Black Desert Online: Land of the Morning Light Edition

 PC
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Crookshanks
    Jul 28, 2023
    0
    Imagine an MMORPG whose goal is to improve the strength of equipment and characters, but in which most pvp activities have a huge limits on the level of equipment, and those that do not have are consistently killed by developers. That's what bdo is at the moment.
  2. Kristana
    Jun 18, 2023
    10
    This is arguably the only Korean-made game that has improved by leaps and bounds since its initial release in the West.

    PearlAbyss was a small developer with a mere 10 million US$ budget back when it started developing Black Desert in Korea in 2010 and people don't realise how amazing a feat it was to develop such an intricate and complex character creation system back in the early    This is arguably the only Korean-made game that has improved by leaps and bounds since its initial release in the West.

    PearlAbyss was a small developer with a mere 10 million US$ budget back when it started developing Black Desert in Korea in 2010 and people don't realise how amazing a feat it was to develop such an intricate and complex character creation system back in the early 2010s with such a meagre budget. PearlAbyss' head of studio, Kim Dae-il, was an award-winning game director and game designer [he received multiple awards even before BDO was released and received the Presidential Award by the Korean government in 2017 for his contribution to the propagation of Korean culture in the global scene through Black Desert] before he founded PearlAbyss. Kim's dream since he was a child was to create games, and his aspiration is to create a title, as a Korean, that will one day win the Game of The Year Award.

    Unfortunately, due to the financial circumstances of PearlAbyss at the time of its founding, Kim was unable to publish Black Desert on their own so they signed a publishing contract with the infamous and unscrupulous KakaoGames, who was called Daum Games back then.

    Some of the P2W elements that were in the game when BDO was initially released in the West were an inevitable result of having to work with KakaoGames, and PearlAbyss knew that in order to realise its aspirations, it had to become independent. That's why in 2019, when the contract with KakaoGames finally ended, PearlAbyss, against most industrial speculations, made the decision to not renew the contract and publish Black Desert globally on its own, even though BDO was already immensely popular worldwide at that time.

    It was a risky decision, because PearlAbyss had no publishing experience back then, but with great risks, come great rewards.

    PearlAbyss' independence has given it almost limitless freedom in removing and improving old systems, reducing P2W elements [which, to a small extent, still exists within the game], and its tireless efforts over the years to make Black Desert into the game that it deserves to be is clear as day.

    PearlAbyss is the only game company that, against common expectations, created a traditional Korea-culture based massive expansion for its flagship game title even though the majority of its users are not Koreans.

    The dedication to doing what the studio has aspired to do since its creation is, in itself, inspiring.

    Perhaps many non-Korean users might not be able to fully understand the idiosyncrasies of the ancient Korean culture depicted in the new Land of the Morning Light region but this is merely the first step in a multi-decade effort to improve the understanding of traditional Korean culture around the world.

    As a non-Korean living in Korea, and who has witnessed countless money-grabbing Korean companies doing the exact reverse of what PearlAbyss has been doing over the years, I would like to sincerely applaud this effort by PearlAbyss because it touched me, even as a non-Korean, which is also why I am sharing this little-known history of PearlAbyss with the rest of the world.    … Expand
  3. Dooyme
    Jul 3, 2023
    7
    Amazing graphics, fluid gameplay but sadly terrible monetization, if you wanna be casual this is the place for you, but competitive scene is highly pay2win.
  4. Nekrolyte
    Jul 3, 2023
    8
    Gorgeous game, terrible pay wall, if you like grinding there is tons to do. And jobs are really cool

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. TierraGamer
    Aug 24, 2023
    75
    Black Desert: Land Of The Morning Light is a classic refreshed installment. It draws from folk narratives from various parts of Asia and generates entertaining stories. It proposes an ancient traditional world that coexists with interesting, much more robotic effects: it is a particular installment. The mechanics are maintained, as is the splendor of its punctual character customization.
    Read full review
  2. LevelUp
    Jun 29, 2023
    80
    Land of the Morning Light delivers a captivating and enchanting adventure, making it an essential expansion for Black Desert Online veterans. While it doesn't address all long-standing issues, it offers compelling content, immersive storytelling, and intense boss battles. It also serves as a great entry point for newcomers seeking a smaller and accessible experience. Overall, it's a must-play MMO expansion that immerses players in the folklore of South Korea.
    Read full review
  3. MMORPG.com
    Jun 22, 2023
    75
    This isn’t going to fully replace the normal Black Desert grind, but Pearl Abyss delivered in creating a gorgeous new place to quest in for new and returning players alike. It’s a good expansion, and a good direction for potential content in the future.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »