The First Descendant storms the Steam charts on Launch Day - Upcomer
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
A core enemy attacks a character in The First Descendant, with a Steam Chart overlay.
Screenshot by Upcomer, image via Steamdb

The First Descendant storms the Steam charts on Launch Day

Why is this game storming the Steam charts in the first place?

The First Descendant, Nexon’s new entry into the looter-shooter action RPG genre, has stormed up the Steam charts on launch day. As of writing, it’s rocketed up to 6th place in the most played games list with over 170,000 players. Why, though?

Recommended Videos

It’s always exciting to start a new game and try to be the first in. However, this isn’t the only reason The First Descent has enjoyed such massive success on day 1. Another reason is that it’s free-to-play, and it’s also a fairly small download (~35GB) when compared to some modern games. Finally, marketing has also played a role in the game’s success. But there is one reason, above all, that makes the game an early success.

It’s actually fun to play.

You can dive right into this game, whether you have experience in the genre or not, and get slaying. The gameplay feels super responsive, the guns are fun and offer loads of customization through modules, and the pace of the game is fast and breathtaking.

You can also dive right into public session where you get to join forces with other Descendants as you fight off a satisfying range of enemies, from lowly grunts to big, mini-gun-wielding brutes.

It seems as though Nexon’s amalgamation of popular mechanics from various different games have really hit the mark. And once the US time zones wake up and start playing, we may even see this game rocket past the infamous Banana. It’s certainly more engaging than clicking on a PNG of a banana, that’s for sure.

Time will will tell, but I’m willing to bet on at least 350k players on day one. And from there? Who knows…

To get a head start, check out our guide on the best beginner character for The First Descendant, and also make sure you know how to rank your Mastery up so you can get all the benefits early.

Author
Image of Kyle Ferreira
Kyle Ferreira
As the content manager at Upcomer, Kyle brings a lifetime of gaming and over seven years of professional writing experience to the platform. He holds a tender spot for indie games, but can sometimes be found in an FPS getting destroyed in a fruitless attempt to relive his old CS 1.6 glory days. After which he can usually be found licking his wounds in a chill game of Kenshi.