Pearl Abyss, known for the massive success of Black Desert Online, is venturing into new territory with Crimson Desert, an ambitious open-world action-adventure game that blends rich narrative with visceral combat. We recently had the opportunity to preview this highly anticipated title at Gamescom, where we were given a hands-on look at what the game has to offer. With stunning visuals, intense combat, and a world brimming with atmosphere, Crimson Desert is shaping up to be a game to watch.
What we know
Crimson Desert is set in the medieval fantasy world of Pywel, where players step into the shoes of Kliff, a mercenary leader burdened by his past. Unlike Pearl Abyss’s previous multiplayer-focused titles, Crimson Desert is a single-player experience, though it retains some DNA from its MMO predecessor, Black Desert Online. Originally envisioned as a prequel, the game evolved into a standalone story, set in the same universe but with a more personal and narrative-driven focus. Powered by an upgraded version of the BlackSpace Engine, the game promises a visually stunning world filled with dynamic weather, realistic physics, and intricate character animations. Crimson Desert is set to launch simultaneously on Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, though a specific release date has yet to be announced.
What we saw
During Gamescom 2024 we were shown a curated demo that focused largely on combat encounters and boss fights, offering an early look at the game’s visuals and action-heavy gameplay. The presentation highlighted the detailed environments of Pywel, the cinematic camera work, and the melee-focused combat system used by protagonist Kliff through tutorials and fights with epic bosses.
At Gamescom 2025 we were able to spend considerably more time with the game through a lengthy hands-on session that demonstrated a broader selection of gameplay mechanics. The demo moved between exploration, combat encounters, and larger battlefield scenarios, giving a clearer idea of how different systems interact during normal play.
Combat remains central to the experience, with Kliff using melee weapons, ranged options, and special abilities that can be chained together in various combinations. The session also showcased traversal mechanics such as horseback travel and aerial movement through abilities like the Crow’s Wing glide. In addition, the demo included large-scale combat scenarios featuring multiple NPC factions fighting simultaneously across expansive environments.
What we thought
Seeing Crimson Desert across two Gamescom showings has helped paint a clearer picture of what Pearl Abyss is aiming for. The 2024 demo already hinted at an ambitious action game built around cinematic presentation and dramatic combat encounters, but the 2025 hands-on session broadened that perspective by letting us experience how those elements connect during longer stretches of gameplay.
Combat continues to stand out as the game’s defining feature. Kliff’s moveset allows for a wide range of combinations that blend melee attacks, grapples, ranged options and special abilities, creating encounters that feel both chaotic and tactical. It’s a system that appears designed to reward experimentation, letting players chain attacks together or use the environment to their advantage in ways that go beyond the typical hack-and-slash formula.
At the same time, the expanded demo also made clear that Crimson Desert is trying to be more than just a combat showcase. Exploration and traversal mechanics – including horseback travel and aerial movement – help underline the scale of the world, while larger battlefield scenarios introduce moments of spectacle where dozens of characters clash at once. The combination gives the game a sense of scope that goes beyond what we saw during the earlier presentation.
That ambition does raise some questions about balance and accessibility. The combat system appears deep but potentially complex, and with so many mechanics layered together it will be important that the final game introduces them in a clear and manageable way. Based on what we’ve now seen across two Gamescom demos, however, Crimson Desert remains one of the more intriguing large-scale fantasy projects on the horizon – a game that clearly aims to deliver both cinematic action and a richly detailed open world.
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