People are finally getting past Crimson Desert’s worst problem and seeing the real deal: ‘I get it now’

Based on how much I've been talking about it since before it launched, you can tell by now how much I care for Crimson Desert. Though not a perfect game by any stretch of the imagination, I still consider it a worthwhile experience that rewards you for sticking with it through thick and thin. Now that a few days have passed since launch, players are starting to get past the worst problem the game has: a very, very bad start. The result? They seem to absolutely love it, and rightfully so. In my review, I explained how Crimson Desert initially feels very disconnected, as if there were several narratives stitched together with little in between holding them together. You just do things and have no idea why, though when you recontextualize it by considering it's the White Crow urging Kliff to do good and be kind, it starts becoming clear, even if the game itself doesn't present it well. These initial hours and their disjointed nature have put off so many people so far that it's genuinely incredible. So many have either quit or played a bit more and then went on to complain about it on Reddit or even left a negative review for the game on Steam just so they could tell the world that no, they did not bother sticking with a 200-hour title and gave up after merely 60 minutes or so. As the weekend goes on, more and more people are progressing far enough to see the real charm of Crimson Desert and are being rewarded by strong moments both in gameplay and in the story, which itself becomes much more coherent and focused after the Greymane camp gets built. And those players aren't keeping silent, even if they're making jokes about the whole ordeal. https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimsonDesert/comments/1rzpwpw/after_the_first_12_hour_slog/ Though the user in question says it's a "12 hour slog," it's actually not that long. It takes some five or six hours to get through that first bit and to reach the Greymane camp if you're focusing primarily on the main story, but it can stretch to eight or so hours if you do stuff on the sides as well (which you should, lots of fun to be had there). Replies seem to be of a similar opinion, portrayed so well by the meme above. "There are people out there that dislike the game, and it's fair, but the people who stick through it and continue on will be glad they did," one user said, and they have a mighty fine point there. There's a lot to dislike about Crimson Desert, and especially so if you're the kind of player who overwhelming, massive 200-hour experiences do not invite you to stay with them for a very long time. "Takes a bit, but once it starts clicking, it really starts clicking," wrote another. Crimson Desert is the slowest of burners I can think of, and it does take a while to pick up the slack. I won't stand here and defend the game to death, mind you, as its initial stages are genuinely so undercooked that I can almost understand people upping and leaving after being underwhelmed by what's in front of them. However, since Crimson Desert promises you hundreds of hours of gameplay, why wouldn't you tag along for the ride and see where it takes you? After all, you're judging a massive experience, you can see it has a lot to offer anyway, and giving up after landing in the starting zone. For a game of this size, you're basically in the tutorial and telling everyone that you quit while still learning the ropes, deciding to bash a huge game without even giving it a fair chance. Sure, the refund window is probably on your mind when dipping your toes into a gigantic, expensive title such as this one. Seventy bucks is nothing to scoff at, so I get why people would do it. But I still fail to understand why such a negative sentiment would start chasing after a game if it's being primarily felt by those who never got to see anything it has to show. We'll see as time goes on whether sentiments will change, and on sites like Metacritic, it seems both players and critics can agree for once. Now, as more folks are starting to explore beyond just the city of Hernand, the wind might also start changing direction. And I sincerely hope it does, as there is genuine quality to be found in Crimson Desert. All it takes is time and patience, which I understand not everyone has. The post People are finally getting past Crimson Desert’s worst problem and seeing the real deal: ‘I get it now’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Mar 22, 2026 - 04:54

People are finally getting past Crimson Desert’s worst problem and seeing the real deal: ‘I get it now’

Based on how much I've been talking about it since before it launched, you can tell by now how much I care for Crimson Desert. Though not a perfect game by any stretch of the imagination, I still consider it a worthwhile experience that rewards you for sticking with it through thick and thin.

Now that a few days have passed since launch, players are starting to get past the worst problem the game has: a very, very bad start. The result? They seem to absolutely love it, and rightfully so.

In my review, I explained how Crimson Desert initially feels very disconnected, as if there were several narratives stitched together with little in between holding them together. You just do things and have no idea why, though when you recontextualize it by considering it's the White Crow urging Kliff to do good and be kind, it starts becoming clear, even if the game itself doesn't present it well.

These initial hours and their disjointed nature have put off so many people so far that it's genuinely incredible. So many have either quit or played a bit more and then went on to complain about it on Reddit or even left a negative review for the game on Steam just so they could tell the world that no, they did not bother sticking with a 200-hour title and gave up after merely 60 minutes or so.

As the weekend goes on, more and more people are progressing far enough to see the real charm of Crimson Desert and are being rewarded by strong moments both in gameplay and in the story, which itself becomes much more coherent and focused after the Greymane camp gets built.

And those players aren't keeping silent, even if they're making jokes about the whole ordeal.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimsonDesert/comments/1rzpwpw/after_the_first_12_hour_slog/ Though the user in question says it's a "12 hour slog," it's actually not that long. It takes some five or six hours to get through that first bit and to reach the Greymane camp if you're focusing primarily on the main story, but it can stretch to eight or so hours if you do stuff on the sides as well (which you should, lots of fun to be had there).

Replies seem to be of a similar opinion, portrayed so well by the meme above.

"There are people out there that dislike the game, and it's fair, but the people who stick through it and continue on will be glad they did," one user said, and they have a mighty fine point there. There's a lot to dislike about Crimson Desert, and especially so if you're the kind of player who overwhelming, massive 200-hour experiences do not invite you to stay with them for a very long time.

"Takes a bit, but once it starts clicking, it really starts clicking," wrote another.

Crimson Desert is the slowest of burners I can think of, and it does take a while to pick up the slack. I won't stand here and defend the game to death, mind you, as its initial stages are genuinely so undercooked that I can almost understand people upping and leaving after being underwhelmed by what's in front of them.

However, since Crimson Desert promises you hundreds of hours of gameplay, why wouldn't you tag along for the ride and see where it takes you? After all, you're judging a massive experience, you can see it has a lot to offer anyway, and giving up after landing in the starting zone. For a game of this size, you're basically in the tutorial and telling everyone that you quit while still learning the ropes, deciding to bash a huge game without even giving it a fair chance.

Sure, the refund window is probably on your mind when dipping your toes into a gigantic, expensive title such as this one. Seventy bucks is nothing to scoff at, so I get why people would do it.

But I still fail to understand why such a negative sentiment would start chasing after a game if it's being primarily felt by those who never got to see anything it has to show.

We'll see as time goes on whether sentiments will change, and on sites like Metacritic, it seems both players and critics can agree for once. Now, as more folks are starting to explore beyond just the city of Hernand, the wind might also start changing direction.

And I sincerely hope it does, as there is genuine quality to be found in Crimson Desert. All it takes is time and patience, which I understand not everyone has.

The post People are finally getting past Crimson Desert’s worst problem and seeing the real deal: ‘I get it now’ appeared first on Destructoid.

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