Crimson Desert is generating RPG excitement reminiscent of the Starfield craze.

It’s tough to talk about Crimson Desert, the upcoming open-world RPG from Pearl Abyss, without drawing comparisons to a slew of beloved titles. A recently released 15-minute overview trailer is making waves and likely reminds players of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, God of War, The Witcher, Shadow of Mordor, Uncharted, and Skyrim. While it’s hard to pinpoint what sets Crimson Desert apart from the giants of the RPG genre, that hasn’t stopped gamers from declaring its vast open world as one of the most impressive sights in recent memory.

Since the trailer dropped on YouTube, along with clips circulating on platforms like X and TikTok, Crimson Desert has racked up millions of views in just a day. Reactions generally fall into two categories. The first is pure excitement, as players latch onto the elements reminiscent of their favorite games.

“This is like open world [medieval], modern, future everything combined into one,” one popular comment on YouTube states.

“Feels like you take the best of all our favorite franchises and put it in a single game,” another user adds.

“I hope Crimson Desert will be as spectacular as it looks and sit alongside its illustrious peers,” reads a widely liked comment.

The trailer highlights Crimson Desert’s dynamic combat, vast exploration, a faction system, flying mechanics, crafting, hidden treasures in puzzling ruins, climbing gameplay, controllable mechs, and hints of political intrigue. Like many fantasy RPGs, it bombards you with a slew of names for allies, enemies, magic, and items. At one point, the trailer echoes Bethesda’s Todd Howard’s famous Skyrim line about climbing mountains.

“You can pretty much go anywhere that captures your interest,” the narrator assures viewers.

The second most common response to the Crimson Desert footage is a healthy dose of skepticism. Can a game with such lofty ambitions truly deliver on all its promises?

“There’s gotta be a catch, man,” one puzzled user on X comments. “This is absurd.”

“Just watched the full 15-minute breakdown and I’m speechless… looks too good to be true,” another user writes.

While the situations differ, the buzz surrounding Crimson Desert is starting to mirror the overwhelming hype that surrounded Bethesda’s long-awaited RPG, Starfield. Fans may remember that Starfield was in development for nearly a decade, pitched as Skyrim in space. That sounds fantastic until you consider Skyrim’s status as one of the most successful and revered games ever. Combine that legacy with Starfield’s ambitious premise of over 1,000 explorable planets, and you have a recipe for disappointment. Players wanted Starfield to be the ultimate RPG, an endless experience that encapsulated the best of every game they loved. Such high expectations made it nearly impossible for the final product to satisfy anyone. Starfield launched to mixed reviews, even after several updates. Now, with echoes of acclaimed games in every detail of Crimson Desert, some worry it might face a similar fate.

It might be wise to temper expectations. A demo of Crimson Desert was showcased at Gamescom in August 2024, where players battled impressive bosses. Even then, comparisons were rampant. The combat was described as a thrilling blend of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’s fast-paced action and Shadow of the Colossus’ creature-scaling. However, while the intense encounters were exhilarating, the chaotic gameplay and lack of lock-on options raised concerns.

It’s been a year since that demo, giving Pearl Abyss time to refine the experience. The preview ended on a note of cautious optimism. With Crimson Desert set to release on March 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Mac, players won’t have to wait long to form their own opinions. Until then, a mix of hope and skepticism will linger.

“They have to be hiding something; I just don’t believe it’ll be nearly as good as it looks,” one user on X remarks. “If I’m wrong, I’ll post feet pics as punishment.”