Destiny: House of Wolves earned a mixed-to-positive reception in 2015: reviewers welcomed its replayable Prison of Elders activity, competitive Trials of Osiris mode, and more flexible gear progression, but criticized the brief story, ongoing grind, and lack of a new raid. Whether it was worth buying depended largely on how much a player wanted those endgame activities.
What House of Wolves added to Destiny
Bungie’s 2015 downloadable expansion added story missions, weapons and gear, a Reef social hub, a strike, multiplayer maps, and two major activities: Prison of Elders for cooperative PvE and Trials of Osiris for competitive PvP. It did not add a raid. Contemporary reviews treated those two activities—not the campaign—as the main reason to consider the expansion.
Prison of Elders
Prison of Elders put three players through enemy waves and rounds with changing objectives and modifiers. The smaller team size made it a different proposition from Destiny’s six-player raids, while its repeatable encounters gave players another place to pursue endgame combat and loot. GamesRadar+ noted that the basic activity had matchmaking; assembling a group was required for higher-difficulty variants. Ars Technica likewise criticized matchmaking limits on the harder tiers.
Trials of Osiris
Trials was three-versus-three elimination PvP built around high stakes and rewards. Push Square describes a mode with no respawns but opportunities to revive teammates; GamesRadar+ emphasizes its demanding competitive style and lack of matchmaking. It offered a clear new pursuit for coordinated PvP teams, but was less accessible to players who did not have a group or want that level of competition.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- Evil has destroyed almost all of our solar system leaving us on the brink of extinction. You are a Guardian, revived from the past to save our future and protect the last safe city on Earth. Wield incredible powers as a Hunter, Warlock, or Titan and push back the darkness to reclaim our solar system.
- In Destiny: The Taken King, the Darkness has a name: Oryx, The Taken King. He is hell-bent on vengeance and is raising an army of corrupted Taken forces to destroy everything you stand for. You must find a way into his impenetrable Dreadnaught ship and stop him before he and his dark army bring our solar system to ruin.
- Destiny: The Taken King is the next great adventure in the first person shooter Destiny universe. It introduces a new story campaign and quests, new enemies to fight, new locations to explore, new Strikes and Crucible maps, a new Raid that will put players to the ultimate test, and more. To stand up to the challenge, players will have access to three new devastating Guardian subclasses, and a massive arsenal of weapons, armor, and gear.
- Contents include: Destiny Base Game, Expansion I, Expansion II, and The Taken King
Gear progression
The expansion changed how players could advance equipment. GamesRadar+ praised the move toward customization and reforging, while Ars Technica highlighted ascension as a way to raise existing gear to the new cap. Push Square described etheric light as an upgrade enabler but found it scarce, with grinding still part of the process. These are descriptions of House of Wolves’ 2015 systems, not Destiny’s current progression.
What reviewers agreed on—and where they differed
The reviews broadly welcomed the new endgame options, but their overall judgments diverged according to what they valued: a more repeatable activity loop, campaign storytelling, competitive PvP, or raid-scale content. Their scores and value assessments belong to the 2015 release period, not a present-day buying recommendation.
| Review | Context | What it praised | Main reservations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push Square, Robert Ramsey | June 1, 2015; European PS4 review | Prison of Elders and Trials as welcome additions and the main reasons to invest | Scored it 6/10; considered the asking price steep, the story unexciting, the grind persistent, and the absence of a new raid a drawback |
| GamesRadar+ | 2015 review | Progression changes, level design, Prison of Elders, and more accessible characters and lore; judged it more creative and thoughtful than The Dark Below | Found the campaign brief, with missions that could feel like disconnected vignettes; Trials could be too hardcore and lacked matchmaking |
| Ars Technica, Steven Strom | May 28, 2015 impressions | More variety and repeatability, opportunities for loot, and more enjoyable gear advancement | Currency sprawl and matchmaking barriers remained, and the expansion did not solve all of Destiny’s problems |
Was the campaign any good?
Reviewers generally saw the campaign as a weak point beside the endgame activities. GamesRadar+ said the missions were brief and could come across as separate vignettes rather than a cohesive story. Push Square called the story competent but unexciting. GamesRadar+ was more enthusiastic about the characters and lore becoming more accessible, so its reservations about mission structure did not amount to dismissing every narrative addition.
Did House of Wolves have a raid?
No. The lack of a new raid was a significant trade-off. Players who preferred smaller groups could welcome an expansion whose headline PvE activity was designed for three rather than six. For dedicated raid teams, however, Prison of Elders was not a replacement for a new raid. The reviews register both sides of that choice rather than treating the omission as an unqualified improvement or failure.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- PLAY AS TRISS MERIGOLD: Take on the role of Triss, a skilled sorceress with elemental magic, alchemy expertise, and unique teleportation abilities that turn the tide in critical moments.
- NEW STORY ADVENTURE: Dive into the mysterious tale of Nivellen in A Grain of Truth, a scenario where the rules of the game shift and challenge your strategic skills.
- UNIQUE MECHANICS & ABILITIES: Triss’s abilities allow for dynamic gameplay, including escaping tough situations when luck isn’t on your side, offering fresh tactical opportunities.
- EXPAND YOUR PATH OF DESTINY EXPERIENCE: This expansion introduces new narrative elements and gameplay twists that deepen the Witcher universe experience.
- COMPATIBLE WITH THE BASE GAME: Designed to seamlessly integrate with The Witcher: Path of Destiny base game, perfect for players looking to expand their adventure.
Did it fix Destiny’s endgame grind?
It made the loop more varied and, in Ars Technica’s view, more enjoyable, but did not remove its friction. The reviewers point to grinding and scarce upgrade materials, as well as a proliferation of currencies. Group access was another constraint: higher Prison of Elders difficulties and Trials could require players to coordinate their own teams. The expansion improved the range of things to do without making every new activity equally accessible.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was House of Wolves worth it at the time?
There was no single consensus value verdict. Push Square’s European PS4 review gave it 6/10 and judged the asking price steep, particularly for casual players. GamesRadar+ and Ars Technica focused more on the gains in progression and repeatable endgame play, while still noting limitations. GameSpot’s May 6, 2015 roundup reported a planned May 19 release and historical prices of $20 for the standalone expansion and $35 for the Expansion Pass. Those figures describe the 2015 market, not current prices or availability.
Rank #4
- This Is An Expansion For The Base Game
- Package Dimensions: 14.6 H x 2.2 L x 10.6 W (centimeters)
- Package Weight: 0.22 kilograms
- Country of Origin : China
For players chiefly interested in Prison of Elders, Trials, or advancing gear, the reviews offer reasons the expansion could be appealing. For those seeking a substantial campaign, a new raid, or a complete answer to Destiny’s grind, the same coverage explains why it could disappoint. The historical reviews do not establish whether the expansion is currently available or playable on any particular platform.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ENGAGE IN THE WILD HUNT CONFLICT: Experience a semi-cooperative game mode where one player commands Eredin and his Wild Hunt generals, while others lead Ciri and her companions in a battle for survival.
- INCLUDES SOLO PLAY MODE: Face the terrifying Wild Hunt alone in the challenging solo mode, testing your skills and strategy against overwhelming odds.
- NEW STRATEGIC GAMEPLAY: This expansion adds asymmetric roles and unique abilities, creating a dynamic and intense experience for both cooperative and competitive players.
- IMMERSIVE WITCHER UNIVERSE: Dive deeper into the Witcher world, confronting one of the saga’s most fearsome enemies with new characters and storylines.
- COMPATIBLE WITH PATH OF DESTINY BASE GAME: Designed to integrate seamlessly with The Witcher: Path of Destiny, enhancing your gaming experience with new modes and challenges.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
