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Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert

PCPlayStationXbox
Released

Release Date: March 19, 2026

Action, TPP, Fantasy, Sandbox, RPG Elements, Action Adventure, Xbox Play Anywhere, Singleplayer

MMORPG from the developers of Black Desert Online from the Korean studio Pearl Abyss. The game features an intense single player campaign in which we play the role of a mercenary travelling with his companions through the vast fantastic world of Pywell.

8.0

OpenCritic

8.3

Steam

7.8

Users

Rate It!
Ratings
[1:45] - Launch Trailer Videos: 18
Screenshot Images: 59
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

Crimson Desert is an RPG with extensive online content developed by Pearl Abyss. The title is set in the same world as the studio's previous work - Black Desert Online, but the two productions do not share the plot.

Plot

The story shown in Crimson Desert revolves around Macduff's son Martinus - the commander of a group of mercenaries operating in the far North. In an attempt to escape his tragic past, he must ensure the survival of his teammates.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S

Developer: Pearl Abyss

Publisher: Pearl Abyss

Features

Originals

August 27, 2024

I Skipped the Tutorial and Then Regretted It - Crimson Desert Hands-on

You may not know about the existence of one of the more interesting games of this year’s gamescom. I went to the Crimson Desert showcase without bigger expectations – now I now that this game is worth our time.

I Skipped the Tutorial and Then Regretted It - Crimson Desert Hands-on
I Skipped the Tutorial and Then Regretted It - Crimson Desert Hands-on
Originals

March 3, 2021

Upcoming Video Games With The Best Graphics

2021 is the first full year with the new console generation. So, we decided to try and list all the most beautiful games that will release in the next 12 months, and which will certainly try to fry our PCs and consoles.

Upcoming Video Games With The Best Graphics
Upcoming Video Games With The Best Graphics
Originals

November 19, 2020

9 Fresh MMORPGs Coming in 2021 and Beyond

The year 2020 was not much of a year and we want to forget it already. Since the bar is so low, there's a good chance that the coming months will be much more satisfying – also in terms of new MMORPG releases. Because you can't postpone them indefinitely!

9 Fresh MMORPGs Coming in 2021 and Beyond
9 Fresh MMORPGs Coming in 2021 and Beyond

News

This is not the RPG you expected. Crimson Desert abandons the key elements of the genre, going for original solutions

This is not the RPG you expected. Crimson Desert abandons the key elements of the genre, going for original solutions

The release of Crimson Desert is fast approaching. So, Pearl Abyss has released another promotional video showcasing the game's protagonist and world.

video games

Martin Bukowski

January 30, 2026

This is not the RPG you expected. Crimson Desert abandons the key elements of the genre, going for original solutions
Bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2? Crimson Desert challenges legends and promises scale that overwhelms

Bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2? Crimson Desert challenges legends and promises scale that overwhelms

Crimson Desert takes no prisoners - the developers promise a world larger than in Red Dead Redemption 2 and twice the size of Skyrim, full of interactions and sky-high mysteries.

video games

Peter Doron

January 9, 2026

Bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2? Crimson Desert challenges legends and promises scale that overwhelms
Fans are convinced that Baldur's Gate 3 star has a secret role in new action RPG. „Astarion joined the chat”

Fans are convinced that Baldur's Gate 3 star has a secret role in new action RPG. „Astarion joined the chat”

New gameplay from Crimson Desert shows quite a few highlights of the upcoming action RPG, but it was one of the characters (or rather, his voice) that caught players' attention.

video games

Jacob Blazewicz

October 15, 2025

Fans are convinced that Baldur's Gate 3 star has a secret role in new action RPG. „Astarion joined the chat”
After spending an hour with Crimson Desert, I don't know what it wants to be, but the current form has problems

After spending an hour with Crimson Desert, I don't know what it wants to be, but the current form has problems

Usually an hour-long playtest is not enough to be able to say something meaningful about a given title. Sometimes, however, you get a game where you know immediately that it has serious problems.

Opinions

Paul Wozniak

August 20, 2025

After spending an hour with Crimson Desert, I don't know what it wants to be, but the current form has problems
„Korean Witcher” release delayed. „It's a strategic decision,” explained Crimson Desert devs

„Korean Witcher” release delayed. „It's a strategic decision,” explained Crimson Desert devs

The release of the highly anticipated Crimson Desert has been delayed by one quarter. As the creators explain, „this is a strategic decision” aimed at ensuring this title's „success on a huge scale”.

video games

Christian Pieniazek

August 13, 2025

„Korean Witcher” release delayed. „It's a strategic decision,” explained Crimson Desert devs
When is Crimson Desert coming out? Details on release date, BlackSpace engine and single-player focus - Update

When is Crimson Desert coming out? Details on release date, BlackSpace engine and single-player focus - Update

Here’s when Crimson Desert might be released. It’s not official yet, but we’re getting closer.

video games

Olga Racinowska

June 18, 2025

When is Crimson Desert coming out? Details on release date, BlackSpace engine and single-player focus - Update
New open-world RPG offers arguably the best water graphics. That's not the only visual highlight of Crimson Desert

New open-world RPG offers arguably the best water graphics. That's not the only visual highlight of Crimson Desert

At the Game Developers Conference, Pearl Abyss studio presented the capabilities of its proprietary BlackSpace Engine. Especially the water simulation is very impressive.

video games

Adrian Werner

March 27, 2025

New open-world RPG offers arguably the best water graphics. That's not the only visual highlight of Crimson Desert
New gameplay trailer from action RPG Crimson Desert confirms release date

New gameplay trailer from action RPG Crimson Desert confirms release date

Pearl Abyss studio has finally revealed when we can expect the release of Crimson Desert.

video games

Jacob Blazewicz

December 12, 2024

New gameplay trailer from action RPG Crimson Desert confirms release date
Beautiful Adventure RPG Crimson Desert Resurfaces on New Footage

Beautiful Adventure RPG Crimson Desert Resurfaces on New Footage

Pearl Abyss made its presence felt at gamescom. The studio presented a trailer for Crimson Desert, an eye-pleasing game combining action adventure games and RPGs.

video games

Christian Pieniazek

August 22, 2023

Beautiful Adventure RPG Crimson Desert Resurfaces on New Footage
Sony Wants More PS5 Exclusives; South Korean Devs are to Help

Sony Wants More PS5 Exclusives; South Korean Devs are to Help

Sony may currently be in talks with several South Korean studios. The Japanese giant wants to deliver more exclusive games, and it is Asian developers that are supposed to help.

video games

Maciej Gaffke

July 5, 2023

Sony Wants More PS5 Exclusives; South Korean Devs are to Help

Downloads

Top downloads for Crimson Desert Video Game:

All Downloads

System Requirements

System Requirements for Crimson Desert Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
(30 fps, 1080p, upscaling) Intel Core i5-8500 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1060 / 8 GB Radeon RX 5500 XT, 150 GB SSD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
(60 fps, 1080p / 30 fps, 4K) Intel Core i5-11600K / AMD Ryzen 5 5600, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 2080 / 12 GB Radeon RX 6700 XT, 150 GB SSD, Windows 10/11 64-bit.

Ultra System Requirements:
(60 fps, 4K) Intel Core i5-13600K / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 16 GB GeForce RTX 5070 Ti / Radeon RX 9070 XT, 150 GB SSD, Windows 10/11 64-bit.

Sony PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Supports:
PS5: 60 fps, 1080p / 40 fps, 1280p-4K (upscaling) / 30 fps, 1440p-4K (upscaling), RT | PS5 Pro: 60 fps, 1080p-4K (upscaling), RT / 40 fps, 1440p-4K (upscaling), RT / 30 fps, 4K, RT ultra

Microsoft Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S

Supports:
XSX: 60 fps, 1080p / 40 fps, 1280p-4K (upscaling) / 30 fps, 1440p-4K (upscaling), RT | XSS: 40 fps, 720p / 30 fps, 1080p

Ratings

Game Ratings for Crimson Desert Video Game.

8.0

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 79% of Critics. There are 83 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

The Outerhaven Productions: 5 / 5 by Jordan Andow

Despite a few minor issues, Crimson Desert sets a new benchmark for this style of open-world experience, one that will be extremely difficult for future games to match.

Full Review

Region Free: 2.5 / 5 by Joonatan Itkonen

Crimson Desert is a gorgeous audiovisual experience with obtuse mechanics, poor mission design, and a nonexistent story. It plays like an MMO trapped in the frame of a single-player adventure game with too many cooks in the kitchen.

Full Review

Kakuchopurei: 70 / 100 by Jonathan Toyad

I think of Crimson Desert as an unrefined-but-still-promising The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild successor, but with a lot more Rockstar-design-level shenanigans in play. You have to give Pearl Abyss huge credit for somewhat succeeding in that action-adventure role-playing game design front, as well as listening to the community while implementing important changes for its long-term health. Crimson Desert's going places, but for now it's in quite a half-baked-but-still-entertaining state.

Full Review
83%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (103,990)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Visuals and World Design: The game is praised for its stunning graphics and immersive world design, with many users noting the beautiful landscapes and detailed environments that encourage exploration.
  • Gameplay Mechanics: The combat system is described as dynamic and satisfying, with a variety of skills and combos that players can unlock and utilize. The game offers a rich set of mechanics for crafting, exploration, and interaction with the environment.
  • Exploration: Players appreciate the vastness of the world and the freedom to explore, with many activities available such as fishing, crafting, and engaging in side quests.
  • Technical Performance: Many users report good optimization, allowing the game to run smoothly even on mid-range hardware.
  • Rich Content: The game offers a large amount of content, with numerous quests, bosses, and activities to keep players engaged for hundreds of hours.

The main cons of the game

  • Controls and UI: A significant number of users find the controls to be unintuitive and cumbersome, particularly when using a keyboard and mouse. The inventory system is also criticized for being cluttered and poorly organized.
  • Story and Character Development: The narrative is often described as weak and disjointed, with many reviewers feeling that the main character, Kliff, lacks depth and charisma. The story does not engage players as much as they hoped.
  • Bugs and Technical Issues: Some players have encountered bugs that impact gameplay, such as quest glitches and performance issues, although many noted that the developers have been responsive in releasing patches.
  • Learning Curve: New players may find the game overwhelming due to its complexity and the lack of guidance in the early hours, leading to frustration.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Character Customization: Many players express disappointment over the lack of a character creation system, as the game features a fixed protagonist rather than allowing players to create their own character.
  • Improved Narrative Depth: Users feel that the game could benefit from a more engaging story and better character development, as the current narrative does not provide a compelling reason to invest emotionally in the characters.
  • Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions include better inventory management, clearer quest objectives, and more intuitive control schemes to enhance the overall user experience.
  • More Interactive NPCs: Players desire more depth in NPC interactions, with a wish for richer dialogues and more dynamic responses from characters in the game world.

Conclusion

  • Crimson Desert is a visually stunning game with a rich world and engaging gameplay mechanics, but it suffers from control issues, a weak narrative, and some technical bugs. While the game has a lot to offer in terms of exploration and content, it may not appeal to everyone, particularly those looking for a strong story or intuitive controls. Players are encouraged to approach the game with patience and an open mind, as many aspects improve with time and experience.

Summary generated on:

7.8

USERS Score

Average score from votes. 5 players anticipated the game.

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