If you’ve been browsing video game forums and reading news headlines over the past few months, you’ve probably heard of The First Descendant. Developed by Nexon, this free-to-play, live-service, third-person shooter has grabbed gamers’ attention, amassing over 10 million players in its first week alone. On the surface, The First Descendant is pretty familiar to other live-service shooters, but is there anything that makes it stand out? At launch, The First Descendant has proven to be an enjoyable romp, but is this the kind of surprise hit that will stay relevant for years to come, or will it sizzle out before the year is up?
Shoot and Loot: It’s Your Destiny
If the name Nexon sounds familiar, you might be familiar with some of the previous games they published, like Maple Story, Counter-Strike Online, and most recently, The Finals. The First Descendant is their only release in 2024 so far, but things are off to a good start. Playable either solo or with a group of friends (multiplayer seems to be the intended route), this futuristic free-to-play title has already garnered quite a loyal fanbase.
In the game, you play as a god-like Descendant; imbued with supernatural strength, you possess untold power and big protagonist energy. When invaders threaten the whole of humanity, only you and your team of Descendants can get the job done. The First Descendant also contains a sort of class system, as there are several Descendants you can choose from, each with unique powers and roles to play in combat. Although dealing damage is a core part of the game, healers, tanks, and other support characters also round out the field. You might just enjoy a character based on their style and personalities alone, as the roster of Descendants is varied and charming.
No matter what character you pick, the gameplay experience in The First Descendant is very straightforward. Teleporting from the hub, Albion, you’ll run around hostile zones, eradicating enemies and completing simple challenges while collecting new gear and guns. There are a couple of more complex missions to tackle, along with a line of bosses that you’ll need to defeat, but the majority of that time is just spent mowing down random beasts and alien baddies and searching for the perfect piece of loot. If you’ve ever played Destiny or Warframe, the content and gameplay loop here are almost exactly the same. That said, the graphics are pretty stellar, and there’s an immense sense of speed, helped on by a fun-to-use grappling hook.
Monetization, Microtransactions, and the Dreaded Grind
The biggest deal-breaker for almost any free-to-play game is its monetization system, and unfortunately, The First Descendant is one of the worst offenders. After a few minutes in the tutorial, you’re overwhelmed with so many currencies, weapon modules, and adjustable pieces that it can make your head spin. In practice, you don’t need to engage with any of the many microtransactions to have a good time, but you will be constantly bombarded with the option to spend real money.
The excessive push towards microtransactions can feel scummy, but at the very least, The First Descendant is a player-versus-environment game. That means you aren’t getting an unfair advantage by chunking down some extra cash, but instead, you’re just making it easier to unlock stuff. While you can unlock legendary and rare items without spending money, it will likely take hours of grinding and a bit of luck. Even if you want to try out a new Descendant, it can require several hours of mindlessly replaying missions you’ve already completed. It’s understandable that The First Descendant has microtransactions, but they feel very aggressive and in-your-face.
Despite these detractors, The First Descendant is a decent looter shooter that’s twice as fun to play with friends. It might be a bit easy at the start, especially if you’re a genre veteran, but the challenge ramps up over time. The shooting and traversal feel snappy and quick, the characters are all fun, and there’s lots of content to enjoy. For the low, low price of free, it’s not a bad deal. Only time will tell if The First Descendant can sustain itself for more than a year, but for now, it’s worth checking out.
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Short author bio:
Matt Owen
As a lifelong gamer and overall media fiend, Matt gets his hands on every new game and watches an unhealthy amount of movies and TV: action, horror, mystery, and sci-fi in particular. When not bingeing on entertainment, he enjoys reading and writing short stories, cooking, and producing video and podcast content.