
Free-to-play Korean looter shooter The First Descendant is one of the most played games on PS5 and PS4 right now, despite its muted critical reception. The game – which we awarded a lowly 3/10, much to the dismay of many readers – was the fourth most played game on PlayStation in the US for the week ending 13th July, according to Circana’s Player Engagement tracker. It charted third on both Xbox and Steam as well.
The title – which is regularly peaking at almost 300,000 on Steam – is currently being played more than titans like NBA 2K24, Roblox, Elden Ring, and Minecraft on Sony’s systems. While its standing is likely to slide as its launch novelty declines, this is a fantastic start for maker Nexon, who will presumably strive to keep the shooter feeling fresh through live service support. It’ll be interesting to see if it can now establish itself long-term.
According to data from Nexon, the game attracted an eye-watering 10 million players across all platforms within its first seven days. But despite all this enthusiasm, we weren’t impressed with the experience itself: “It’s the gaming equivalent of playing with a fidget spinner while on a Discord call – something to keep your hands occupied while you catch up.”
[source x.com]
Comments 40
Absolutely destroyed Concord.
3/10 and one of the most popular current games.
More evidence of why democracy doesn't work.
Push Square awarded this GOTY with 3/10 and people laughed at me when I called them out for being part of an agenda which gave low scores to last year's GOTY: LOTR Gollum.
Honestly don't know how it's doing so well, I found the two hours I played to be very boring and just didn't click with me. Then again neither did Warframe or Destiny 2 so maybe these kind of live service games ain't for me.
@UltimateOtaku91 how's 2 hours a good guideline for a looter shooter 😭
Push Square says 7/10 for 95 percent of games. Shocked they went off script and gave a 3
I don't think anyone thinks it's a masterpiece. I have put in a decent amount of hours and feel it's a 6 or 7. The story is totally forgettable. The game loop has been what has brought me back.
I think it's a good in-between games kinda game. I like that quests are short and you can either play for hours or get in and get out after a few runs.
@Cherip-the-Ripper Its enough to get a feel of the gameplay mechanics and I didn't really like the premise of the story. I like to give most live service games a try and I usually know after a couple of hours if it's a game for me or not.
If I didn't get into ZZZ first I might have checked this game out. Maybe sex really does sell.
Poor Sony to see only the success of other live service games on its platforms
Proof that people want games with attractive characters. At least in terms of online games, sometimes it's about style over substance
@Cherip-the-Ripper I mean I played Fortnite for like 20 minutes six years ago and immediately knew I didn’t like it and never went back. It also convinced me to never try another game like it 🤣 sometimes when you know you know
I probably wouldn't have been so bored with it if the enemy AI wasn't terrible.
@Czar_Khastik it’s not merely an agenda, it’s also an omen. If Star Wars Outlaw gets a 3/10, expect it to be in top charts.
@Czar_Khastik Calling Gollum merely GOTY is extremely disrespectful and disingenuous. It's clearly the greatest game of the generation.
either pushsquare gives their trusty and traditional “8/10” to games that don’t deserve it or they give 3/10s 😂
Goes to show people will play any old crap if it’s free. People seemingly just don’t value their time (or have far more of it free than I do at least).
also very telling to see HELLDIVERS 2 more popular on PC than home turf . i guess free online in 2024 really pays off
(also glad to see that overwatch 2 is no where to be found , i hope it crashes & burns 😁)
@thefourfoldroot1 “stop enjoying things!!”
You guys gotta get over that 3/10 review, it's just one person's opinion 😆
@Kanji-Tatsumi it may be one person's opinion, but it's one PushSquare chose to stand behind, publish and defend when readers called out the review for being superficial, excessively harsh and missing commentary on any of the things that make the game good, the same things that are keeping players playing it right now. The reminders that they published a 3/10 review are good, hopefully they'll serve as a reminder to not just consider reviews more thoroughly, but also if the person reviewing the game is the right one to do so.
@thefourfoldroot1 or people just have different tastes than you do? 🤷🏾♂️
This game doesn’t look appealing to me but some people seem to like it. Hell, I’ve been into ESO for 8+ years now and a lot of people think I’m crazy. We all like different things. No need to 💩 on other people just because they enjoy something you don’t.
Looking at top 10 chart, this is pretty much what today gamers wants and enjoyed. Outside Elden Ring, iirc all games in the chart has MTX and some are quite nasty too. Again, i'm not gonna blame publishers if they push more MTX because gamers are loving it.
And for people who keeps bringing up PS 3/10 score, it's not like i agreed with the score but at Steam it has mixed users reviews and Gamespot also gave the same score as PS.
https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-first-descendant-review-grind-me-down/1900-6418259/
I get the reason why people who loves / enjoyed this game thinks 3/10 isn't fair. I had the same reaction back when IGN gave unjustified 3/10 and 5/10 for God Hand and Alien Isolation and i think those low scores really gave a huge impact for both games sales.
But the different is, this game has what 10 million players in the first week? So, i think you guys needs to get over with the score. You don't need to defend the game quality as if Nexon gonna killed the server just because they see PS 3/10 score. I'm sure this game will stay for at least 3-5 years. On the other hand, there will be no God Hand 2 or Alien Isolation 2...sigh...
@tabascoag yep, i was gonna say that lol
I have been absolutely loving this! The final 3 trophies are a grind, yet all great fun!!
@TruestoryYep It was the GOTY of a year with insane competition. Remember Skull island: rise of Kong was also released. Also GOTG isn't as catchy as GOTY.
Definitely my GOTY so far, it has such a satisfying loop.
It's a rare game that keeps me playing beyond platinum.
@Anke I wouldn't go so far as to say its my goty but it is a really good game for an hour or so here and there in between other games. 3/10 indeed pushsquare 🤣
@TheAmbienWalrus or maybe just do a more indepth review before awarding a good game a naff score.
The game is free and the characters design is nice, on the other hand the other game is just, lol.
@Kanji-Tatsumi People shouldn't get over the review at all, mainly because it was one of the worst things ever written on this website, it was clearly written by someone who had no interest in the game whatsoever (which is fine btw) but if your gonna give any game a 3/10 score (also fine) you would expect the review to go into details about why, there was none of that, what was written was inaccurate and didn't include a single thing about anything the game had to offer beyond shooting things with guns.
If you read and look to reviews to inform part of your judgement on whether to play/buy a game then you should want reviews to be written well and detailed, and this review just wasn't any of those things.
I just started playing yesterday and for a free game I am very impressed, it's the perfect game to play until the big games come out later in the year, it's not too late to change your review score...
I'm having a blast with this game, been waiting for a online F2P game. The gun mechanics and sounds aren't as good as Apex legends but the grind for characters is what drives me to keep playing. Just got all materials for ultimate Bunny.
Just got Spiderman 2 used and haven't even started it.
ZZZ is on the back burner because of TFD.
It's a colossal bore
@sorteddan "3/10 and one of the most popular current games.
More evidence of why democracy doesn't work."
Having the freedom to express an opinion that the game is a 3/10 is democracy in action.
You saying something is as silly as giving it a 3/10 is an example of democracy not working is also an example of democracy at work.
If democracy didn't work people saying stupid things and have stupid opinions, as witnessed by others, would be outlawed.
The 3/10 score vs the game doing well is making me want to try it. Well that and I’m already kinda bored of ZZZ.
And I don’t know who reviewed this, had never seen the name before, but Shogun liked the beta a year ago. I’m pretty in line w/ him, so I’m going off of that. Had he given it a 3 I’d pass.
@TheAmbienWalrus it's one of those games you either like or dislike. It's not for everybody but there seems to be far,far more people enjoying it than not. I think it's going to get better over time in the same way warframe did which is another top notch game. At least you tried it and made a decision rather than those who will just see another live service game and neg the arse end out of it without even playing it.
Might be the only time I've disagreed with a PushSquare review so much it makes me call into question whether I should keep holding this website's (one of the only 3 I trust) reviews in such high regard that I recommend it them to people on the fence about certain games. TFD is definitely not perfect, but a 3/10 is beyond ridiculous. The game has solid mechanics and to this point, the fun hasn't run out yet. Don't really know what more one could want from a looter shooter. The story could be better, but, I could say that about thousands of games that were scored much higher.
I think I know the reason it got the score it did, but I won't go there because it's a talking point that always devolves into childish name calling.
Push Square is generous. I'd give it a big fat ZERO - 0/10....
Rip off of Warframe, Destiny, and several others all rolled up into FORCED multiplayer drivel...
Quests after the first 10 minutes are same same = BORING....
Turned if off and trash binned the beta that quick....
Only players with no mind would play this drivel....
@Dave007 I got Spider-Man 2 a few weeks back as well, just been enjoying the hack out of tfd instead.
The grind never stops 🔥🔥 🫡
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