Hey there, fellow gamers! If you’ve been hooked on the explosive action, cool sci-fi vibes, and the satisfying loot chase in The First Descendant, you’re probably scouting for similar gaming adventures.
This upcoming free-to-play title has certainly grabbed attention with its slick combat, diverse characters, and stunning visuals. But while we wait for its full debut or just want some fresh options, the good news is there are plenty of other titles that offer a similar thrill.
Whether you’re all about the intense shooting, the joy of snagging epic gear, exploring futuristic worlds, or teaming up with pals to tackle massive foes, you’ll find other games sharing The First Descendant’s DNA. Finding your next obsession really boils down to what elements you love most.
Ready to explore? Let’s dive into some of the best games like The First Descendant that are totally worth your time!
Warframe: The Veteran Sci-Fi Powerhouse
Alright, if you’re talking about free-to-play sci-fi looter shooters with incredible mobility and a mountain of content, you have to talk about Warframe. This game has been around for ages, constantly evolving and adding new stuff, and it’s built up a massive, dedicated player base. Think of it as the seasoned veteran in this genre!
So, why is Warframe a great pick if you’re looking for games like The First Descendant? Well, both games throw you into a futuristic universe where you play as powerful, ability-wielding characters (Warframes here, Descendants in the other) who run missions, blast enemies, and constantly hunt for better loot to upgrade their gear and abilities.
The core loop of action, progression, and customization is very similar. You’ll spend a lot of time running missions with friends, taking down different enemy factions, and diving deep into build crafting to maximize your power.
But Warframe really stands out with its absolutely insane movement system. You’re not just running and shooting; you’re bullet-jumping, sliding, wall-running, and flipping through levels at breakneck speeds. It feels incredibly fluid and empowering.
Plus, the sheer amount of content – from story quests and open worlds to different mission types and Warframes to collect (each with unique abilities!) – is staggering. It can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but there’s always something new to chase, making that loot grind incredibly rewarding. It’s a game you can sink hundreds, even thousands, of hours into.
Destiny 2: The Epic Space Opera Looter Shooter
Speaking of giants in the looter shooter genre, we absolutely have to include Destiny 2. If you’re looking for games like The First Descendant that offer a rich, ongoing story, stunning visuals, and some of the tightest gunplay around, Destiny 2 is a prime candidate. It’s a massive online world where you play as a Guardian, a powerful warrior protecting humanity from various alien threats.
Destiny 2 shares that core loop of completing missions, exploring diverse locations across the solar system, and constantly seeking out better weapons and armor to increase your power level.
Like The First Descendant, teamwork is key, with strikes, dungeons, and raids requiring coordinated efforts with other players to overcome challenging encounters and earn top-tier loot. The feeling of progression as you get stronger and fine-tune your build is incredibly satisfying in both games.
What really makes Destiny 2 shine is its epic scale and deep lore. It has a sprawling narrative that unfolds across multiple expansions and seasons, giving the world a real sense of history and ongoing conflict.
The gunplay feels incredibly polished and impactful, making every firefight a blast. And while Warframe is known for its speed, Destiny 2 offers a fantastic balance of fast-paced combat and strategic ability usage. Plus, the variety of activities, from competitive PvP in the Crucible to challenging PvE endgame content, means there’s always something to do.
Outriders: A Punchy, Power-Focused Alternative
Next up, let’s talk about Outriders. While it might not have the same massive scale or long history as Warframe or Destiny 2, Outriders brings its own flavor to the looter shooter genre, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you enjoyed the feel of The First Descendant.
This game drops you onto a hostile alien planet where you play as an “Outrider,” a super-powered human trying to survive and uncover the planet’s secrets.
Outriders is similar in that it’s a third-person shooter with a heavy emphasis on using powerful abilities alongside your guns. You choose from different classes, each with unique powers, much like the different Descendants.
The core gameplay loop involves taking on missions, clearing out hordes of enemies, and constantly hunting for better gear with randomized stats and perks to make your character build stronger. The combat is fast-paced and often requires strategic use of cover and abilities to survive.
Where Outriders really stands out is its focus on aggressive combat and build synergy. The game actually encourages you to stay in the fight and deal damage, as many abilities and perks are tied to healing or gaining an advantage by being aggressive. It also has a more linear story experience compared to the open-world elements in other games, which some players might prefer.
The loot system is all about finding pieces that synergize with your chosen class and abilities, leading to some incredibly powerful and fun builds. It’s a solid co-op experience that you can play through with up to two friends.
Borderlands 3: The King of Loot and Mayhem
Alright, let’s shift gears slightly but stay firmly in the looter shooter universe with Borderlands 3! If your favorite part of games like The First Descendant is the sheer volume of wacky weapons and the thrill of seeing legendary gear drop, then the Borderlands series, and specifically Borderlands 3, needs to be on your radar.
This game is all about finding bigger, better, and crazier guns while causing absolute mayhem across different planets.
Borderlands 3 mirrors The First Descendant in its core loop of taking on missions, often involving clearing out hordes of enemies and tackling big boss fights, all in the pursuit of sweet, sweet loot. You play as one of several Vault Hunters, each with unique skill trees and action skills, similar to the distinct abilities of the Descendants.
Teamwork is also a huge part of the fun, as you can squad up with friends to take on the challenges and share in the glorious loot explosions.
What makes Borderlands 3 truly unique is its distinctive cel-shaded art style, over-the-top humor, and billions (yes, billions!) of procedurally generated guns. The focus here is less on realistic sci-fi and more on a punk-rock, chaotic space Western vibe. The abilities are flashy, the enemies are often hilarious, and the sheer variety of weaponry is unmatched.
If you love the idea of a looter shooter that doesn’t take itself too seriously and just wants you to have a blast while collecting an absurd amount of gear, Borderlands 3 is an excellent choice among games like The First Descendant.
Anthem: Soaring Through a Beautiful World
Let’s talk about Anthem. While its journey has been a bit bumpy, Anthem still offers a core gameplay experience that might resonate with fans of The First Descendant, particularly when it comes to the feeling of being a powerful, suit-wearing hero with incredible abilities. In Anthem, you pilot powerful Javelin exosuits, each with unique combat styles and skills, exploring a visually stunning but dangerous world.
The similarity here lies in the focus on cooperative third-person shooting and using distinct character abilities (the Javelins) to take down enemies and complete objectives. Like The First Descendant’s focus on character skills and teamwork, Anthem encourages players to combine their Javelin abilities for devastating combos.
The loop involves taking on missions, fighting various alien creatures and factions, and collecting loot to customize and upgrade your Javelins.
What truly makes Anthem stand out is its incredible flight and movement system. Soaring through the open world in your Javelin feels absolutely fantastic and is a major highlight of the game. Each Javelin type also offers a significantly different playstyle, from the tanky Colossus to the agile Interceptor, providing a good amount of variety in how you approach combat.
While the game’s live service elements didn’t fully pan out as initially planned, the core gameplay of flying and fighting in the Javelins is undeniably fun and offers a unique twist on the looter shooter formula.
Remnant: From the Ashes – A Challenging Co-op Twist
Now, for something a little different but still firmly in the realm of third-person shooting with a heavy emphasis on gear and replayability, let’s look at Remnant: From the Ashes. This game blends intense gunplay and cooperative action with elements you might recognize from Souls-like games, creating a challenging and rewarding experience. You play as one of the last remnants of humanity, fighting against monstrous creatures from another dimension.
Remnant shares the cooperative third-person shooting foundation with The First Descendant, where teaming up with friends is highly recommended to tackle tough enemies and bosses. The game loop involves exploring diverse, often procedurally generated levels, clearing out enemy encounters, and defeating challenging boss fights to earn new gear, weapon mods, and traits that enhance your character. The focus on building a strong character through loot and upgrades will feel familiar.
What makes Remnant stand out is its unique blend of shooting and challenging, pattern-based combat reminiscent of the Souls genre. Enemies hit hard, and boss fights are often multi-phased endurance tests that require careful movement and coordination.
The procedural generation of levels means that each playthrough can feel slightly different, adding a ton of replayability as you hunt for specific items or try out new builds. It’s a game that will test your skills and teamwork, offering a satisfying sense of accomplishment when you overcome its difficult challenges.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2: A Deep Dive
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is an online-only action RPG and third-person shooter developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. Released in 2019, it serves as a direct sequel to the 2016 game, set in a near-future Washington, D.C., roughly seven months after a deadly virus, “Green Poison,” caused societal collapse. You step into the shoes of an agent of the Strategic Homeland Division (SHD), a group tasked with rebuilding and bringing order to a chaotic city overrun by hostile factions.
The game combines tactical cover-based shooting with deep role-playing elements. You’ll use a variety of firearms, skills (like deployable turrets, seeker mines, and combat drones), and gadgets to engage enemies in a dynamic and often challenging combat environment. Positioning and teamwork are crucial, especially on higher difficulties.
Gameplay Loop and Activities
The core gameplay loop revolves around completing missions, participating in open-world activities, and venturing into the perilous Dark Zones to acquire better loot. As you gain experience points (XP), you’ll level up, unlock new abilities, and earn SHD Tech, a currency used to further enhance your skills and gain access to powerful perks.
The open world of Washington, D.C., is a detailed and hostile environment with various activities, including:
- Main Missions: Story-driven missions that advance the narrative.
- Side Missions: Optional missions that provide additional lore and rewards.
- Control Points: Objectives to capture and hold, providing resources and fast travel points.
- Bounties: Targeting specific enemy leaders for high rewards.
- World Events: Dynamic occurrences in the open world that offer quick combat encounters and loot.
Cooperative and Multiplayer Features
The Division 2 is built with cooperation in mind. The entire story campaign and most endgame content can be played with up to four players. The game features a seamless matchmaking system, allowing you to easily team up with others for missions and activities. Playing in a group encourages tactical coordination, combining different skills and gear builds to overcome challenging encounters.
The game also includes competitive multiplayer in the form of Conflict, a structured PvP mode with different game types. Additionally, the Dark Zones are unique areas that blend PvE and PvP, where players can find valuable loot but also risk being attacked and having their extracted loot stolen by other agents who go “rogue.”
In essence, The Division 2 offers a robust and engaging looter shooter experience with a strong emphasis on cooperative play, tactical combat, and a deep system for acquiring and optimizing your gear.
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