Crimson Desert is the Definition of "Not for Everyone"

Crimson Desert has finally arrived, and the reviews have left a lot of people a little shocked. Leading up to the game’s launch, there was a lot of intense hype surrounding Crimson Desert that made it seem like developer Pearl Abyss’ long-awaited single-player project could be one of the biggest launches of the year. Crimson Desert has definitely had a strong launch, but that launch has also been met with a tidal wave of reviews that are far more mixed than many were probably expecting.

The divided Crimson Desert reviews even caused Pearl Abyss’ stock price to drop by nearly 30%. Even beyond the feedback of critics, though, players are seemingly just as divided about Crimson Desert. Whether it’s the controls, the story, or the world itself, Crimson Desert is unapologetic about how it implements many of its core features. This is definitely not a game for everyone, and those who have been curious about jumping into the world of Pywel may want to take some things into consideration before buying the game.

Crimson Desert Has Sold 2 Million Copies in Just 1 Day

Following its release on March 19, developer Pearl Abyss announces that Crimson Desert has passed a huge sales milestone in only 24 hours.

If Deep, Gripping Stories and Complex Characters Are Your Thing, Skipping Crimson Desert is Probably the Best Decision

One of the main reasons the game generated so much hype is that many saw its intricate world and were quick to compare Crimson Desert to beloved open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3. When it comes to a lived-in world, yes, that comparison makes sense. However, Crimson Desert‘s storytelling doesn’t hold a candle to these other games.

Balance the critic averages

Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)

Players gravitate toward certain games for a variety of different reasons. Many out there value the game’s story first, and Crimson Desert is simply highly unlikely to scratch that itch. The oversized world can get in the way of forming a cohesive narrative, since it’s so easy to get lost in side quests. By the time players return to the main story, it’s easy to forget what Kilff was even doing. Those who are hoping to find another complex protagonist like RDR2‘s Arthur Morgan or The Witcher‘s Geralt are also probably going to be disappointed with Crimson Desert‘s Kliff and the other characters he meets along the way.

Crimson Desert’s Control System Has Been One of Players’ Biggest Complaints

Those looking for a game that lets players jump in with easy controls and mechanics are also probably going to be better off skipping Crimson Desert. The control system isn’t just complicated, it’s weird. Even those who have been loving their time with the game have criticized Crimson Desert‘s controls. The way everything is mapped out can throw a wrench in the immersion, feeling counterproductive to the game’s goal of throwing players into a rich world worth losing oneself in.

Some examples of Crimson Desert‘s strange controls include: When specifically playing with a DualSense controller, players have to press LB, aim at a nearby NPC, then hit X in order to talk. It’s a clunky approach to in-game conversations that has frustrated a lot of players. Also, the jump and interact button are the same. This causes plenty of moments where Kliff jumps around an object or the environment instead of engaging with it.

Players Who Are Not Willing to Slow Down Must Beware

Crimson Desert‘s combat is often fast-paced, but much of the game requires players to take things slow. For example, players will finally access the dragon mount after around 50 hours of play time. That amount of time is daunting enough, but the slower pace doesn’t stop there. Once players dismount the dragon, it has a one-hour cooldown time. So, Crimson Desert may have a sprawling world, but it doesn’t allow for free-reign power fantasies like some gamers may have been hoping for.

Crimson Desert is for Gamers Who Love Extensive Exploration That Encourages Them to Get Lost for a Wild Amount of Hours

Ultimately, Crimson Desert is made for gamers who were more interested in discovering every side quest in Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3 instead of focusing on the story. With RDR2, there are players who are totally happy just spending hours fishing, hunting, and even playing poker. Not every RDR2 is like that, but Crimson Desert is likely to appeal to that specific camp. Crimson Desert is fully about the journey, not the destination. So, story lovers probably aren’t going to enjoy it. That doesn’t make it a bad game. It just means that Crimson Desert caters to a specific niche.

Whether it’s the controls, the story, or the world itself, Crimson Desert is unapologetic about how it implements many of its core features.

What Pearl Abyss has been able to do with the game’s open world is truly impressive, and gamers who love getting sidetracked by every single quest along the way are bound to find a lot of enjoyment in Pywel. Even though it’s an action-adventure game, Crimson Desert‘s slow-paced nature also makes it feel quite cozy at times. It wouldn’t be surprising if it became a hit with cozy life sim lovers, too. There is definitely more combat than the likes of Stardew Valley, but the ability to build a home and even farm adds a surprising layer of comfort to Crimson Desert. Beyond the combat and exploration, Crimson Desert‘s puzzles are also going to really appeal to those who love some complex in-game problem-solving.

On Steam alone, Crimson Desert had a peak of 239,045 players at launch.

Crimson Desert Can Still Be a Solid Success, Despite the Divisive Launch

Crimson Desert may not have turned out to be the universal hit that some were expecting, but that’s okay. The game definitely has its audience, it’s just not going to be every type of gamer. The marketing for Crimson Desert always emphasized the world of Pywel, and it fully delivers in that regard. Crimson Desert‘s main story may be lackluster, but the amount of content and hours of exploration it’s able to fit into one game is mind-blowing. As the year continues, it’s going to be really fascinating to see how gamers feel about Crimson Desert as they get to spend more time with it.