Crimson Desert

After spending roughly 30 hours with the game, I would have scored the game in the 9.0 out of 10 range. Now that I have completed the story, I feel that score is completely warranted, and would have been even higher if the narrative had a bit more cohesion. Crimson Desert is very fun and gripping, and a game that is very easy to get lost into with an incredible world density, its sandbox mechanics allowing for tons of player expression in traversal, combat, and quest completion, so much so that I feel I will continue to play the game for a long time even after having completed the story. Now completely comfortable with the game's unique quirks, I firmly believe Crimson Desert has the chance of being this year's Baldur's Gate 3 and becoming a benchmark moving forward for all open-world games.

Crimson Desert is a sprawling adventure across a vast and living world that rewards every hour you put into it. The core gameplay evolves with your progress, introducing upgradable skills and increasingly demanding boss fights, with plenty of content to discover. While the narrative initially lacks direction and its threads can feel disconnected, this never outweighs the game’s many strengths. Crimson Desert is a slow burn that rewards time, patience, and curiosity.

Crimson Desert's sandbox playground and beautifully crafted world do a lot of the heavy lifting to just about overshadow its confusing elements, generic story, and boring characters. What's here is an overwhelming amount of content and the bones of an amazing game that has to be respected for its ambitions.

Crimson Desert will likely appeal most to players who enjoy getting lost in an incredibly detailed and realistic open world and figuring things out for themselves, even when the game isn't always clear about how everything works. Those who value exploration and long-form progression will find plenty to dig into, especially if they don't mind learning it all through a fair amount of trial and error. On the other hand, players who prefer a more streamlined experience, a stronger narrative focus, or systems that clearly communicate their rules may find the journey more frustrating than rewarding. Even though Crimson Desert initially seemed like a game for everyone, it's not, but it is one that everyone should at least try.

A massive game with a beautiful, engaging, and highly interactive world that is a joy to explore. It impresses with sheer content, compelling puzzles, numerous systems, and dynamic combat. However, weak boss fights, a bland story, uninspired quests, and clunky controls and UI leave noticeable blemishes on the overall experience.