Crimson Desert, the ambitious open-world action-adventure game from developer Pearl Abyss, launched today (March 20) to mixed reviews from players and critics alike. Set on the fantasy continent of Pywel, the game follows warrior Kliff as he rebuilds the Greymane faction after a devastating attack to save the world from a looming threat.
Originally conceived as a single-player prequel to the multiplayer title Black Desert Online, Crimson Desert evolved into a standalone game during development. First revealed in 2020, it is now available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Critics have given it a 'generally favourable' Metacritic score of 78, praising its scope, detail, and music.
However, player feedback has been less enthusiastic. On Steam, user reviews are 'mixed', with many complaining about the controls. One player described having to press two buttons for basic actions like jumping and running as 'insane', while a Reddit post criticising the controls received nearly a thousand upvotes. Another user called for the control designer to be fired, stating that 'such a good and promising game [is] completely ruined by some of the worst controls and movement in modern gaming'.
Others have criticised the narrative. One Reddit user noted that the game appeals primarily to those who love open sandboxes focused on gameplay, while another warned that expectations of a masterpiece may lead to disappointment. Pearl Abyss has already released updates addressing storage and user interface issues, leading some fans to suggest waiting for a discount after major bugs are fixed.
