How the Western Press Received Crimson Desert Unfavorably
How Crimson Desert Was Received by the Restless Western Press
Tonight the embargo on reviews of the upcoming adventure action game Crimson Desert by the Korean studio Pearl Abyss has lifted. As for the opinions of Western gaming journalists, things are messier than a single headline suggests.
Crimson Desert Review — the best game of the first half of 2026 that simultaneously loves you but also teases you
On major aggregators the numbers land around the high 70s: Metacritic (MC) shows a 78 across 85 reviews, while OpenCritic (OC) sits at 80 with about 80% of critics recommending play. Some outlets were noticeably tougher — whether that's a real pattern or just a few louder voices is up for debate, and fans will argue either way.
A lot of the moaning overlaps with what we and many others pointed out: clunky UI, control glitches, and odd little puzzles. Beyond those concrete faults, the larger quarrel from several reviewers concerns expectations. Many reviewers treated Crimson Desert like a deep, branching RPG and then pointed out where it doesn't behave like one. TBH, the game tries to be an expansive exploration-heavy action title while occasionally hinting at heavier narrative ambitions — that mismatch irks some people more than it should.
“A huge world and an even bigger amount of MMO-style activities are combined in Crimson Desert with impressive graphics. But what’s the point if the game lacks character, depth, and charm?” — Eurogamer
“A beautiful, exploration-rich open world, an obvious technological achievement, limited by many small disappointments and a clear lack of narrative depth.” — Game Informer
“Crimson Desert is often an exciting game, propelled by an open world worth exploring and powerful combat that delights with its depth and emphasis on player self-expression. It might not always be the most cohesive game, blending high fantasy with elements of steampunk and sci-fi, but nothing quite like it exists.” — GameSpot
“At launch, the best parts of Crimson Desert are deeply hidden beneath layers of absurdity.” — VG247