Does *Crimson Desert* really deserve only a 7? Is this reputation unfair or not!

Oops! As soon as the media reviews for Crimson Desert dropped, the scene instantly exploded! GS gave it a 7 this time. Is that high? Not exactly legendary. Is it low? Not enough to call it a disaster. My take can be summed up in one sentence: this score feels like a match that was exciting to watch, but also full of quite a few mistakes.

Let’s start with why it works. Here’s the key point: GS specifically praised it for two things—fighting and exploring. Pywel, this open world, really does have a lot to offer. The environments are varied, the atmosphere is dialed all the way up, and exploration doesn’t feel like that kind of “checking the boxes on a guided tour.” Instead, it’s the kind of world that gets you more and more excited as you move through it. On top of that, the movement and traversal experience also got recognition. Whether on foot or using other means of transportation, getting from place to place doesn’t feel like a chore, and can even become a little addictive.

Then there’s the combat, which is clearly Crimson Desert’s main showcase. The move combinations are varied, the style is fierce, and it puts a strong emphasis on player-driven expression. Put simply, you can fight with your own flair instead of just mechanically following a fixed routine. The impact also feels satisfying. As long as the controls feel right, even repeated fights can easily put players into that “just one more round” mindset. In my opinion, this is the part of the game that grabs people the most.

But! There’s a reason why a 7 is a 7. GS believes its biggest problems lie in the narrative and usability. The most awkward part is that a lot of the information that pushes the story forward is actually stuffed into brief descriptions in the pause menu. It feels like a streamer is in the middle of an intense hype moment, only for the key plot details to make you go backstage and flip through the manual yourself—instantly killing the momentum.

The mission design was also called out as being overly mechanical, making it easy to feel like you’re just checking off a to-do list. Go here today, head there tomorrow—sure, there’s still a sense of completion, but the drama and immersion take a noticeable hit. On top of that, the inventory management system is irritating, and the healing system is more frustrating than expected. None of these issues are fatal on their own, but once they start piling up, they gradually wear away at that otherwise strong feel.

So GS’s summary actually hits the mark quite well: “Its magnificent open world and exhilarating combat perform brilliantly, held back only by some narrative issues and flaws in usability design.” In my view, this is not a mediocre game, but rather a title with especially bright strengths and equally glaring weaknesses.

I’ll give my buying recommendation directly. If what you care about most is open-world sightseeing, satisfying action combat, and the overall traversal experience, then Crimson Desert is still absolutely worth keeping an eye on. If you care a lot about narrative coherence, carefully structured missions, and user-friendly system interaction, then it’s better to wait and see what player feedback looks like before deciding. The current focus of community discussion is also very clear: is that 7 fair or not? Personally, I think it falls into a reasonable range as a verdict for something “with obvious charm, but still just one step short.”

What happens next depends on whether Crimson Desert can turn that 7 into “a future surprise hit” through the actual gameplay experience. If the combat and exploration really deliver on what the promotion has been selling, players may not hold back their applause; but if issues with quests, inventory, healing, and all those little details keep pushing people away, then the gap between it and a higher score may come down to precisely those most annoying small problems.