Crimson Desert
An open-world action RPG where you scale towering mountains and brawl with nomadic raiders across lush forests and arid deserts.
Crimson Desert's density of environmental puzzles earns its shelf space despite the save corruption risk from updates.
For you if
- You love dense open worlds like Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- You have patience to troubleshoot save issues after updates
- You value exploration over tight combat mechanics
Not for you if
- You cannot tolerate losing dozens of hours to an update
- You expect polished performance on Steam Deck
- You dislike puzzles that require backtracking
The sheer volume of content and environmental puzzles keeps 100-hour fans coming back, rewarding thorough exploration.
Save corruption from updates is the major friction for long-time players, eroding trust in progress stability.
Media
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Before You Play
Refreshed monthlyIs Crimson Desert polished at launch, or buggy enough to wait for patches?
Crimson Desert launched with a rocky reception due to awkward controls, performance issues, and quest bugs, earning “mixed” reviews. However, developer Pearl Abyss released substantial day-one patches (1.00.02 and 1.00.03) that address stability, boss balance, and UI responsiveness. If you are concerned, waiting for a few more patches is reasonable, but the game is now significantly improved from launch state.
Source: PC Guide
Which difficulty should a new player pick for Crimson Desert?
Normal mode is the best starting point for new players. It provides a balanced experience where enemies scale naturally and you can learn combat without being overwhelmed. Easy mode is available if you prioritize story and exploration with less resistance.
Source: Carrylord Guide
Does Crimson Desert respect your time, or is it padded with filler?
Crimson Desert is heavily padded with filler activities like hunting contracts, survival systems, and camp upgrades that distract from the main story. According to a review from Delayed Respawnse, the game throws so much at you that you can lose an entire weekend and still feel like you barely made a dent. It's not designed for casual players who only have a few nights a week to play.
Source: Delayed Respawnse
Do I need to play Black Desert Online first to understand Crimson Desert's story?
No, Crimson Desert is a standalone single-player action-adventure game with its own story. While it shares some lore DNA with Black Desert Online, Pearl Abyss has confirmed it is not a sequel, prequel, or spinoff. You can enjoy the narrative without any prior knowledge of BDO.
Source: Deltia's Gaming
Is there meaningful content in Crimson Desert after the main story ends?
Yes, the main story's end opens up substantial post-game content. You can pursue the Epilogue questline to resolve loose ends, unlock a dragon mount for aerial exploration, and hunt all 60 Abyss Cressets to max skill points. There are also faction quests, rare mount taming, and hidden locations across Pywel.
Source: IGN Crimson Desert Video Guide
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