Crimson Desert Review Scores – Does It Live Up to the Hype?

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Reviews for Crimson Desert are beginning to appear, and critics are weighing in on the game. Developed by Pearl Abyss, this open-world action RPG has already sold over 3 million copies worldwide. But is it worth playing? Here’s a look at what reviewers are saying.

Crimson Desert Review Scores – 78 on Metacritic

As of March 24, 2026, Crimson Desert has a Metacritic score of 78, based on reviews from 93 critics. You can currently play the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Mac.

Before looking at the review scores, keep in mind that Crimson Desert has been updated since its release. Many reviewers experienced some problems with the game while writing their reviews.

Vice awarded Crimson Desert a perfect score of 5 out of 5, calling it a truly impressive game. The reviewer especially loved the expansive and beautiful open world, which they described as incredibly immersive and easy to lose yourself in for hours. They were also impressed with the combat, exploration, and graphics. While enjoying the game overall, they did mention a noticeable jump in difficulty and initially found the inventory system a bit cumbersome.

Okay, so I just read the DualShockers review, and wow! They gave the game a 9.5 out of 10, which is huge! The reviewer basically said it’s an amazing game and one of the best open-world experiences out there. They really loved getting lost in the world, exploring everything, leveling up my character, and solving the puzzles. The only downsides they mentioned were that the main story wasn’t anything groundbreaking, and a few of the boss fights were a little too tough and relentless.

Forbes awarded Crimson Desert a very high score of 9.5 out of 10. The reviewer praised Pearl Abyss for consistently and quickly addressing issues with the game. While the large game world might feel overwhelming to some players, the overall experience was highly enjoyable, and the game offers a substantial amount of content.

GamingTrend scored the game a 95 out of 100, calling it a groundbreaking action RPG that sets a new standard for the genre. They praised its vast and diverse gameplay, promising hundreds of hours of content. Like other reviewers, they were impressed with the game’s graphics, puzzles, side quests, and world of Pywel, though they did encounter a few bugs while playing.

Okay, so I just read the Destructoid review for Crimson Desert, and they gave it an 8.5 out of 10! They really loved the combat, and exploring the world was a blast, especially the boss fights. They did mention it felt a little rough around the edges – some things just weren’t as polished as they could be – but they seem confident those issues can be fixed with updates after the game comes out. Basically, even with a few frustrations, they think the game has a really solid base and is something special.

Crimson Desert received a 4 out of 5 star review from GamesRadar+. The reviewer highlighted that the game shines as an open-world sandbox experience, but its story isn’t very engaging. Like other critics, they praised the combat and the feeling of discovering new things, though they did point out that some boss fights are quite challenging.

So, PC Gamer gave the game an 80 out of 100, which I think is pretty good! They really liked the world and how it looked, and those abyss puzzles were a highlight for them. I’m definitely intrigued by the open-world aspect. But, they did point out a couple of things that bugged them. Apparently, the character progression felt a little limited – the skill tree wasn’t as deep as they’d hoped. And it sounds like you’re stuck doing everything with Kliff, which could get a bit repetitive. Still, sounds like a worthwhile experience overall!

Game Informer rated the game a 7 out of 10, praising its hidden potential but noting it was bogged down by unnecessary complexity. Reviewers felt the game would be better with simpler combat and more emphasis on puzzles. They also experienced several crashes and found the story lacking in substance.

I was really excited to see GameSpot give Crimson Desert a 7 out of 10! They said it felt like a world you could really get lost in, which is awesome to hear. Like a lot of other reviewers, they were super impressed with the open world, how the combat felt, and all the different ways you could explore. But they did point out that the quests felt a bit repetitive, like you were just ticking boxes. And apparently, the inventory system wasn’t great when they played it, which is a bummer.

InsiderGaming rated Crimson Desert a 7 out of 10, describing it as a game with both impressive highs and noticeable lows. While they praised its vast world and feeling of adventure, the review noted that the story and fighting mechanics weren’t as strong.

Eurogamer rated the game 3 out of 5, noting it doesn’t really stand out from the crowd. While they found the fighting enjoyable, they weren’t impressed with the story or other things to do in the game.

IGN scored Crimson Desert a 6 out of 10, calling it a very ambitious open-world game. However, they found that while its ambition was impressive, it also led to a lot of frustration. They enjoyed many of the game’s ideas, but were annoyed by the clunky inventory, a quest bug that caused lost progress, and some of the difficult boss fights.

Crimson Desert Review Score Roundup – Is Crimson Desert worth it?

Many of the initial concerns about the game have been addressed through updates released after launch. Players were worried about things like the lack of an inventory system and bugs in important quests, but those have been fixed. Bosses have also been adjusted, and the game is much more stable now thanks to numerous crash fixes. The developers are still working on improvements, including refining the controls and addressing other issues.

I’m enjoying the game so far. The fighting is smooth, exploring is fun, and I’m invested in the story. A lot of people don’t seem to like the character Kliff, but I think he’s a genuinely good person who can be strong when necessary. I haven’t had a chance to try out the other two characters yet.

I’m happy to report that the issues I was most worried about, particularly the inventory, seem to be resolved. Plus, so far, the game hasn’t crashed at all, which is great!

The game has a ton to do! You can clear out bandit camps, enjoy activities like hunting and fishing, cook meals, investigate crimes, solve puzzles, battle bosses, and find better equipment. There’s also a cool helmet that unlocks the game’s backstory. Plus, I haven’t gotten there yet, but you’ll eventually be able to pilot a massive machine and ride around on creatures like dragons and bears.

Crimson Desert offers a lot to keep players busy. Fans of games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild might really enjoy it.

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2026-03-24 22:41