Destiny: House of Wolves

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. LaPS4
    Jun 8, 2015
    88
    House of Wolves makes even more addictive a game that was addictive already, flattening the way for September's expansion. Watch out if you enter the Reef: you may not leave.
  2. Cheat Code Central
    May 29, 2015
    86
    Bungie hit a solid home run with this one.
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 14, 2015
    84
    A solid DLC that manages to inject new fun into the daily grind of Destiny. It’s noteworthy that the new strike mission feels like a lost level of Halo. [June 2015]
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  5. Edge Magazine
    Jul 17, 2015
    80
    Puts Destiny's first expansion to shame. [Aug 2015, p.118]
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  6. Play UK
    Jun 27, 2015
    80
    Bungie seems to be slowly turning Destiny into the game it always had the potential to be. [Issue#258, p.74]
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  7. Digital Chumps
    Jun 3, 2015
    80
    House of Wolves adds many of the tools that Destiny needs to be successful in the long term. It gives players more content than ever, while still keeping old content relevant. It strikes a new balance between PVE and PVP end-game activities. But at the end of the day, this is still Destiny—and Destiny is nothing if not polarizing.
  8. PlayStation LifeStyle
    May 28, 2015
    80
    It’s not quite perfect, but if the improvements made in House of Wolves are any indication of the future, then I’m eager to see what kind of stuff Bungie comes up with to support and evolve Destiny next.
  9. GamingTrend
    May 28, 2015
    80
    The House of Wolves is easily the best of the two expansions currently available, only predicated by the fact you’ll need friends to play it with to explore the full birth of its features.
  10. Twinfinite
    May 27, 2015
    80
    House of Wolves is a refreshing step in the right direction that will keep the lights on proudly as Destiny heads into its second year.
  11. Attack of the Fanboy
    May 25, 2015
    80
    House Of Wolves manages to be a well-rounded expansion with a lot to offer and content to experience. Even if that comes at the trade of having max level so easily accessible and the same recycled story environments.
  12. MMORPG.com
    May 22, 2015
    80
    Overall, House of Wolves is a worthwhile expansion. The Prison of Elders adds a new, challenging activity that has levels of difficulty suitable for a variety of skill levels. The story missions don’t expand the universe greatly, but expectations on that front seem a bit tempered after the disappointment with The Dark Below. Finally, more variety in the crucible and strike playlists is always welcome and will hopefully bring back lapsed players so there will be more people to play with and against. If you haven’t already been drawn in by Destiny, this expansion won’t offer you anything that will change your mind but it helps round out and spice up content for those who are already invested.
  13. Atomix
    May 26, 2015
    78
    House of Wolves offers us better contents than Dark Bellow. The new PvE and PvP modes are intense, fun and full of replay value. This expansion is not going to appeal the users that doesn’t like the base game but is a nice DLC for Destiny fans.
  14. GamesVillage.it
    May 25, 2015
    77
    House of Wolves is a DLC that follows the steps of the previous DLC, with some good ideas and some inexplicably stubborn design choices carried forward by Bungie. If you still enjoy playing Destiny, this is an expansion you don't want to miss. If, for some reasons, you skipped The Dark Below, aim for this one instead.
  15. Everyeye.it
    May 29, 2015
    75
    It's a strong DLC, filled with carefully crafted and replayable content. Bungie is clearly still struggling to understand its own game, and to balance between its vision and the community's desires, but this might be a step in the right direction.
  16. Hobby Consolas
    May 21, 2015
    75
    Second DLC for Destiny introduces new game modes, multiplayer maps and story missions, as well as a new social headquarters, The Reef. The main storyline is still incomplete and we miss some new mechanics.

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
4.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 242 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 242
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 242
  3. Negative: 131 out of 242
  1. Captiosus
    May 19, 2015
    2
    Just as I rated The Dark Below, this "expansion" isn't worth anything higher than a 2. Yes the 0/10 reviewers are trolls but so too are theJust as I rated The Dark Below, this "expansion" isn't worth anything higher than a 2. Yes the 0/10 reviewers are trolls but so too are the 10/10 reviewers because they can't stop and look past their bias. If one stops and evaluates what this actually adds (and removes) it is, once again, a prime example of shoddy management.

    After finishing the primary Petra Venj arc, I'm left yawning. Everything but the final segment of the final mission were in places we've seen until we vomited. The one "new" place on Cosmodrome (Kings Watch) wasn't new considering people had glitched into it back in the beta AND it looked exactly the same back then as it does now. The "new" place on Venus is really just the platforming elements from VOG up in the air - everything else up to the elevator (you'll know when you play it) was there from release.

    The only reason TDB got any kind of positive traction was thanks to the raid included and this one doesn't even include that. So let's break it down:

    - New PVP mode: This is probably the best addition in the expansion and the legitimate gear grind this time around, Prison of Elders notwithstanding. However, unless you run with premade groups you're going to have a bad time. If you try to roll solo, you're going to get stomped.
    - Story missions which consist of running 90% existing story areas backwards (including the very, very intro mission, backwards... how original).
    - Two strikes, one of which is being treated as long term end game.
    - Three new PVP maps.
    - Multiple new factions to grind, yawn.
    - No raid. Please do go back and pay attention to what Bungie has said on the matter; they have not "promised" to release a raid later for free. Having a raid coming "later this year" could just as easily mean as part of the Comet expansion or as another DLC pack that will be OUTSIDE of the scope of the Expansion Pass.

    Anyone who says this is better than TDB is full of it or unable to see beyond the "ooo new shiny!" factor. House of Wolves is EVEN MORE content sparse than TDB and uses repetition (factions, horde mode strike) as a band-aid. Dark Below's end game was a new raid with new design, HOW's end game is a strike using recycled cave assets from each of the planets (and moon), over and over and over. At least Dark Below opened up some new spaces that were interesting. All HOW does is use recycled content, recycled grind, recycled enemies, and opens up stuff we knew was walled off on the disk back in SEPTEMBER 2014 (Kings Watch, Terminus).

    Oh but "sidearms", new shaders, and new ships! Whoop de do. Oh, sure, they reduced the amount of materials needed and ditched the defense and attack nodes in the upgrade trees, but you have to ascend each of your legendaries, which is the same grind under a different name.    … Full Review »
  2. KillEvree1
    May 22, 2015
    0
    0. Only because the people who gave a 10 are completely delusional or high on crack rock.

    No raid! Recycled story missions. For example,    0. Only because the people who gave a 10 are completely delusional or high on crack rock.

    No raid! Recycled story missions. For example, one mission involved entering the Vault of Glass and killing Oracles in the Templar's Lair. At this point in the game, I was embarrassed I spent $20.00. 1 new strike which is good, no complaints. The new hoard mode or survival mode doesn't feel like survival at all since it's only about 5 rounds / 15 waves. This mode should have gone on forever like MW3 survival or BO zombies. It's not like survival mode at all but just an extended strike. I haven't played the new PvP game but don't want to. @Bungie I bought Destiny for PvE not PvP like a lot of other people. Thanks again for **** us by not including a raid.

    Rumor has it, all of DLC content was originally apart of the game and only locked so it can be sold to use as pieces later on as DLC. I believe it now for sure! I also believe the only reason why this game wasn't on PC was because PC gamers would have cracked the game files and exposed Bungie. Sorry guys but we got **** on this one. We spent $100.00 on a $60.00 game.    … Full Review »
  3. bigboss1984
    May 20, 2015
    0
    Garbage!
    Activision and Destiny are perfect examples of everything that is wrong with the present gaming industry. What's sad is most    Garbage!
    Activision and Destiny are perfect examples of everything that is wrong with the present gaming industry. What's sad is most consumers are oblivious to what is happening to this industry. This 'pay as you play' instant reward culture is destroying the quality of our AAA games. The fact that this game was designed for ppl with addictive personalities speaks volumes about Activision's and Bungies' character.    … Full Review »
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