All Things To Know Before Playing Crimson Desert
After years of anticipation, Pearl Abyss’s Crimson Desert is finally preparing for its highly anticipated launch on March 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC. Initially believed by many to be a traditional RPG, the developers have clarified that the game is actually a heavily narrative-driven action-adventure experience.
With an enormous open world, deep gameplay systems, and a wide variety of mechanics, Crimson Desert aims to deliver one of the most ambitious action-adventure games in recent years. Before you step into its massive world, here are all the important things you should know.
Characters and Deep Customization
Unlike many modern open-world RPGs, Crimson Desert does not feature a full character creator. Instead, players take on the role of Cliff, the leader of the Greymane clan. While you cannot change the character itself, the game offers an extensive customization system that allows players to personalize Cliff’s appearance.
Players can modify hairstyles, facial hair, tattoos, and outfit colors. Armor pieces can also be individually dyed using materials found throughout the world or crafted through alchemy. This allows for a wide range of visual customization even without a traditional character creation system.
Although there are no traditional classes, the game introduces three unique playable characters. In addition to Cliff, players will eventually unlock Damian, a fast and agile fighter who uses a pistol, musket, and rapier. Another companion is a powerful Orc character who wields a massive two-handed axe along with a heavy hand cannon.
Each companion has their own equipment and playstyle, allowing players to approach combat and exploration in different ways. These characters can also freely explore the open world and participate in side activities.
A Massive, Dynamic Open World
One of the most impressive aspects of Crimson Desert is its scale. The game world is reportedly twice the size of Skyrim’s playable map and even larger than Red Dead Redemption 2.
The world is completely open from the beginning with no level restrictions or region locks. The map is divided into five major regions:
- Herdend – a peaceful pastoral land
- Paloon – a snowy northern territory
- Deinus – a politically powerful kingdom
- Delia – a technologically advanced region
- The Crimson Desert – a harsh and dangerous arid landscape
The world is designed to feel fully alive and reactive. A dynamic weather system calculates temperature in real time based on time of day, elevation, and wind conditions.
Beyond exploration, players can participate in many open-world activities including fishing, horse racing, shooting competitions, arm wrestling, and treasure hunting. The game also includes a crime and bounty system, allowing players to steal mounts, pickpocket NPCs, rob citizens, and even become hunted by bounty hunters. Alternatively, players can hunt criminals themselves to increase their reputation.
Wild Traversal Systems
Exploring the massive world of Crimson Desert is an adventure on its own thanks to the game’s diverse traversal mechanics.
Players begin with basic climbing abilities that allow them to scale almost any surface, including giant boss enemies. As the game progresses, additional tools become available such as a grappling hook, a glider, and advanced free-fall mechanics.
Mounts in the game are extremely varied. While traditional horse riding is available, players can also tame and ride wolves, raptors, and even a giant bear. One of the most impressive mounts revealed is a dragon, which allows players to freely fly across the map.
Perhaps the most surprising traversal feature is the inclusion of a fully controllable mech suit equipped with weapons like a machine gun, EMP ability, and a multi-target rocket launcher.
Progression, Skills, and Abyss Artifacts
Crimson Desert does not follow a traditional leveling or experience point system. Instead, character progression is handled through a unique system known as Abyss Artifacts.
These artifacts are earned by defeating enemies, completing boss fights, or solving puzzles found in floating ruins across the world. Once obtained, they can be used to unlock powerful abilities and improvements within the skill tree.
The skill system is extremely deep. Combat abilities can be upgraded with moves such as evasive slashes, shield dashes, and armor-piercing attacks. A separate archery skill tree allows players to teleport while firing arrows or shoot multiple arrows at once.
There is also a magical skill tree called Green Spirit, which grants abilities like launching yourself into the air using Force Bombs, slowing time with Focus, and imbuing attacks with elemental powers such as fire, ice, lightning, or fog.
Interestingly, some abilities can also be learned dynamically by observing NPCs in the world or stealing techniques from defeated bosses.
Brutal, Physics-Based Combat
Combat in Crimson Desert focuses heavily on physical interaction and environmental destruction. Inspired partly by fighting games, the system allows players to combine attacks creatively using dodges, parries, and weapon switching.
The game also features an unusual emphasis on hand-to-hand combat. Players can perform wrestling-style moves including giant swings, suplexes, lariats, and drop kicks.
The environment itself plays a role during combat. Many structures are destructible, allowing players to grab enemies and throw them through fences or push them off cliffs.
Another notable feature is that weapons do not have durability, meaning rare equipment will never break during battle. Players can further enhance weapons by visiting witches to install special Abyss gear augments that improve attack damage, critical chance, or attack speed.
Epic Bosses and Clan Building
Boss fights in Crimson Desert scale up dramatically compared to normal combat encounters. The game features a wide range of unusual enemies, including a clockwork dragon, a giant yeti, a tank inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s designs, and even a flying battleship.
Beyond combat, one of the game’s major systems revolves around rebuilding the Greymane clan’s home base.
Players can use a builder mode to construct buildings, create farms, raise livestock, and manage trading caravans that interact with the game’s dynamic economy. As the camp grows, new faction members can be recruited.
These recruits can be sent on missions to gather resources such as lumber or stone, or to weaken enemy territories before launching an attack.
Helping allied factions during large-scale battles can also influence the world. Towns can be liberated from enemies, allowing citizens to return and open new shops while making the surrounding region safer to explore.
Final Thoughts
Crimson Desert is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious action-adventure games in recent years. With a massive open world, deep progression systems, unique traversal mechanics, and intense physics-based combat, the game offers a wide range of activities for players to experience.
From climbing giant enemies and riding dragons to managing a clan settlement and battling enormous bosses, Crimson Desert promises a world filled with exploration, strategy, and action.
With its release scheduled for March 19, players will soon be able to experience everything this ambitious game has to offer.
