Bungie’s farewell letter for Destiny 2 hit a familiar note for anyone who has logged thousands of hours into a loot grind. The exotic-hunt feedback loop that defined Destiny does not have a clean home on Android, because the genre matured on PC and console. But the appetite for “shoot stuff, get better stuff, shoot more stuff” is well covered on phones, with a twist: most of the loot now comes from gacha banners, weapon-rarity drops, or rank-progression unlocks instead of post-raid chests.
We played eight loot-driven shooter and action-RPG games for Android against the Destiny test: does the gameplay loop reward the grind? Does the weapon ecosystem feel deep? Is the F2P pace honest? Eight survived the eval, and we ranked them by how much of the Destiny itch each one scratches.
What to look for in a loot-driven shooter
Destiny refugees have a specific list. The Android genre overlaps unevenly with it.
- Real weapon variety and rolls. Random stats, archetypes, and elemental damage matter more than cosmetic skins.
- Endgame loops. Raids, dungeons, weeklies, or seasonal events that reward repeat play.
- Honest F2P pace. Some games gate weapons behind a paywall after the first few hours. Others let you grind to the same loot.
- Controller and PC support. Most Destiny refugees already own a Bluetooth controller and a powerful phone. Apps that ignore both are awkward.
- Server stability. Long sessions need a server that does not crash on weeknight prime time.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty Mobile | Multiplayer FPS with weapon levelling | Android, iOS | Full game, optional battle pass | $9.99 (BP) | 4.4 (Google Play) |
| Honkai: Star Rail | Turn-based RPG with deep gear loops | Android, iOS, PC, PS5 | Full game, gacha banners | Optional | 4.5 (Google Play) |
| Genshin Impact | Open-world action RPG with weapon banners | Android, iOS, PC, PS | Full game, gacha banners | Optional | 4.3 (Google Play) |
| Wuthering Waves | Faster combat action RPG | Android, iOS, PC | Full game, gacha banners | Optional | 4.0 (Google Play) |
| Arena Breakout | Extraction shooter, the closest to Tarkov | Android, iOS | Full game, BP, loot | $9.99 (BP) | 4.4 (Google Play) |
| Outerplane | Anime gacha RPG with team gear | Android, iOS | Full game, gacha banners | Optional | 4.4 (Google Play) |
| PUBG Mobile | Battle royale with weapon mods | Android, iOS | Full game, optional BP | $9.99 (BP) | 4.1 (Google Play) |
| Free Fire MAX | Mobile-first BR, fast matches | Android | Full game, optional BP | $4.99 (BP) | 4.2 (Google Play) |
The games
1. Call of Duty Mobile, best for FPS with deep weapon levelling
Call of Duty Mobile has the strongest gun-feel of any FPS on Android. Every weapon levels independently, attachments unlock by use, and the gunsmith system rivals what the console games ship. Multiplayer modes (Domination, Search and Destroy, Hardpoint) run alongside a 100-player battle royale. The F2P pace is honest: cosmetics are paid, weapons and attachments are earned.
Call of Duty Mobile for loot-driven shooter fans is the most direct mobile analog to Destiny’s PvP. The weapon-roll system is shallower than Destiny’s, but the gun-by-gun progression hits the same reward loop.
Where it falls short: No PvE-with-loot mode. The battle royale rotates seasonally and can feel familiar. Some seasonal weapons are stronger than the F2P alternatives, though the gap is smaller than in most mobile shooters.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, all modes, ad-free
- Battle Pass: about $9.99 per season for cosmetic and weapon variants
Platforms: Android, iOS
Bottom line: Call of Duty Mobile is the closest mobile match for the “shoot, level a gun, shoot more” Destiny loop. Skip if PvE was the part of Destiny you cared about.
2. Honkai: Star Rail, best turn-based loot RPG
Honkai: Star Rail is HoYoverse’s turn-based answer to Genshin. The gameplay is slower, the gear loop is deeper, and the endgame Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction modes reward team-building in the same way Destiny rewarded fireteams. Relics (the gear set system) have substats that roll with real variance, which is the closest thing to Destiny’s perk economy on Android.
Honkai: Star Rail for loot-driven shooter refugees is a surprising fit. The combat is not shooting, but the build-and-optimize meta scratches the same itch with sharper UX.
Where it falls short: Story-heavy with long cutscenes that you cannot skip on a first playthrough. Combat is turn-based, which is a hard pivot from real-time Destiny gunplay. Gacha banners can pull you into spending if you let them.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, gacha pulls earned through play
- Optional: gacha currency at typical mobile rates
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC, PS5
Bottom line: Star Rail is for Destiny players who liked the loot deeper than the shooting. The gear-rolling endgame is the strongest on this list.
3. Genshin Impact, best for open-world action RPG with weapon banners
Genshin Impact is the action-RPG that introduced most mobile players to gacha. The open-world exploration is genuine, the elemental combat system has more depth than its anime aesthetics suggest, and the gear loop (Artifacts) is similar to Star Rail’s Relics. Weapons drop from gacha banners, with random stat substats on Artifacts giving real build variance.
Genshin Impact for loot-driven shooter refugees is the open-world option. Combat is third-person action with bow, sword, polearm, and elemental abilities. The Spiral Abyss endgame is the closest to a Destiny weekly raid the game offers.
Where it falls short: Storage on mobile is heavy (over 30GB). Combat does not have a shooter loop. Some characters and weapons are clearly stronger than the F2P alternatives.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, gacha pulls earned through play
- Optional: gacha currency at typical mobile rates
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC, PS
Bottom line: Genshin is the open-world pick. The combat is not Destiny but the open-world plus elemental system gives it a unique identity.
4. Wuthering Waves, best for faster combat action RPG
Wuthering Waves is Kuro Games’ faster-combat answer to Genshin. Parries, dodges, and combos drive the moment-to-moment more than elemental synergy. The Resonator system (character roster) is gacha-driven, but echoes (gear) roll random substats with the same variance as Genshin’s artifacts. The post-launch updates have closed the storage and stability gap.
Wuthering Waves for loot-driven shooter players is the option for those who liked Destiny’s tighter gunplay and want something action-flavoured. Combat feels closer to Devil May Cry than to Genshin.
Where it falls short: Story pacing is uneven. Launch was rough, and a few legacy bugs persist on lower-end Android phones. The gear-rolling endgame is shallower than Genshin’s.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, gacha pulls earned through play
- Optional: gacha currency at typical mobile rates
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC
Bottom line: Wuthering Waves is for players who wanted Genshin to be faster. Skip if open-world exploration was the draw.
5. Arena Breakout, best extraction shooter
Arena Breakout is the mobile Tarkov-clone done well. Drop into a map, loot weapons and gear, extract through one of several exit points, and lose everything if you die before extraction. The weapon modding system has more depth than any other mobile shooter, and the F2P pace allows real progression without paying.
Arena Breakout for loot-driven shooter refugees is the closest to Destiny’s “earn gear, lose gear, earn more gear” feedback if you played Gambit. The tension of running with valuable kit is the genre’s whole appeal.
Where it falls short: The learning curve is steep. Cheaters appear in higher-tier matches periodically (the developer ban-waves regularly but it persists). Storage and RAM requirements are significant for a phone.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, all maps, all modes
- Battle Pass: about $9.99 for cosmetic skins and accelerator items
- Optional: weapon and gear bundles
Platforms: Android, iOS
Bottom line: Arena Breakout is the closest mobile match for Destiny’s gear-on-the-line risk-reward loop. Pick it if extraction shooters are your kind of stress.
6. Outerplane, best anime gacha team RPG
Outerplane is Smilegate’s anime gacha RPG with a team-based combat system that rewards build variety. The gear system has random rolls, set bonuses, and substats that take real time to optimize. The PvE endgame includes infinite-floor towers and rotating bosses that scale with your roster.
Outerplane for loot-driven shooter fans is the side-game. The combat is auto-friendly but rewards manual play. Worth the install if you want a more chill loot game alongside a heavier shooter.
Where it falls short: Auto-battle is so heavy that some players play the whole game on auto. PvP exists but is shallow. Aesthetics are anime-heavy and not for everyone.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, gacha pulls earned through play
- Optional: gacha currency, cosmetic packs
Platforms: Android, iOS
Bottom line: Outerplane is the side-loot game. Good for the commute, not the main course.
7. PUBG Mobile, best for tactical battle royale
PUBG Mobile still holds the crown for tactical battle royale on phones, with weapon variety, large maps, and a serious competitive scene. Weapon levelling, scope choices, and attachment combinations give the genre’s most realistic gunplay on Android. The F2P pace is steady; cosmetic packs are the main monetization.
PUBG Mobile for loot-driven shooter fans is for those who enjoyed Destiny’s PvP and want the same fundamentals in a battle-royale loop. The TDM mode is the closest to a quick PvP match.
Where it falls short: Cosmetic monetization can be aggressive. Some regions get exclusive content. The new player ramp into competitive lobbies takes a few seasons.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, all modes
- Royale Pass: about $9.99 per season
- Optional: cosmetics, weapon skins
Platforms: Android, iOS
Bottom line: PUBG Mobile is for tactical battle-royale fans. Skip if you want PvE.
8. Free Fire MAX, best for fast-match battle royale
Free Fire MAX is the souped-up version of Free Fire, designed for phones that can handle higher-fidelity assets without melting. Matches run shorter than PUBG Mobile (10 minutes vs 20+), unlocks come faster, and the F2P weapon pool is comparable to paid alternatives.
Free Fire MAX for loot-driven shooter players is the pick for short play sessions. The character system adds light RPG elements without slowing matches down.
Where it falls short: Less gunplay realism than PUBG Mobile. Cosmetic monetization is the heaviest of any game in this list. Match-to-match variance is high.
Pricing:
- Free: full game, all modes
- Elite Pass: about $4.99 per season
- Optional: cosmetics, characters
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: Free Fire MAX is for fast sessions on commute-style time blocks. Skip if you have time for a longer game.
How to pick the right one
- Pick Call of Duty Mobile if you want the gunplay-and-progression loop and PvP was your favourite Destiny mode.
- Pick Honkai: Star Rail if the loot grind itself was the appeal, and you can pivot to turn-based combat.
- Pick Genshin Impact if you want the open-world exploration alongside loot.
- Pick Wuthering Waves if Genshin’s combat felt too slow.
- Pick Arena Breakout if Gambit was your favourite Destiny mode. It is the closest to Destiny’s risk-reward design.
- Pick Outerplane as a side-game.
- Pick PUBG Mobile for tactical battle royale, Free Fire MAX for short sessions.
There is no true loot-shooter clone of Destiny on Android. Snowbreak and a few PC shooters cover that gap, but they have not arrived on Aptoide or the Play Store as cleanly. The list above is the honest mobile-first answer.
FAQ
Is there a mobile version of Destiny 2?
Destiny Rising, an officially licensed mobile spin-off, was announced by NetEase in 2024. The full Destiny 2 itself is PC and console only. Honkai: Star Rail and Arena Breakout are the closest mobile experiences to Destiny’s gameplay loops.
What is the best loot shooter for Android?
Call of Duty Mobile for FPS-and-loot, Arena Breakout for extraction-shooter loot tension, and Honkai: Star Rail for the deepest gear-rolling endgame. None is a pure clone but each captures a slice of what Destiny did.
Are there free loot-driven shooter games for Android?
Yes. Every game in this list has a free F2P version. Monetization is via battle passes, gacha banners, or cosmetics. None requires payment to play the main content.
Can I play loot shooter games with a controller on Android?
Most games on this list support Bluetooth controllers. Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Arena Breakout have native controller mappings. Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Wuthering Waves all support gamepads on Android 12 and later.
What is the closest game to Warframe on Android?
There is no direct Warframe equivalent on Android. Honkai: Star Rail comes closest for the gear-rolling and team-build depth, while Arena Breakout matches Warframe’s “lose loot on death” tension in a different format.
Which mobile shooter has the best weapon variety?
Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile lead on weapon variety and modification depth. Arena Breakout has the most realistic weapon attachment system, with stat-impacting modifications closer to PC shooters than to typical mobile titles.
