I went into Crimson Desert with high hopes and genuine doubts in equal measure. Two of my favourite games of all time are Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3 — and honestly, nothing has come close to those since. So when another big open world game rolls around, I go in with my arms crossed.
Crimson Desert knocked them clean off.
Pearl Abyss has built something on the continent of Pywel that feels genuinely alive. You play as Kliff, a mercenary working to rebuild his fallen faction the Greymanes after a brutal ambush by their rivals. The story is not the strongest part of this game — it's no Red Dead Redemption 2 in that department — but it doesn't need to be, because the world does all the heavy lifting.
What sets Crimson Desert apart is how full every corner of the map feels. You'll be riding across an open field heading somewhere specific and stumble across a random encounter, a hidden treasure, an ancient ruin, or a fight that has nothing to do with the main quest — and two hours later you'll realise you never made it to where you were going. That's the highest compliment I can give an open world game. It earns your distraction.
The combat is fast, fluid and satisfying. Horseback combat, massive boss fights including dragons, combo systems that reward experimentation — it's a game that doesn't hold your hand, and if you're wondering "can I actually do that?" the answer is probably yes. Just try it.
I've sunk 70 hours in and I've still got a huge chunk of the map left to see. Some players are clocking 500 to 1000 hours. Don't let that intimidate you — this is one of those games you can jump into for a side quest, a bit of exploration, or just to wander, and never feel like the time was wasted. It's incredibly easy to pick up and put down even if you're time poor.
Worth noting: no microtransactions at launch. You buy it, you own it. That matters.
I haven't finished the story yet and I'm already calling it. Crimson Desert is a genuine contender for Game of the Year 2026 and an absolute must play.