It won’t be long until the release of Crimson Desert, but before fans decide to purchase, they want to know what the reviews promise. Therefore, we summarize the impressions of the first testers.
When can you expect reviews? On March 18, 2026, at 11:00 PM, the review embargo for all testers was lifted, and with it, the first reviews were published. So far, things look solid for Crimson Desert, as the game boasts an average score of 78 points based on currently 94 reviews on Metacritic (as of May 19, 08:24 AM).
Reviews have also been published with us and GameStar & GamePro, and overall, they look good. Here are the tests:
- MeinMMO: Crimson Desert breaks me in the test: The open world sets new standards, but its size is overwhelming
- GameStar: Crimson Desert in the test: After 100 hours, I still don’t know if I hate or love this open world
- GamePro: Crimson Desert in the test: At first, I suffered, now I’m in love
78 Score on Metacritic speaks of an impressive open world
What can I expect? On Metacritic, 94 tests have been conducted, which are divided as follows (as of March 19, 08:24 AM):
- PC: 94 reviews with a total score of 78
- 63 positive
- 21 mixed
- 1 negative
- Xbox and PlayStation have no reviews yet
Forbes has aptly described Crimson Desert for all doubters. When asked if the game is really that big, plays well, and keeps you entertained throughout, the tester simply answered “Yes” to all three questions.
MMORPG.com is also convinced that Crimson Desert will positively influence many future open-worlds. It is a masterpiece, especially strong in performance on PC and its graphics.
Is there anything to criticize? Yes, there were things that the first testers were not pleased with. Especially regarding the story. As Game8 describes, it lacks a clear direction. Plot lines often seem disjointed.
Game Rant deepens the statement by explaining that fans who prefer a linear narrative are more likely to experience frustration. Fans who prefer to do their own thing – like in Dark Souls – will find it more enjoyable.
Brief overview – What is Crimson Desert? Crimson Desert is set in a high-fantasy world, home to various races such as orcs, dwarves, dragons, humans, and more. You take on the role of Kliff, a powerful warrior of the Graymanes. Your goal is to reunite your crew, navigating through the world of Pywel. More about Crimson Desert can be found here: Crimson Desert will be released on Thursday – everything important in 3 minutes (now with experience report)
