If you’re a fan of fast-paced free-to-play looter shooters, you’ve almost certainly crossed paths with both Warframe and The First Descendant at some point. You’ve probably asked yourself is the first descendant similar to warframe, especially since both games lean into sci-fi settings, customizable playable characters, and co-op mission loops. I’ve logged over 400 hours in Warframe across the last 8 years, and put 120 hours into The First Descendant since its full launch, so I’ve got a pretty clear picture of where the two games overlap, and where they diverge completely. This guide breaks down every key area you care about, so you don’t have to waste hours downloading a game that doesn’t fit what you’re looking for.
Core Gameplay Loops: Is The First Descendant Similar to Warframe?
At first glance, the core loops of both games look nearly identical. You pick a playable character, team up with up to 3 other players, run missions to earn loot, and use that loot to make your character stronger. That surface-level similarity is where most of the overlap ends, though. Warframe’s core loop prioritizes speed and replayability through random mission modifiers, with most runs lasting between 5 and 15 minutes, and procedurally generated maps that keep runs feeling fresh even if you run the same mission type dozens of times.
The First Descendant’s missions are far more structured, with most runs lasting 20 to 40 minutes, and fixed map layouts that don’t change between playthroughs. Most missions end with a large, coordinated boss fight that requires specific team roles to beat, especially at higher difficulty levels. Both games use a loot grind system, but the type of loot you’re chasing is very different. Warframe players chase mods, new weapon blueprints, and frame parts to unlock entirely new playstyles, while The First Descendant players chase optimized weapon rolls and character upgrades to make their existing builds stronger. Solo players will also notice a big difference: you can beat 99% of Warframe’s content alone with a well-built frame, while The First Descendant locks almost all high-value content behind required 4-player co-op.
Customization and Character Progression Differences
One of the biggest selling points for both games is their wide roster of playable characters, but the level of customization you get for each is wildly different. Warframe’s frames have completely open build systems, where you can mix and match hundreds of mods to turn a single frame into a damage nuke, a support healer, a stealth scout, or a crowd control specialist. The only limit is your creativity and the mods you’ve collected through gameplay.
The First Descendant’s characters, called Descendants, have fixed roles and far more linear progression paths. Each Descendant has a set skill tree that you unlock as you level them up, with very little room to alter their core playstyle. You can tweak their stats slightly with weapon and accessory upgrades, but you’ll never be able to turn a support-focused Descendant into a high-damage fighter the way you can in Warframe. Warframe has over 50 playable frames as of 2024, while The First Descendant currently has 17 playable descendants, so if character variety is your top priority, Warframe is the clear pick. Cosmetic customization is also far more robust in Warframe, with options to customize every part of your frame, weapon, ship, and even your non-combat operator character, while The First Descendant only offers pre-made skin packs for characters and weapons.
Endgame Content and Long Term Playability
Long term playability is the biggest differentiator between the two games, especially for players who want a title they can sink hundreds of hours into. Warframe has been around for over a decade, and it has built up a massive library of endgame content for players to work through once they finish the main story. The First Descendant’s endgame is far more limited right now, though regular updates add new content every few months.
- Warframe endgame includes open world exploration, space combat, player housing, and custom clan events, alongside standard high-difficulty missions
- The First Descendant endgame centers almost entirely on 4-player coordinated boss raids and perfecting build loadouts for specific encounter types
- Warframe has frequent limited-time events with exclusive rewards that rotate every few weeks, while TFD’s event schedule is far less frequent
I’ve found that players who get overwhelmed by too many different activity types often prefer The First Descendant’s focused endgame loop, since you don’t have to juggle a dozen different currency types or quest lines to progress. Players who want endless variety will get bored of TFD’s endgame much faster, though. Both games have battle passes with free and paid tiers, but Warframe’s free tier gives far more valuable rewards for casual players. You can earn all premium currency in Warframe through trading with other players too, which is not an option in The First Descendant, where premium currency is only available through real money purchases.
Setting, Story and Lore Comparisons
Both games fall into the sci-fi genre, but their tones and lore delivery are completely different. Warframe’s story is deliberately vague and mysterious, with most lore hidden in environmental details, optional side quests, and hidden collectibles scattered across the game’s dozens of planets and open world areas. It’s built up over 10 years of updates, so the lore is incredibly deep, but it can be very confusing for new players who don’t want to hunt for hidden details to understand what’s going on.
The First Descendant’s story is far more straightforward and easy to follow. It’s set on a post-apocalyptic Earth that’s been invaded by alien forces called the Vulgus, and you play as a Descendant, a human with special powers who fights to take back the planet. The story is delivered through linear, fully voiced main quests that play out like a standard AAA action game story, with very little hidden lore to seek out. Warframe’s lore is deliberately vague and told through environmental storytelling and optional quest lines, while The First Descendant delivers its story through linear, voiced main quests. If you care a lot about deep, evolving lore that you can dig into for hours, Warframe is the better option. If you prefer a simple story that you can follow without doing extra research, The First Descendant will be far more accessible.
At the end of the day, the question of is the first descendant similar to warframe has a complicated answer. They share surface level similarities as free-to-play sci-fi co-op looter shooters, but their core gameplay loops, progression systems, endgame and lore are vastly different. If you love fast, chaotic gameplay, endless customization, and thousands of hours of content to explore, Warframe is the right pick for you. If you prefer more structured, team-focused missions, straightforward progression, and less overwhelming content to work through, The First Descendant is worth trying out. You don’t have to pick one, of course – plenty of players enjoy both games for their unique strengths. Just go into each with clear expectations of what they offer, and you’ll have a great time.