There, I said it. I’m exhausted by this overused and uninspired loot system in gaming. No, I’m not talking about gacha games — those are a separate numbers-driven nightmare. I’m referring to the color-coded items and weapons that dominate looter shooters and RPGs.
At first, it was an exciting evolution in gaming — a way to instantly gauge the quality of gear after a grueling dungeon run or a hard-fought boss battle. But now, it has devolved into an endless grind, something games like Destiny and modern Assassin’s Creed titles actively encourage to keep players engaged.
And that’s exactly why I’m sick of it. Let’s talk about why.
It Creates Artificial Difficulty
This color-based loot system inevitably introduces artificial difficulty the longer you play. It creates an unnecessary advantage for players who manage to snag top-tier gear early, while others are left struggling.
Granted, most of these coveted items are locked behind endgame content, making the challenge appealing. But is it really worth the grind?
Take Destiny 2: The Final Shape’s Salvation’s Edge raid, for example. My clan and I tackled it on Contest mode, meticulously optimizing our builds to dent The Witness’ massive health pool. I remember our Sherpa calling us out, urging us to ditch our underperforming weapons. I had been running Outbreak Perfected and Retrofit Escapade (Skill issue, I know), but he insisted I switch to Microcosm, the Exotic Trace Rifle rewarded after a long questline from Micah-10 in the latest expansion. I was lucky enough to have it, but those who didn't had no choice but to suffer through lower damage output during the DPS phase and were forced to find alternatives like Commemoration or the ever-reliable Gjallarhorn.
The grind is getting stale, which is exactly why I took a break from Destiny 2 after The Final Shape.
There have been numerous instances where Destiny botched its loot system, expanding its collection of Exotic and Legendary weapons and armor — only to introduce power creep (and the occasional Telesto bug) in the long run. This renders older weapons obsolete, turning them into mere “meme picks” if a player dares to use them.
Realistically, Destiny 2 can’t abandon this system without compromising its identity as the “premier” looter shooter. But there’s no denying that the hunt for Yellow and Purple items has a psychological impact. Bungie — and every other major developer using this system — knows exactly what they’re doing.
It Unnecessarily Extends Game Time
You won’t get the best weapons unless you grind for them. That’s the looter-shooter formula.
Games like Destiny (of course) and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League lock top-tier weapons and gear behind time-gated content.
Want that Exotic Bow? You’ll have to wait for a future update. Looking to complete your Bane-themed build with the Notorious Scarecrow weapon? Too bad — it’s dropping next season.
And even when you finally get the weapon you want, it might not have the perfect perks. Dismantle it. Try again. It only takes a second or two to hold down the button — but that second represents hours of grinding.
Another example, you push through a grueling encounter, only to find that the item you wanted didn’t drop. Frustrating, but hey, praying for RNG takes time.
I’ve been playing looter shooters for about five years (rookie numbers, I know), and they create a vortex of endless grinding — a relentless need to obtain the best version of a weapon or armor piece simply because “it’s what’s good.” I’ve sunk countless hours into Destiny 2’s Dual Destiny mission just to get the ideal perks for my Warlock class armor. After days of grinding, I finally found my Solipsism roll with Star-Eater and Inmost Light perks.
In Suicide Squad’s case, I wasn’t even chasing the best loot — I just wanted the Platinum trophy. But that required obtaining the highest-tier Infamy weapon (or seasonal weapon), meaning I had to endure multiple repetitive runs, slaughtering the same enemies over and over just to increase my Finite Crisis rank. I dreaded every second of it. Yet I pushed through. Why? Because I felt the need to do it. I was psychologically trained to do it.
It shouldn't have to feel like I'm playing a 40-hour game filled with 60 more hours of grind time.
It’s Spreading to Other Games
I’ve come to resent recent Assassin’s Creed titles because they’ve embraced the looter-shooter model, but more on the RPG side. Odyssey was a headache — I spent more time dismantling low-DPS gear than actually playing. That’s when I realized Ubisoft was intentionally designing the game this way, offering “time-saver” packs to help mitigate the grind. These packs front-load your resources, making you overpowered in the early game — but at the cost of genuine progression.
Now, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows are following suit. When I saw Shadows’ menu system, my heart sank. The same cluttered, loot-filled mess. The same arbitrary numbers. ATK UP +35. DEF UP +40. It’s all trivial. Unnecessary. A distraction from what should be the real focus: enjoying the game.
The Harsh Reality
There’s no real solution to this. It’s a proven psychological tool, designed to keep players chasing that dopamine rush — always craving the next yellow or purple drop. I hate it. I’m tired of it.
But I also know I won’t stop. I’ll keep grinding, keep chasing the perfect roll, keep hoping that something changes.