Crimson Desert is very much a slow burn, but once you push past Chapter 3, it really starts to open up into something special. The combat is one of its strongest aspects, feeling fluid and flexible, with plenty of room to experiment with different builds and playstyles.
Early on, the game does suffer from some buggy and occasionally tedious quests. That said, they’re still oddly engaging, largely thanks to the incredible open world. Simply exploring, even without a clear objective, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience and easily makes this one of the most impressive open worlds in recent memory.
Traversal is another standout. Even in the early game, you’re given a surprising amount of freedom with climbing, abilities, and other movement options that make getting around feel dynamic and rewarding.
On the downside, the story feels almost non-existent so far, and the main character lacks personality, which makes the experience feel less immersive than it could be. The controls can also feel confusing at first, and the inventory system is fairly basic compared to more detailed RPGs.
Despite these issues, most of them feel surface-level and fixable. At its core, Crimson Desert delivers a genuinely compelling open-world experience that shows a lot of promise the deeper you get into it.
