IMHO.

Borderlands 4 vs The First Descendant

Borderlands 4 and The First Descendant both land in Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam. The First Descendant (2024) is 1 year older than Borderlands 4 (2025). The First Descendant scores higher on Steam reviews (64.1% positive) than Borderlands 4 (62% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.

Which should you pick?

Choose Borderlands 4

Choose Borderlands 4 if you want the Adjustable Text Size, Subtitle Options, and Color Alternatives side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 41,062 Steam reviews back the pick.

Choose The First Descendant

Choose The First Descendant if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 64.1% positive across 50,273 reviews.

Both Borderlands 4 and The First Descendant sit in Action, Adventure, and RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.

Side-by-side comparison

Borderlands 4 vs The First Descendant — Steam metadata comparison
Borderlands 4 — Steam game coverBorderlands 4The First Descendant — Steam game coverThe First Descendant
Released20252024
GenresAction, Adventure, RPGAction, Adventure, RPG, Free To Play
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedDeck Unsupported
Price69.99 USDFree to play
Steam reviews62% positive (41,062 reviews)64.1% positive (50,273 reviews)
MultiplayerMulti-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-opMulti-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op
DevelopersGearbox SoftwareNEXON Games Co., Ltd.

Side by side

Borderlands 4 vs The First Descendant — FAQ

Which is better, Borderlands 4 or The First Descendant?
On Steam reviews The First Descendant scores higher (64.1% positive) than Borderlands 4 (62% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The First Descendant is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
Should I play Borderlands 4 or The First Descendant first?
If you want chronology, The First Descendant (2024) came out before Borderlands 4 (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
Are Borderlands 4 and The First Descendant similar?
They overlap on Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
Do both Borderlands 4 and The First Descendant have co-op?
Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Borderlands 4 ships Online Co-op, Co-op; The First Descendant ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
Is The First Descendant free?
Yes — The First Descendant is a free-to-play Steam title. Borderlands 4 is paid (69.99 USD).