Yes. You can play Destiny (the original game, often called Destiny 1)’s main campaign alone: Bungie said campaign missions would not require a team. That does not make every activity solo content. Strikes, Nightfalls, raids, and competitive modes have different group and matchmaking expectations, and the content available depends on your console generation.
Can you finish the main story alone?
Yes. Bungie community manager DeeJ answered the question “How much can I do alone?” by saying: “You can experience Destiny’s story as a party of one, assuming you’re that much of a badass. Destiny will never require you to team up with other people in campaign missions.” PlayStation.Blog’s Q&A describes the campaign design, rather than promising that every later quest or activity can be completed solo.
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Playing alone also does not necessarily mean being the only Guardian you see. Bungie said players might encounter others along the way and could choose to ignore them. The campaign is solo-capable; the wider game includes social and competitive activities.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhich activities can you play solo?
| Activity | What to expect as a solo player |
|---|---|
| Main campaign | Bungie said campaign missions do not require teaming up, so the primary story can be played alone. |
| Strikes | Bungie says Strikes are matchmaking-enabled, with exceptions for Nightfalls and some quest-related Strikes. Matchmaking means the game can find other players; it is not the same as a promise of a solo run. |
| Nightfalls | These are an exception to the ordinary Strike matchmaking rule. Do not assume a solo player will be matched with teammates. |
| Raids | Raids are cooperative endgame activities, not campaign missions designed around a party of one. Bungie’s legacy activity guide lists Vault of Glass, Crota’s End, King’s Fall, and other raids. |
| Competitive multiplayer | These modes involve other players by nature; they are not solo campaign content. |
The matchmaking distinctions come from Bungie’s legacy activity support guide. Bungie notes that some quest-related Strikes are also exceptions, but does not give a complete soloability list for every quest and expansion. Check the requirements of a particular quest rather than assuming that every mission-like step follows the campaign rule.
#1 Best Overall
- Online only and requires a PlayStation Plus membership.
- An incredible story set within a newly-imagined, always-connected universe filled with action and adventure.
- Create your character, forge your legend by defeating powerful foes, and earn unique and customizable weapons, gear, and vehicles.
- Unprecedented variety of FPS gameplay that redefines the genre and breaks traditional conventions of story, cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes.
What does “solo” mean in practice?
For the main story, solo means you do not have to form a fireteam to complete campaign missions. It does not mean the entire game is an offline, single-player experience, or that every optional activity is structured for one person. Bungie engineer Chris Butcher described the distinction in an E3 2013 interview: the primary story could be experienced alone through its end, while other experiences involve cooperation.
That distinction is useful when choosing what to play: campaign missions are the clear solo option; matchmaking-enabled Strikes may bring in teammates; Nightfalls, raids, and competitive modes have different group expectations.
Rank #2
- 5 Adventures
- 1 Epic Collection
- Level 40 Character Boost
Does your console generation change what you can play?
Yes. Bungie’s legacy support information distinguishes newer and legacy consoles:
- PlayStation 4 and Xbox One: Bungie says Destiny 1 content through Rise of Iron Update 2.6.0.1 remains available.
- PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360: These versions retain content through The Taken King Update 2.3.1 and do not receive future content releases.
These support and content details are in Bungie’s Legacy Support Guide for Destiny 1 and its legacy activity support information. The campaign’s solo design is the same basic answer, but the expansions and activities you can access depend on your console and edition. Bungie says no further game updates are planned; that is a statement of current support status, not a guarantee about the future availability of every service.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Online only and requires a PlayStation Plus membership.
- An incredible story set within a newly-imagined, always-connected universe filled with action and adventure.
- Create your character, forge your legend by defeating powerful foes, and earn unique and customizable weapons, gear, and vehicles.
- Unprecedented variety of FPS gameplay that redefines the genre and breaks traditional conventions of story, cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes.
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