The First Descendant is a free-to-play, third-person shooter RPG where you assume the role of a Descendant fighting against the Vulgus threat. Gameplay centers on completing missions, gathering loot, and enhancing your character's abilities. The recent Season 2 update, 'Beyond The Void', added new playable characters like Dia and Serena, and introduced the Sigma Sector to explore, expanding the PvE content against the Obliviant faction.
The primary gameplay loop centers on cooperative and solo mission completion, characteristic of the looter-shooter genre. Players engage in third-person combat, utilizing a variety of unique Descendants, each possessing distinct abilities and combat styles. Success in missions yields experience points (XP) and various forms of loot, which are essential for character progression.
Progression involves upgrading your Descendant's gear, skills, and overall power level. The game supports both PvE (Player versus Environment) content, where players team up to tackle challenging objectives, and likely includes other modes such as solo play.
The narrative places you in a world under siege. As a Descendant, you are one of the few capable of wielding powerful abilities necessary to repel the invaders. The story unfolds through mission objectives and environmental details, building out the lore surrounding the conflict between humanity and the Vulgus.
The game is currently operating under its Season 2 update, titled 'Beyond The Void'. This major content drop significantly expands the playable area with the introduction of the Sigma Sector. This expansion brings new narrative threads and challenges for players to engage with.
Season 2 has introduced new playable characters, including Dia and Serena, adding further variety to the roster of available Descendants and altering the available tactical compositions for teams. Furthermore, players must now contend with the Obliviant faction, presenting new enemy types and combat scenarios.
Acquiring new Descendants and enhancing existing ones is central to the experience. Players focus on mission completion to gather resources necessary for character customization and power increases, ensuring that the constant pursuit of better gear and stronger abilities drives the long-term engagement.