. The campaign missions are more robust than ever, the Throne World is full of secrets to uncover, and it implements game-changing mechanics that will define the experience for years to come. There is no doubt in my mind that The Witch Queen is the best expansion in the series, finally surpassing The Taken King, and ushering the series into a new era. Long live the Queen.

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4 / 5 stars
Feb 28, 2022

The Witch Queen fundamentally changes a lot of Destiny 2. There's weapon crafting, a new area to explore, a new raid coming, tons of weapons to grind for, and plenty of sandbox changes that shake everything up. But the writing isn't on par with some previous expansions.

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85 / 100
Mar 1, 2022

The Witch Queen delivers a massively enjoyable adventure that adds a new flood of lore that builds on where Beyond Light ended. Destiny 2: The Witch Queen delivers on all the same positives that the other DLCs and even the core Destiny 2 game did. The campaign is wonderful with incredible fights, atmosphere, areas to explore, and music.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 1, 2022

While the story may be turning to darker dimensions, the future of Destiny 2 could not be more bright.

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85 / 100
Mar 1, 2022

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen offers us one of the best campaigns in the saga, with an interesting plot and new mechanics that add a touch of freshness to the long-running title. The different difficulty modes give the game more replayability and the new season is very entertaining thanks to its relationship with current events.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Mar 1, 2022

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is the expansion that players have been awaiting for years.

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Niche Gamer
NECRO XIII
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Mar 2, 2022

All in all, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is packed with a ton of not just new, but good content.

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Mar 2, 2022

Bungie seems to have Destiny 2 where it belongs and that is in the heart of true Destiny fans. It’s been a long road but personally, I think it was worth the wait. This DLC is great, funny and compelling

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Polygon
Top Critic
Unscored
Mar 2, 2022

Eight years after those first clumsy beginnings, the series isn’t about Hope for the Future anymore. The Destiny I’ve always wanted is here.

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80 / 100
Mar 2, 2022

Witch Queen offers the best Destiny campaign in a long time, even for single-player fans. The new entry will be easier, but it will remain difficult.

Review in German | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Mar 2, 2022

The Witch Queen is an exciting, and much needed, addition to Destiny 2. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel of Bungie's MMO experience, it gives a wonderful story while also opening up the doors to future expansions. The future of Destiny 2 is looking up, and The Witch Queen is why.

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