- Publisher: Pearl Abyss , PLAION
- Release Date: Mar 19, 2026
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 5
- Summary:
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- Developer: Pearl Abyss
- Genre(s): Action Adventure, Open-World
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
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Score distribution:
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Positive: 3 out of 4
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Mixed: 1 out of 4
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Negative: 0 out of 4
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May 4, 2026Despite the AI controversy around the launch of Crimson Desert, I’ve found a lot to enjoy during my time with the game. There is a lot of content to explore, and freedom to do so at your own pace and style. So much so, that even with some annoying interface and controller decisions and an initially confusing storyline, I found myself compelled to keep coming back and enjoying the moment to moment experiences.
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Apr 6, 2026Crimson Desert is a massive and ambitious project defined by its extremes: it presents itself as a vast open-world game that incorporates the greatest modern gaming achievements, yet it suffers from a fragmented identity, shoddy storytelling, and an overwhelming abundance of content that stifles its original spirit. Nevertheless, it’s an adventure that’s well worth your attention, poised to improve steadily through dedicated post-launch support.
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Apr 7, 2026Crimson Desert will require a massive time investment - we are talking hundreds of hours. Even now, many hours in, I am still discovering new things, and new ways to play keep being introduced. And be in no doubt that this is a mad old game, and yes, there are plenty of things wrong with it. Thankfully, the good absolutely outweighs the bad in Crimson Desert.
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Apr 2, 2026Crimson Desert's rich and detailed open world is a remarkable achievement, and the crunchy combat is fun, but poorly explained game mechanics, performance issues, and a muddled, rather dull story tarnish what could have otherwise been a rather special RPG experience.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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Apr 8, 2026It’s hard not to be left with a lasting impression of Crimson Desert. The game impresses with its generosity, the sheer scale of its world, and its constant commitment to delivering a comprehensive, rich and varied adventure. Throughout the experience, there are genuine moments of discovery, moments when exploration takes centre stage and you simply let yourself be carried away by what the game has to offer. But, at the same time, this boundless ambition ultimately becomes its main weakness. In its quest to introduce a multitude of systems, ideas and approaches, the game sometimes loses coherence and clarity. The narrative struggles to take hold, certain mechanics lack clarity, and the whole thing regularly gives the impression of lacking structure. This does not, however, prevent the game from remaining captivating over time. Quite the contrary, it is one of those experiences where you keep coming back for seconds despite its flaws, drawn in by its world and its potential. But it also leaves a sense of incompleteness, as if some of its good ideas had never been fully realised. Ultimately, we are left with an imperfect, sometimes disjointed work, yet one that is ambitious and memorable enough to leave mark on us. A game that doesn’t get everything right… but which attempts a great deal.
