Crimson Desert
Preview

Crimson Desert is an open-world adventure where you fight enemies, tame magical beasts and complete quests. As you explore the vast fantasy world, you take on groups of enemies and animals in fast-paced combat. As you move through the world there are puzzles to solve that reveal a mystical story of fallen kingdoms, betrayal and ambition. The world's scale, detail, and continent-spanning narrative combine with precise and challenging combat to create a game that offers a unique take on a fantasy game and its story.

After the brutal King of Demeniss falls into a deep coma, the power vacuum creates instability as those who suffered under his rule scramble to replace him. As the continent shatters into various separate states, you play a mercenary struggling to survive in the ensuing chaos. You travel the world with your band, you fight those who would oppose you, tame magical dragons and ride them through the skies, and complete the many puzzles placed throughout the world.

Gameplay focuses on fast-paced melee combat similar to the Middle-Earth games. You use a variety of swords, axes and other weapons to quickly kill enemies, using only a few attacks to take down each in a matter of seconds. The fights are hard, and you need to block, dodge and roll to avoid incoming attacks. Alongside combat, you must constantly adapt to the changing seasons and weather, and hunt wild animals for food and resources.

The result is a game that's challenging but also fun and rewarding; constantly pushing you to use your abilities and attacks in ever more creative and ambitious ways, as you're swept up in a classic fantasy tale of warring factions, heroes, villains, and the fight to survive.

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Crimson Desert 16 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 15 months ago.