If you’ve scrolled through gaming feeds or seen friend groups hyping up new cooperative looter shooters lately, you’ve probably asked at least once: is the first descendant fun? This free-to-play third-person shooter has built a steady fanbase since its launch, drawing players who love grind-heavy gameplay, customizable characters, and team-based boss fights. But it’s not for everyone, and jumping in without knowing what to expect can leave you disappointed if it doesn’t match what you look for in a game. I’ve put 120+ hours into the game across solo and group play, so I’m breaking down exactly what makes it shine, where it falls short, and who will get the most out of it.
What Makes The First Descendant Fun for Most Players?
At its core, the game’s biggest strength is how satisfying its core gameplay loop feels, even after dozens of hours of play. Every mission gives you a chance to earn new gear, unlock new characters, or test out new build combinations, so you rarely feel like you’re wasting your time. I’ve played a lot of looter shooters over the years, and what stands out most about The First Descendant is how polished the combat feels right off the bat. You don’t have to grind 20 hours to unlock fun movement options, most characters have access to their unique mobility skills within the first 10 minutes of playing them. That makes even low-level missions feel engaging, instead of like a slog you have to push through to get to the good stuff.
The most commonly cited fun factors among long-time players include:
- Fast, fluid movement and combat that feels responsive even during chaotic 4-player boss fights, with each character having unique mobility skills like grappling hooks, double jumps, or teleportation
- Constant loot progression that feels rewarding, with rare mod combinations that let you turn even starter characters into overpowered damage dealers if you grind smartly
- No pay-to-win mechanics, as all playable characters, maps, and endgame content are accessible for free, with paid items only being cosmetic skins that don’t impact gameplay
Common Drawbacks That Make The Game Less Enjoyable for Some Players
For all its strengths, The First Descendant isn’t a perfect game, and there are some common pain points that make it a bad fit for certain types of players. The biggest complaint most new players have is the steep grind required for endgame content. Some of the most powerful characters and best mods require you to run the same mission 10 or more times to get the materials you need to unlock them, which can get tedious fast if you don’t enjoy repeating content.
Another issue is that the game’s story is incredibly generic, and it doesn’t do a great job of explaining its more complex systems early on. I spent my first 20 hours equipping whatever mods had the highest number rating, and I was confused why I was dealing so little damage until a friend explained how elemental synergy works. That can be a big turn off for players who don’t want to hunt for guides online to understand basic mechanics. Solo players will also run into balance issues later on, as many endgame bosses are designed specifically for 4-player teams, and beating them alone requires extremely optimized builds that take hours to put together. I remember hitting a wall at the Void Chasm boss when I played solo for the first time, it took me 7 tries to beat it, and that was only after I spent 3 hours grinding for better mods.
Who Will Get the Most Out of The First Descendant?
If you’re a fan of other looter shooters like Warframe, Destiny 2, or Borderlands, you’ll almost certainly enjoy your time with The First Descendant. It takes a lot of the best elements from those games and adds its own unique twist with its character designs and boss fight mechanics, so it feels familiar but not like a complete copy. It’s also a great pick if you love playing games with friends, as the co-op missions are designed to encourage teamwork, and taking down a massive boss with a group of friends is easily the most fun part of the game.
If you’re the type of player who loves spending hours testing different mod combinations to see what can one-shot a boss, you’ll have endless fun here. There are even community leaderboards for speedrunning boss fights, so you can show off your broken builds to other players if that’s your thing. Casual players can still have fun too, as long as you don’t rush to the endgame. You can take your time unlocking characters and playing through the story missions at your own pace, and you don’t have to engage with the hardest endgame content if you don’t want to. But if you only have an hour or two a week to play games, you might find the endgame grind too slow to be worth it, as some of the best characters take 10+ hours of repeated mission runs to unlock.
Tips to Maximize Your Fun When You First Start Playing
If you decide to give the game a try, there are a few simple things you can do to avoid the common frustrations new players face and get the most out of your first few hours. First, don’t get attached to any gear you earn in the first 10 hours of play. All early game loot is completely replaceable, so don’t waste resources upgrading low-level mods or weapons that you’ll discard as soon as you find something better.
Prioritize unlocking movement mods first, as they make traversal and combat way more satisfying. Even a basic movement speed boost or extra jump mod can make running missions feel way less tedious. You should also experiment with different characters early on, don’t just stick to the first starter character you pick. Each character plays completely differently, and you might find that a character you didn’t expect to like fits your playstyle way better. If you don’t have friends who play the game, don’t worry, the official community hubs are full of players who are happy to help new players run difficult missions or explain build mechanics. I joined a random group for my first Void Raid, and the other players gave me a bunch of rare mods for my main character that cut my grind time in half. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you get stuck. Finally, don’t feel pressured to keep up with the meta. Play the character you enjoy even if they’re not considered top tier, because the game is balanced well enough that you can beat almost all content with any character as long as you have a decent build.
At the end of the day, the answer to is the first descendant fun depends entirely on what you want out of your gaming time. If you love team-based looter shooters with tons of customization and don’t mind a bit of grind to unlock powerful builds, you’ll probably have a blast with it. If you prefer linear, story-driven games with a clear end point, you’re better off looking for something else. Give the free download a try for a couple of hours if you’re on the fence, you might just find your new go-to co-op game to play with friends.