Crimson Desert: gorgeous world and combat, muddled story and systems

Crimson Desert arrived with heavy pre-release buzz and climbed Steam wishlists, then launched March 19 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Only PC review codes went out in advance, and early coverage has produced a mixed reception rather than unanimous praise.

Reviewers commonly applaud the game’s impressive visuals, the sprawling continent of Pywel, and satisfying third-person combat, but many also criticise a thin narrative and a surplus of unwieldy systems. Inventory management, in particular, was singled out as intrusive, and some found the control scheme messy.

Aggregate scores sit in the high 70s on Metacritic and OpenCritic (78 and 79). Critical responses vary widely: some outlets described the world and exploration as captivating and lauded puzzles and set pieces, while others called the characters and story undercooked or the experience bloated and bland.

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