Crimson Desert vs Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Crimson Desert asks you to trade story for a 64-hour grind, while KCD2 makes you earn every save with sharp quest writing.
Updated 15d ago
The combat rig and region-by-region exploration carry 300 hours; the main story and voice acting fall short — buy it for the world, skip if you need a plot.
The quest writing and side characters are why people replay it at 500 hours — it deserves the medieval-RPG crown, if you can live with save limits and slow travel.
By the numbers
Prices checked Oct 8; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Oct 8.
| Measure | Crimson Desert | Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
|---|---|---|
| Value Kingdom Come: Deliverance II wins on value | ||
| Price now | $58.99 −16% · PlayerLand | $23.89 −60% · WinGameStore |
| All-time low | $50.39 | $20.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.91/hr $58.99 · 64 h main story | $0.43/hr $23.89 · 55 h main story |
| Off its low | +17% low was Aug 2026 | +14% low was Jul 2026 |
| Main story | 64 h | 55 h |
| Health Kingdom Come: Deliverance II wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 84% 176k reviews | 94% 198k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 76% 3k votes · vs 84% lifetime · souring | 89% 2k votes · vs 94% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 44,164 Sep 2026 · ↑ 19% MoM | 21,879 Sep 2026 · ↓ 15% MoM |
| Launch peak | 16% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 | 9% of Feb 2025 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 |
| All-time peak | 275,859 Mar 2026 | 255,607 Feb 2025 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 11 days ago | 4 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 15+ in last 90 days, at minimum | 0 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Crimson Desert
The sprawling combat rig and open world keep 300-hour fans hooked, each region's encounters teaching new angles.
Main story and voice acting stay the sore spots even for veterans who praise the world's scale.
from our August 2026 verdict
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The writing and quest design stay unmatched to 500 hours — side characters and missions are what long-haul fans replay for.
Late-game save freedom and travel pacing still grate on 100-hour veterans, though the story keeps them pushing.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Crimson Desert if
- You want a 64-hour main story with under $1 per hour value.
- You prioritize combat depth and boss challenges over voice acting.
- You can tolerate grind walls and inventory frustrations for a huge world.
Pick Kingdom Come: Deliverance II if
- You need Quest writing that makes side characters like the Polish guy steal the show.
- You bounced off KCD1's early roughness but want the polished version.
- You accept save limits and slow travel as part of a weighty simulation.
Bottom line
Pick KCD2 if sharp quests and character-driven replay matter more than convenience; pick Crimson Desert only if you can forgive a weak main story for 64 hours of combat and exploration at under $1 per hour.