Pearl Abyss‘ Will Powers has revealed during a chat with the Gaming Interviews YouTube channel that the open world featured in Crimson Desert is “absolutely massive,” going so far as to reveal it stacks up favourable against genre titans Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

I don’t think numbers really do it justice because, how big is that in terms of scope and scale? But what we can say is that the world’s at least twice as big as the open world, the playable area, of Skyrim. It’s larger than the map of Red Dead Redemption 2.

The continent of Pywel is absolutely massive, but size doesn’t really matter if there’s nothing to do. Open-world games are about doing things, having activities, having distractions. So we wanted to create a world that’s not only massive, but is also incredibly interactive.

You choose the type of character you want to play as in terms of your progression within the systems in the game. And then through head canon you’re having this very different experience than other players because of the scope and scale of the game. You’ll be distracted by something, you’ll go on this quest line, you’ll have an experience that’ll be radically different than someone else, even though they’re playing the same game and the same canonical storyline that you both are going through.

Crimson Desert is currently in development for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S, and was originally pitched as a prequel to Black Desert Online. The game takes place in a medieval fantasy world known as Pywel, where players follow a hardened mercenary who is plagued by burdens of leadership and past memories.

The narrative focuses on Greymanes Kliff, Oongka, Yann, and Naira, during a period where Pywel is experiencing great tension and conflict among its people. This already fragile period is disrupted further by an attack by the Black Bears, a rival faction to the Greymanes, killing many of its members. In the aftermath, Kliff and the survivors are scattered, and so it’s up to him to reunite with his comrades and rebuild the Greymanes, before confronting the Myurdin, the leader of the Black Bears.

Crimson Desert launches on March 19, 2026. We went hands-on with the game back in April 2025, so be sure to read our impressions of some of the Crimson Desert’s bosses here.

[Source – Gaming Interviews YouTube via IGN]

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Looking for the best games like Crimson Desert to keep you busy until the highly anticipated action RPG launches? You’re not alone. With its stunning visuals, fast-paced combat, and expansive open world, Crimson Desert has quickly become one of the most anticipated fantasy games in development.

Although we haven’t played Crimson Desert yet, its flashy combat, cinematic presentation, and crafting-heavy gameplay strongly resemble several popular games already available. If you’re searching for open-world fantasy RPGs like Crimson Desert, the titles below are your best options right now.

Black Desert

Black Desert is the MMORPG that started it all for Pearl Abyss. Featuring fast, combo-driven combat, gorgeous visuals, and a massive open world, it’s the closest experience to Crimson Desert currently available. While Black Desert is multiplayer-focused, many of its mechanics—combat, world design, and visual flair—clearly inspired Crimson Desert’s direction.

Elden Ring

If you’re looking for a dark fantasy world filled with danger, Elden Ring is one of the best games like Crimson Desert in terms of exploration and challenge. Its open world is packed with deadly enemies, hidden secrets, and breathtaking environments. The combat builds on the Dark Souls formula, offering more flexibility and playstyle variety than any previous FromSoftware game.

Sonic Frontiers

At first glance, Sonic Frontiers may seem like an odd comparison, but it shares several key similarities with Crimson Desert. It places high-speed combat and boss battles into a large open-world setting, encouraging exploration and skill chaining. Add in its memorable soundtrack and cinematic moments, and it offers a surprisingly fitting alternative.

Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand

Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand is an open-world action RPG centred around magical weapons, massive monsters, and fast-paced traversal. Sand surfing lets you move across the world at high speed, while combat emphasises flashy abilities and fluid movement. With optional co-op play, it’s a strong choice for fans of cinematic fantasy combat.

Enshrouded

While Enshrouded leans into survival crafting, it offers deep fantasy RPG elements that fans of the genre will appreciate. Playing as a Flameborn, you’ll explore a dangerous world consumed by a mysterious fog, battling bosses and uncovering secrets. It supports solo and cooperative play, making it one of the best fantasy survival games available.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a high-fantasy open-world RPG filled with dynamic combat, memorable monsters, and meaningful player choice. The world reacts to your decisions, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique. Its flexible combat system and emergent gameplay make it an excellent alternative.

While the wait for Crimson Desert may feel long, there’s no shortage of incredible open-world and fantasy RPGs to keep you busy in the meantime. Whether you’re drawn to fast-paced combat, vast worlds to explore, or deep progression systems, the games above each capture a different aspect of what makes Crimson Desert so exciting. Until its release, these titles offer plenty of epic adventures to dive into – and may even become favourites in their own right.

The post Best Games Like Crimson Desert to Play While You Wait appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

If you ask me to name the game I'm most excited for this year, there's a 50/50 chance I'll say either Slay the Spire 2 or Crimson Desert. I've had the opportunity to play the stunning new open-world action RPG from Pearl Abyss several times now, and have always come away desperate for more time to wrap my head around its combat nuances. It's a big project, feeling rather like The Witcher 3 but with way more high-octane combat. During the New Game+ showcase, director of PR Will Powers from Pearl Abyss revealed just how large its world is, and what we can expect to find.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: High-octane RPG Crimson Desert has a world twice as big as Skyrim, yet its developer insists that "size doesn't matter"

During the recently concluded New Game+ Showcase, Pearl Abyss strategic planning expert Will Powers stated that the map of Pywel in the upcoming action RPG Crimson Desert is significantly larger than that of Red Dead Redemption 2. Powers also claimed it is “at least” twice the size of the accessible world in  The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The studio noted that they are working to make the map highly interactive as well. Crimson Desert is set to launch on March 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.

The game’s details:

Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game set in the stunning yet perilous continent of Pywel. After a devastating ambush by their sworn enemy the Black Bears leaves the Greymanes dead or scattered across the land, players follow Kliff who embarks on a journey to rebuild the Greymanes and reclaim what has been lost. As he traverses across the vast landscapes of Pywel, players will engage in intense battles, defeat formidable monsters, collect valuable loot, and follow the story of the Greymanes’ journey with next-generation visuals.

Crimson Desert will launch with Collector’s, Deluxe and Standard editions. The Collector’s Edition will feature an impressive 17” exclusive diorama of Kliff and Golden Star, a premium Greymane Brooch Pin and deluxe woven fabric map of Pywel – designed to elevate any treasured collection.

Pre-orders will be going live for all physical and digital editions in the coming days, available at most major retailers — all pre-orders come with the Khaled Shield as a pre-order bonus. Additionally, fans who pre-order any PlayStation®5 edition will also receive the Grotevant Plate Set DLC as a PS5 exclusive bonus included in pack.

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