Crimson Desert Review

Crimson Desert is one of the most talked-about open-world games of 2026 for good and bad reasons. It's a sprawling, wildly ambitious action RPG that mixes elements from The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Breath of the Wild, and even Skyrim, creating a world where almost anything feels possible. But that ambition comes with rough edges, and the result is a game that's equally breathtaking and infuriating with a thin line intertwined.

Pywel is stunning. From dense forests to windswept plains, it's one of the most visually impressive game worlds ever created. You will find yourself constantly stumbling into unexpected wonders away from the usual activities you'd find in Hernand — arm wrestling, hunting, gambling, you can even channel your inner George Clarke upgrading your camp and a house, all the while being able to do farming, ranching, and even managing a medieval bank account.

The sheer variety of things to do is overwhelming in the best way. Those who enjoy Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing will have their niche fulfilled here. The world is your oyster regardless of what you want to do with it. Many players report that the deeper they go, the more the world opens up, revealing hidden mechanics even after 50+ hours. You can also, up to a certain degree depending on story progression, go find hidden bosses, armor, weapons and more — though I'd say do that at your own risk, as you will meet your inevitable peril.

Combat That Thrills and Frustrates in Equal Measure

Combat is weighty, stylish, and sometimes brutally demanding. With multiple weapon types, skill trees, and a stamina based system, it flirts with Soulslike design without fully committing. When it works, it's thrilling — but long, dragged out encounters and occasional jank can break the flow. You may also find at times there's no real need to put much effort into combos when you can just hold down a button prompt depending on how much stamina you have available.

Basic actions can feel overly manual, leading to moments where you're struggling with simple mechanics like using a lantern or navigating the inventory. The auto toggle option for the lantern appears to be broken, which raises questions about why it's still there after so many updates — and what it's actually supposed to do in the first place, just to show an example.

A Story That Takes Too Long to Find Its Footing

The narrative follows Kliff, a Greymane mercenary resurrected by a mysterious force. While the premise is strong, the storytelling often feels disjointed — bouncing between errands, Abyss missions, and random tasks that don't always connect meaningfully.

The other playable characters feel like afterthoughts. You'll step into their shoes only occasionally, and you can't progress the main story directly through them unless Kliff is temporarily out of commission because the story demands it. Kliff himself can feel lifeless at times — conversations often amount to an NPC talking at length while he stares back blankly. Damiane and Oongk, by contrast, feel far more alive, which is a strange thing to say about characters who aren't the lead.

The Bugs That Linger

At launch, Crimson Desert suffered from bugs, awkward controls, and limited inventory space. Pearl Abyss has been active with updates, adding difficulty settings, control presets, graphical improvements, and more. But issues remain. The dragon Blackstar moves like a tank even in the air, leaving you unable to dodge or weave past enemy fire — you're just tanking through it and hoping for the best. Hit box detection on certain enemies, particularly fort weapons, has a noticeable delay before damage registers, which made me genuinely question whether I was connecting at all.

The dragon riding timer is another sore spot for late game players — a 15 minute flight window followed by a 50 minute cooldown. There's a craftable item to reset it, but the grind required is considerable. Personally I didn't mind Blackstar making ground enemies trivial, but unlocking it so late in the game felt like an odd call. Climbing also has its moments, where regardless of how much stamina you have maxed out, you'll hit a wall you simply cannot get past. And the puzzles — without a dedicated grab button, pushing objects means physically forcing Kliff into them and guessing whether you've lined it up correctly.

The Verdict

Crimson Desert is not the masterpiece some are making it out to be. It's a game overflowing with ideas, systems, and personality, but one that carries just as many drawbacks as it does strengths.

Its world is unforgettable, its ambition unmatched, and its gameplay loop dangerously addictive. But it's also messy, inconsistent, and occasionally exhausting. If you love massive open worlds, experimentation, and games that reward long term investment, Crimson Desert is worth diving into. Just go in with your eyes open.