Crimson Desert Reviews Indicate Skyrim’s Reign Remains Unchallenged

After years of intense anticipation (and a sprinkle of last-minute doubt), the reviews for Crimson Desert have finally dropped. Critics are saying that Pearl Abyss’ ambitious open-world title isn’t a groundbreaking masterpiece nor a total letdown; instead, it’s a solid entry in the genre, with your enjoyment largely hinging on your tolerance for its quirks.

Currently, Crimson Desert holds an aggregate score of 78 based on 91 reviews, all from Windows PC players, as the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions haven’t been reviewed yet. Critics were only given access to the PC version prior to launch. While opinions vary widely, most reviewers seem to land on a consensus of “good.”

On the upside, many critics are captivated by the game’s vast scale and the sheer amount of activities available. MMORPG’s Joseph Bradford described it as “the most ambitious open world I’ve ever experienced,” a sentiment echoed across various reviews that highlight its world design. Even some of the more critical reviews acknowledge Pearl Abyss’ ambition. The most enthusiastic reviews, like one from a notable critic, emphasize this point.

“A hundred hours into this game, I have never been bored,” the critic noted. “There are so many things to do, so many avenues of progression, questing, crafting, puzzles, boss hunting, and territory takeovers—the list just goes on.”

Most reviews take a more measured approach. In a four-star review, a writer praised the game’s visual spectacle but pointed out that it lacks the polish needed to compete with titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Still, they remained positive overall after acclimating to its extensive systems.

“I know, I know – ‘it gets good if you invest a working fortnight’ sounds weak, but it’s true. It does get better!” the writer remarked.

“Part of that comes from learning to navigate its flaws. Some powers aren’t worth the upgrades, there are tedious side activities, a story you can easily skip, and some poorly-balanced bosses that I endured rather than enjoyed.”

Other critics were less forgiving, focusing more on the issues highlighted even in positive reviews. One critic took issue with the weak storytelling, clunky inventory management, and various quality-of-life problems that detract from the “excellent combat.” Another review labeled the game “deeply flawed,” citing repetitive quests, tedious grinding, and unintuitive puzzles, though it still praised the world and combat.

Two major outlets landed on the lower end of the score spectrum. One review oscillated between being drawn into a “maximalist fever dream” and deeming it “one of the most shameless games I’ve ever played,” citing problems like “regressive quest design” and slow resource management that hinder its intense combat and technical capabilities.

Another review in progress echoed similar sentiments, currently rating it a tentative 6/10. While the writer was initially impressed, they found the action disappointing over time, describing the game as a jack of all trades but master of none.

“Beyond combat, there’s a lot Crimson Desert attempts that just doesn’t work, from poorly designed stealth sections to puzzles that feel more like brute force than clever solutions,” the writer observed. “In trying to do so much, this RPG often feels like it has bitten off more than it can chew, leading to gameplay segments that feel underdeveloped.”

Ultimately, whether you’ll enjoy Crimson Desert seems to depend on your appreciation for grand spectacle and your ability to overlook its underdeveloped systems. Reviews generally agree that the world and combat are standout features, but a host of issues lead to a mixed yet generally positive reception. As for one critic’s early impressions, they were not impressed.

“If someone had taken the time to trim the fat from Crimson Desert, removing the fetch quests, basic battles, and excessive map filler, you’d likely end up with a decent experience,” they wrote. “As it stands, its most notable feature is how far you can travel in one direction without finding anything worthwhile.”

Crimson Desert is set to launch on March 19 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.