TL;DR — Crimson Desert Playtime
- Estimated total length: 50–80 hours
- Includes: Main story, side quests, exploration, and progression
- Comparable to: The Witcher 3 & Breath of the Wild in scale
- Status: Early investor estimate — subject to change
Table of Contents
50–80 Hours Of Gameplay in Crimson Desert
The reported figure refers to “50 to 80 hours of gameplay”, which likely covers the total content, including side quests, exploration, and other activities – not just the main story.
This is essentially a comparison of main story versus full completion length, helping you understand that finishing only the core narrative will take less time than completing everything the game has to offer.
While the original investor relations report from Pearl Abyss is no longer publicly available, translated summaries are still circulating online.
It suggests that we can expect:
- main story missions and character-driven quests
- optional side quests and world events
- exploration of towns, wilderness, and dungeons
- combat challenges, crafting, and progression systems
It’s a large-scale experience designed to keep you engaged across multiple play styles, rather than a short, linear campaign. Sounds great, right?
Comparisons To Other RPGs
At 50–80 hours, the Crimson Desert RPG size is comparable to other big open-world RPGs, offering a mix of main story content, side quests, and exploration. You can expect a sprawling experience that rewards time spent exploring its world.
To give you some perspective, here’s how its estimated length stacks up against other well-known RPGs:
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Release Date: May 18, 2015
Genres: RPG, Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Release Date: March 03, 2017
Genres: RPG, Adventure
Crimson Desert is positioned as a sprawling open-world fantasy adventure, combining deep narrative, exploration, and large-scale combat. Players looking for an immersive RPG with freedom to roam and explore should find plenty to sink their time into.
Multiplayer Plans
Pearl Abyss has suggested post-launch multiplayer content for Crimson Desert, possibly similar to GTA Online, to keep the game active after release. This could include:
- cooperative missions to team up with other players
- time-limited events and challenges
- persistent online features, such as shared-world activities or seasonal content
However, recent updates on multiplayer have been limited, and the Pearl Abyss development update timeline suggests plans may have evolved since the initial hints. The final version could look different from early statements.
Important Disclaimer
The 50–80 hour gameplay estimate comes from the Crimson Desert investor relations meeting 2024. Development can change, meaning the actual playtime may:
- be shorter or longer depending on final content and pacing
- depend on your choices and playstyle, and how deeply you explore optional activities
- include side quests, exploration, crafting, and progression systems that can extend total time
Treat it as an early estimate, not a guarantee. The final experience could differ at launch as the developers continue refining the world, systems, and gameplay balance.