Crimson Desert is one of the most talked-about games of 2026, but why exactly? Before we jump into that, what exactly is Crimson Desert? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think, because this South Korean-developed action adventure is a strange mix of styles and gameplay mechanics, taking inspiration from the likes of Shadow of the Colossus, Dragon’s Dogma, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, thrown into a bowl of choose-your-own-adventure style design.
It’s a hard game to summarise, allowing you to indulge in combat, exploration, puzzle-solving, crafting, fishing, cooking, clan-battles, stealing livestock, tavern games, and even collecting pets. There is a straight line to the finish with a pretty captivating but admittedly confusing story to experience, but most of the fun is to be had in the moment-to-moment surprises the game has on offer when you decide to go off the beaten path.
Stumbling onto a surprisingly dense city, a strange creature hiding in the mountains, or a chamber containing an obscure puzzle is where Crimson Desert shines. Not all those moments are as seamless as other games, as there’s always a bit of friction when trying to work out what to do, but this is where players who like a bit of lateral thinking will thrive.
This also applies to combat, where the hack-and-slash style gameplay will appeal to many, but there are some clever strategies that can be implemented to take on tougher enemies; however, the game rarely gives you tips on how to strategise against these different enemy types and bosses.
The experimental nature of Crimson Desert may leave some feeling frustrated, while others find themselves in their element. Therefore, the enjoyment really comes down to how you can wiggle to be fun for you. It would have been nice to see a more polished experience through the main campaign story, but one has to admire the developers for adding so much versatility to allow people to craft their own fun.
Crimson Desert is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
