Crimson Desert launched on March 19, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Mac after seven years of development. Pearl Abyss has built one of the most visually spectacular open worlds in recent memory on the continent of Pywel, wrapped it in combat that critics consistently call ferocious and satisfying, and packed it with enough content for several hundred hours of play. The Metacritic score of 78 from 82 critics tells an interesting story: some gave it 9.5 out of 10, others gave it 6 out of 10. This review explains exactly what you are getting, what the critics argued about, and who this game is and is not right for.