An ambitious sandbox RPG where you can really do anything

Pearl Abyss, the Korean studio that brought the world the incredibly successful MMORPG Black Desert (2014), is preparing to release its new large-scale project. Announced in 2020 as a sequel, Crimson Desert has undergone a radical shift in direction over its six years of development. It is no longer a classic MMO, but a large-scale single-player open-world action RPG that reviewers have already dubbed a true “RPG sandbox.”

Here, they give you the whole world and say, “Do whatever you want.” And, by all accounts, there really will be plenty to do there.

A simple yet epic storyline

The story centers on Cliff, the leader of a mercenary group called the “Gray Manes.” After a sudden attack by their sworn enemies, the “Black Bears,” Cliff’s squad is nearly wiped out. The protagonist sets out on a long journey across the continent of Pail to find his surviving comrades and exact revenge.

The developers make no secret of the fact that the plot is fairly simple, but completing just the main campaign will take about 60 hours. And that’s not even counting the huge number of side quests.

A world where it’s impossible to get bored

A journey across the continent of Paivel promises to be thrilling thanks to its incredible density of content. What the open world has to offer:

  • A variety of biomes: From classic forests, mountains, and steppes to floating fortresses and flying islands.
  • Multi-level exploration: Players will explore the map not only on the ground but also in the air.
  • Unique races: The world is inhabited by both familiar fantasy creatures and completely unique peoples.
  • Every location is literally dotted with “points of interest.”

Life Simulator at Full Throttle

The number of activities available in Crimson Desert borders on a full-fledged life simulator. In between saving the world, you can:

  • Hunting, fishing, and growing vegetables.
  • Trade, cook food (you can even fry something like potato pancakes!), and craft useful items.
  • Ride wild horses and train them.
  • Participate in mini-games: arm wrestling, fistfights, shooting contests, and gambling.
  • Build relationships with NPCs and climb the ranks within factions.
  • Commit crimes, steal, literally rob people blind, and try to avoid punishment.
  • And, of course, pet the kitties!

For fans of numbers, the developers have prepared some impressive statistics: the game features 467 unique NPCs, 110 factions, 573 territories, 76 unique bosses, 430 side quests (“adventures”), and hundreds of collectible items. This is a project for true connoisseurs of content.

Combat System: Gigantism and Hardcore

Combat in Crimson Desert is based on traditional action-RPG mechanics (heavy attacks, finishing moves, shield parries, stealth), but takes them to the extreme.

The game features dozens of combo moves. Learning the combat system takes about 9 hours, and even after that, journalists admitted they were confused by the sheer variety of combinations. Battles promise to be spectacular and challenging.

A collection of the gaming industry’s greatest hits

Journalists who have had the chance to review the project are quick to draw comparisons with the industry’s greatest masterpieces:

  • The Witcher 3: in terms of the depth of side quests.
  • Red Dead Redemption 2: in terms of size, world detail, and micro-activities.
  • The Legend of Zelda: in terms of freedom of exploration and environmental interactivity.
  • God of War: for the feel of the combat system.
  • Dragon’s Dogma 2: for its battles against giant bosses.
  • Assassin’s Creed: on the parkour and stealth elements.

Next-generation graphics

Instead of the popular Unreal Engine 5, the studio is using its own engine—the BlackSpace Engine. It produces nearly photorealistic visuals and boasts an advanced global illumination system, thanks to which landscapes change dramatically depending on the weather and time of day. On the PS5 Pro, the game already runs at a stable 30/60 FPS.

Crimson Desert looks like a dream project that aims to combine all the best elements of the open-world RPG genre, spiced up with an incredible level of freedom.