If you've scrolled through console or PC storefronts lately, you've probably seen The First Descendant pop up as a top trending free-to-play looter shooter. With flashy Unreal Engine 5 graphics, customizable playable characters, and crossplay support, it's easy to get curious about whether it's worth sinking hours into. If you're asking yourself is the first descendant worth it, you're not alone. Thousands of players are weighing the free download against the time commitment required to progress through its endgame and build systems. I've put 120+ hours into the game across PC and PlayStation, so I'm breaking down exactly what works, what doesn't, and who will get the most out of this title.
What Makes The First Descendant Stand Out From Other Looter Shooters?
At first glance, it's easy to write The First Descendant off as another Warframe or Destiny 2 clone, but it has a handful of unique features that set it apart from other games in the genre. For starters, its entire playable roster of descendants is completely free to unlock, with no paywalls for any gameplay-related content. That means you never have to spend real money to access the strongest characters or best weapons, which is a rare win for free-to-play models.
The game's core unique features include:
- Fully customizable mech and weapon mod systems that let you tailor builds to even the most niche playstyles, from support healers to explosive glass cannons
- 8-player co-op boss raids that require coordinated team play rather than just solo damage grinding, with unique mechanics that reward communication
- No pay-to-win mechanics, with all premium purchases limited exclusively to cosmetic skins and quality-of-life convenience items that don't affect combat performance
- Regular content drops that add new descendants, maps, and raid bosses every 2-3 months, with no paid expansion passes required to access new gameplay content
Many new players are also shocked by how polished the game looks for a free title. Cross-platform progression and cross-play work seamlessly across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, so you can pick up where you left off no matter what device you're playing on, and join lobbies with friends regardless of their system. The game runs smoothly even on older hardware, with customizable graphics settings that let you prioritize performance or visual quality based on your setup.
When Is The First Descendant Worth It For Your Playstyle?
The game isn't for everyone, but it fits a lot of common gaming preferences really well. If you love cooperative multiplayer games, you'll probably have a blast with it. Most endgame content is designed for teams of 4 to 8 players, and the community is generally very welcoming to new players. I regularly join public lobbies for raids, and most experienced players are happy to walk new members through boss mechanics rather than kicking them for making mistakes.
If you enjoy deep build crafting and experimenting with different playstyles, you'll also get a lot out of the game. Each descendant has unique base abilities, and the mod system lets you tweak every part of their kit to fit your preferences. You can turn a support-focused character into a high-damage melee fighter if you want, with thousands of possible mod combinations to test out. Short 10-15 minute mission loops also make it perfect for players with limited time, since you can log in, complete a couple of daily challenges, and make meaningful progress without spending hours at a time playing.
Casual players don't have to worry about falling behind either, since there are no timed exclusives that disappear if you don't grind during a specific event. All limited-time event content eventually gets added to the general loot pool, so you can unlock old rewards even if you take a few months off from the game. It's also a great pick if you're looking for a new game to play with a group of friends, since you can coordinate builds to cover different team roles and take on harder content together.
Common Drawbacks That Might Make You Skip The First Descendant
For all its strengths, the game has a handful of flaws that can be dealbreakers for some players. The biggest complaint most new players have is the generic, barebones story. The main campaign feels like an afterthought, with flat voice acting and predictable plot beats that don't add much depth to the game's world. If you prioritize narrative and single-player content over multiplayer gameplay, you'll probably get bored within the first few hours.
The endgame grind can also feel really repetitive if you don't enjoy farming for loot. Most high-tier mods have very low drop rates, so you might have to run the same raid 10+ times to get the specific mod you need for your build. A steep learning curve for build crafting can also be overwhelming for new players, since the in-game tutorial barely explains how mod combinations work. You'll likely have to look up community guides to figure out how to build viable characters for endgame content, which is a turnoff for players who don't want to do outside research to play the game.
Server issues are another common frustration, especially during peak play hours or right after a new content drop. Lag and disconnections during raids can waste 30+ minutes of progress if your team gets kicked right before defeating a boss. Premium cosmetic prices are also pretty inflated, with some character skins costing as much as a full indie game, though that's a minor complaint since they don't affect gameplay at all. If you hate repetitive mission structures, you'll also get tired fast, since most missions follow the same "clear enemy waves, collect loot, extract" format with very little variation.
How To Test If The First Descendant Is Right For You Without Wasting Time
The best part about the game being free-to-play is that you don't have to spend any money to test it out and see if it fits your preferences. You can beat the entire main campaign and unlock most of the base content without spending a cent, so you don't have to worry about wasting money on a game you don't like. There are a few simple steps you can follow to make your test run as efficient as possible.
First, skip optional side story missions during your first playthrough if you don't care about the lore. They don't give meaningful rewards, and you can progress much faster by sticking to main missions and weekly challenges. Unlock 2 to 3 different descendants early on to test out different playstyles, rather than dumping all your resources into the first character you pick. You might find you love playing a support character even if you usually prefer damage roles, so testing different kits will help you figure out if there's a playstyle that clicks for you.
Once you hit level 15, try joining a public co-op raid to get a feel for the endgame loop. That's where most players spend 90% of their time, so if you don't enjoy the raid mechanics, you probably won't get much long-term value out of the game. If you get stuck, don't be afraid to ask for help in public lobbies or official community Discord servers. Most long-time players are happy to share build tips and carry new players through tough content to help them progress. If you play for 5 to 10 hours and still don't find anything you enjoy, you can uninstall it with no financial loss, so there's no risk to giving it a try.
At the end of the day, whether you have fun with the game comes down to what you want out of a looter shooter. If you love cooperative play, deep build customization, and a steady stream of new content that doesn't cost a dime, you'll probably get dozens, if not hundreds of hours of fun out of it. If you're asking is the first descendant worth it for solo players who prefer linear, story-focused games, it's probably not the right pick for you. The best part is you don't have to pay anything to test it out, so you can download it, play a few missions, and decide for yourself without any risk. I still log in 2-3 times a week to run raids with friends, and I've never spent a cent on the game, so it's definitely a solid option for players on a budget who want a new game to play with friends.