Reviews for Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert went live this week, with the action RPG currently sitting around 77 on Opencritic based on over 60 critic scores. The aggregated consensus paints a picture of an ambitious but messy open-world game that swings for the fences while stumbling over its own feet.
GameSpot and Multiplayer.it both landed on 7/10 scores. Multiplayer.it’s review captured the divisive nature of the game, describing it as displaying “as much potential as it does problems” and feeling like “a product made by debutants who have poured so much passion into their creation that they manage to give it a kind of magical shimmer.”
The most common thread across reviews is that Crimson Desert feels like a single-player MMO. That comparison stems from Pearl Abyss’ background developing Black Desert Online, and reviewers note the design choices carry over. The game features dense systems, substantial grind loops, and UI decisions that echo MMO conventions.
Story and quest design drew frequent criticism. Multiple outlets described the narrative as bland and quests as forgettable. The UI and loot system also caught heat for awkward implementation.
One specific complaint involves the looting system. Players reportedly can’t loot individual items from enemies and must take everything at once. If inventory space runs out, looting becomes impossible. Currency drops into separate pouches that require manual opening to convert into usable money.
When ambition meets execution issues
Pearl Abyss built its reputation on Black Desert Online, an MMORPG known for strong combat and visuals but also complex systems and heavy grinding. Crimson Desert represents the studio’s first major push into single-player territory.
Technical problems appear to extend beyond IGN’s experience. Multiple reviews mention bugs and performance hiccups, though the story-blocking progression halt IGN encountered stands as the most severe reported issue.
