At Gamescom a few years ago, I was lucky to get my hands on Crimson Desert, an excellent hack-and-slash that seemed to have shades of Game of Thrones and The Witcher. Now, the game is finally out, and it has had quite a launch.
From selling like hot cakes and going viral for letting you pick up chunky cats to gamers finding AI art strewn about, it is a smoother launch than Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky. Both those games have shown that with enough commitment, they can really turn things around.
Crimson Desert falls squarely into that category. There is a lot more to love about this game, but some things are in desperate need of fixes.
The Good: A Massive World to Explore
- Scale: The open world is genuinely massive and ambitious
- Combat: Hack-and-slash mechanics are excellent at their core
- Viral Moments: Features like picking up chunky cats have gone viral
- Inspirations: Shades of Game of Thrones and The Witcher are evident
The Bad: Control Issues
- Myriad Control Schemes: Too many different control schemes to manage
- Inconsistent Experience: The variety of controls disrupts gameplay flow
- Need for Fixes: The game is in desperate need of patches to address these issues
A Smoother Launch Than Some
Crimson Desert has had a smoother launch than both Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky—two games that famously launched with significant technical issues but eventually turned things around through dedicated patches.
This suggests that Crimson Desert has a solid foundation to build upon. The core experience is enjoyable, and with the right fixes, it could become a true journey for both players and the studio alike.
The Verdict
There is a lot to love about Crimson Desert. The sprawling open world, the excellent hack-and-slash combat, and the viral moments have captured players’ attention. However, the game’s control issues hold it back from greatness.
As with Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky, time and commitment from the developers could turn this ambitious title into something special. For now, it’s a game of contrasts—massive in scale but inconsistent in execution.
