Crimson Desert Previews

A fresh batch of previews for Crimson Desert have popped up online, and as always, it's intriguing to hear more about this extremely promising open world adventure.

However, these new hands-on articles do raise some concerns over how the action RPG actually plays. In case you haven't seen previous gameplay clips, it's fair to say that Crimson Desert is a complex beast, boasting crazy combos, flashy defensive techniques, and some wild-looking enemies.

The worry here is that the game's got too much going on, and it's difficult to grasp. Granted, these previews are based on a relatively short amount of time with the title, but it does still sound like a potential stumbling block for the game — which continues to target a 2025 launch on PS5.

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To be fair, though, some previews do go in the opposite direction, largely praising the action while bemoaning the fact that the title's open world is being kept behind the curtain.

Indeed, the aforementioned gameplay that we've been shown so far has been almost exclusively focused on combat — but that's obviously only one part of the experience.

Generally speaking, then, we could probably do with a proper gameplay walkthrough before jumping to any conclusions — a demo that showcases Crimson Deserts overall structure and flow. Hopefully that arrives at some point over the coming months.

Eurogamer - "Combat that left me cold"

"It's style over usability and too often had me spinning the camera to desperately see the action instead of the inside of a wall. Throw in sparks of weapon clashes, flames in the night, and myriad particle effects, and it's a dizzying, disorientating experience."

PC Gamer - "The exact intersection between dumb and cool"

"I can't make promises of the open world, or the equipment system, or even the story, as I've seen precious little of all three, though I am promised high double-digit, maybe even triple digit gameplay hours, with all the expected activities that conjures. But the combat, bare minimum, is joyfully unrestrained."

GamesRadar - "Plays closer to a hack-and-slash"

"Though I can't speak to those broader RPG elements, combat generally stands to be tightened up a little. It's overwhelming by design, but some hang-ups – like needing to have your shield raised to stay locked onto an enemy, or inputs not queuing consistently – don't sit as neatly."

TheGamer - " The combat just clicked this time"

"We’ve had some small glimpses of the open-world activities in Crimson Desert, like horseback riding, mini-games, and petting a cute little lamb, but I need more. I’ve got to explore it myself. The combination of brutal, combo-heavy combat and the chance to adventure through this hugely detailed and expansive world puts Crimson Desert right at the top of my most anticipated games of 2025."

What are your thoughts on Crimson Desert so far? Do you need to see more, or are you quietly confident in this one? Practice your slow-mo dodge rolls in the comments section below.