Crimson Desert

Scale Pywel's cliffs, ride a dragon, and parry Black Bears to reunite the Greymane faction.

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026 Patched 4d ago

Released Mar 2026 Action / RPG

The open world's hidden treasures justify the price, despite forgettable story and filler side quests.

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You value exploration over narrative depth.
Puzzle-solving and boss fights are your draw.
You can tolerate repetitive side quests for a vast world.

Not for you if

A compelling story is non-negotiable for you.
You hate fetch quests and inventory management.
You prefer guided progression over free roam.

What players love

Discovering hidden treasures across Pywel's vast regions is what hooks longtime players.

What frustrates them

The basic story and repetitive side quests frustrate players who crave substance.

See the reviews behind this →

Latest patch

Patched 4 days ago

Patch Notes Version 1.13.01

What critics say

80/100PC Gamer
Vast and obtuse in a way that is going to frustrate some and exhilarate others, Crimson Desert is a fascinating journey, even when the destination isn't all that.
Mollie Taylor Read review →
6/10IGN
Crimson Desert is an extremely ambitious open-world adventure, and that ambition is what makes it both incredibly cool and gobsmackingly infuriating in almost equal measure.
Travis Northup Read review →
4/5GamesRadar+
Crimson Desert is messy, but as you untangle its mechanics and compensate for its flaws, elements of genius and wonder make the experience worthwhile.
Joel FraneyMar 2026 Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

Is Crimson Desert polished at launch, or should I wait for patches?

At launch, Crimson Desert suffers from obnoxious design decisions, poor controls, and multiple bugs. Pearl Abyss has already released about a dozen patches and hotfixes within the first month, but many issues remain. You should wait until at least Christmas 2024 to play, as the game feels undercooked and a more polished experience is expected later.

Source: TheGamer

Which difficulty should a new player pick for Crimson Desert?

Easy mode is the best choice for new players — it reduces damage taken, slows enemies, and gives wider parry and dodge windows. You can switch difficulty at any time, even during a boss fight, so start on Easy and move to Normal if it feels too forgiving.

Source: Gamingpromax Guide

Is Crimson Desert padded with filler?

Yes, many reviewers indicate that Crimson Desert contains significant filler content. Activities like hunting contracts, camp upgrades, and numerous open-world distractions often feel like padding between main story missions. One analysis estimates that roughly 60% of the game's content is filler.

Source: Delayed Respawnse

Do I need to play Black Desert Online before Crimson Desert to understand the story?

No. Crimson Desert is a standalone single-player action-adventure game with its own story, separate from Black Desert Online. Developers Pearl Abyss designed it so you can jump in without any prior knowledge of the Black Desert universe.

Source: XModHub Guide

Is there meaningful content in Crimson Desert after the main story ends?

Yes, Crimson Desert offers extensive endgame content. After the 40–50 hour main story, a post-game questline called 'A New Beginning' with eight quests becomes available. You can also take on superbosses, complete faction quests, run abyss paths, refine gear, upgrade your camp, and hunt for 100% completion.

Source: BossDown Crimson Desert Endgame Guide