Crimson Desert Review – Hype Vs. Reality

Crimson Desert was one of my most anticipated games of 2026, and I’m sure many gamers felt the same. The hype was real, and the promises were big. When I finally got my hands on it, some of those promises hit the mark, while others stumbled.

After clocking over 100 hours exploring its world, it’s time to unpack Crimson Desert: what it nails, what trips up, and what you need to know before diving in.

The Fate Of Pywel, Off a Kliff

The story kicks off with you, a member of the ‘Greymanes’ named Kliff, getting ambushed by the ‘Black Bears’. During the confrontation, the Black Bears’ leader Myurdin kills Kliff – yes, this happens literally in the first hour, so no spoilers here. But then, Kliff is revived by a mysterious force, gaining access to the Abyss, a strange realm in the sky that grants him new powers. This second chance sets him on a path of revenge.

As his journey unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that Kliff is up against more than just the Black Bears’ leader. The world’s balance is unstable, and someone is after the Abyss’s hidden power.

Here’s where the story gets meh: while this summary sounds dramatic, playing the game often feels like a series of random errands. One moment you’re helping a boy retrieve his sheep, the next you’re in the Abyss fixing a skybridge, then battling a clockwork machine, and suddenly flying a dragon.

Most of the time, the objectives feel disconnected, with little flow tying them together. The Abyss itself is also poorly explained. This leaves you scratching your head more than once.

In Souls or Soulslike games, disjointed storytelling can still work because there’s an underlying thread connecting events; you piece the story together, even if it isn’t spoon-fed. Crimson Desert, as an open-world action adventure, would benefit from a clearer narrative and more coherent presentation, and personally, I didn’t find it interesting enough to connect the dots.

Not a Soulslike, But Like a Soulslike

Crimson Desert might not be a Soulslike through and through, but at times, it sure flirts with the idea. There are no difficulty options for example, and combat demands attention, stamina management, dodges, and a lot of times, well-timed parries; though it’s not quite as punishing as a proper Soulslike would be. This is where the game shines.

You have Kliff, who can wield a variety of weapons: his trusty sword and shield, a bow, and later, two-handed swords, spears, and axes. Each weapon type comes with its own moveset and unique attacks that you can upgrade through the skill tree.

Naturally, one weapon type will click with your playstyle. For me, it was dual-wielding two swords. Sure, this removes access to a shield, and parries are off the table, but it’s a high-risk, high-reward DPS setup, and absolutely the most fun I’ve had with the game.

As you progress through the story, you can also team up with two comrades, Damiane and Oongka, each with their own skill trees and weapon specialties. Damiane is quick, wielding a rapier and a gun, while Oongka is the tank, swinging axes or warhammers to soak damage and dish it back.

This adds variety but also limits which characters can use certain weapons and armors. I get why it’s designed this way, but I hope in the future, at least Kliff, being the main guy, can eventually access all weapon types after finishing the story.

Boss fights in Crimson Desert are a mixed bag. Some can be brutal if you’re not used to this kind of combat and early bosses like Reed Devil can sneak up on you. Luckily, unlimited healing items, plus the ability to farm skill points and upgrade gear, give you tools to overcome most challenges.

On the upside, many bosses are memorable with unique appearances and attacks, though some, and even a few characters, can fade into forgettable territory.

Overall, the combat is engaging, flexible, and a blast, but it’s a little uneven in execution: a few unforgettable highs, some moments that leave you shrugging, and plenty of opportunity to experiment and find your own style.

Vast Exploration (And Pattern Recognition)

You might think you can play the game with whichever character you like, and technically, you can, but that only applies outside the main story.

Damiane becomes available early on, though she disappears for a stretch before returning later, while Oongka only joins you halfway through the game and needs a side quest completed to unlock him fully. You can still fully explore the world and do other quests with any of them.

Exploration is a cornerstone of any open-world game, and Crimson Desert nails it for the first 20 to 30 hours. After that, things start to feel repetitive.

The map is massive, and your main mode of travel is your horse, which is great, but it emphasizes how vast the world really is. Locations are unique and well-presented: forests, mountains, camps, castles, and bustling towns all have their charm. And let us not forget, the actual Crimson Desert! Yep, that’s a location in the game.

When the game shines, it really shines, but the longer you play, the more you notice that it repeats patterns, which, honestly, players expect in open-world games. How much you enjoy it depends on how long you’re willing to ride along.

The game looks stunning, despite some lighting and graphical issues that remain, though Pearl Abyss has been responsive to community feedback and has been steadily patching improvements.

There’s also tons of content to sink your teeth into: side quests, factions, and bosses to challenge, giving you plenty of reasons to wander, fight, and explore every corner of Pywel.

Too Many Features, Not Enough Focus

One thing I didn’t like about Crimson Desert is that it tries to cram so many features from all your favorite games into one barrel, but forgets to fully polish even half of them.

It’s the kind of idea you’d hatch at 4 a.m. with a friend after brainstorming a “perfect” game by picking the best bits from everywhere, it sounds fun on paper, but it doesn’t really work.

A lot of the time, when you’re solving a puzzle or stuck in a moment, you forget you even have a special ability or that a certain mechanic exists.

This can be overwhelming, especially for casual gamers, and it makes the game feel cluttered instead of seamless.

Verdict

Crimson Desert isn’t quite the next-gen breakthrough we were all hoping for, but it’s still a solid game with plenty of content that justifies the $69.99 price tag. The world is beautiful and massive, exploration is slightly above average, combat is satisfying, and the story… well, the story leaves something to be desired. That’s the package you’re signing up for.

This isn’t a game for everyone. Fans who click with it will love it, while others might not, and that’s perfectly fine. The experience does improve after a few chapters, so whether you dive in now or wait for a sale is up to you.

Pearl Abyss is already discussing multiplayer and DLC additions, which might make some players hold off, but until then, this is what you’re getting.

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Developer: Pearl Abyss
Publisher: Pearl Abyss
Country of Origin: South Korea
Release Date: March 19, 2026 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, macOS, GeForce Now, Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems)

This review of Crimson Desert is based on a copy we purchased.

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