Crimson Desert for PC: Guide, Tips & System Requirements (2026)

Post Updated: March 22, 2026
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Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure for PC from Pearl Abyss, available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. You play as Kliff, a mercenary whose crew was ambushed and scattered across the continent of Pywel. Your job is to find the survivors, rebuild the faction, and uncover what is really threatening the land. The world is large, the combat is flexible, and the story keeps unfolding as you go.

The combat is built around how you want to fight. You can mix weapons, learn new skills, and adjust your fighting style as the game progresses, with no single approach forced on you. Later in the story the game also takes you upward, into the Abyss, a sky realm above Pywel with its own threats and story.

Crimson Desert released on March 19, 2026. It runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Two more playable characters, Oongka and Damiane, unlock as you progress through the story. The game supports controllers and runs on both Steam and Epic.

Already playing? Share your build or your favourite part of Pywel in the comments. Got questions before buying? Reach out to us directly.

Crimson Desert PC cover art

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Quick Facts

📅 Release Date March 19, 2026
🛠️ Developer Pearl Abyss
🏢 Publisher Pearl Abyss
🎮 Genre Action Adventure
📂 Storage 150 GB SSD
🎯 Players Single-player
💰 Price From $69.99 USD
*Prices vary by region and sales

How to Download and Install on PC

Crimson Desert is available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Choose whichever store you prefer. The game is the same on both.

On Steam

  1. Step 1. Go to the Crimson Desert Steam page.
  2. Step 2. Choose Standard ($69.99) or Deluxe Edition ($79.99) and complete your purchase.
  3. Step 3. Open your Steam library and click Install. The game needs 150 GB of SSD space.
  4. Step 4. Launch the game from your library once the install is done.

On Epic Games Store

  1. Step 1. Go to the Crimson Desert Epic Games page.
  2. Step 2. Choose your edition and complete your purchase. Buying on Epic includes the Kliff Outfit for Fortnite as a bonus.
  3. Step 3. The game downloads through the Epic Games launcher. Install it to an SSD.
  4. Step 4. Launch from the Epic library once the download finishes.
Note: An SSD is required on both platforms. The game will not run from a regular hard drive.
💡 Your PC is too weak? Cloud gaming is an option. Try Boosteroid.

Editions and Pricing

Edition Price (USD) Includes
Standard Edition $69.99 Base game
Deluxe Edition $79.99 Base game + Deluxe Pack (Kairos armor set, Balgran Shield, Exclaire horse cosmetic set)

Already own the Standard Edition? The Deluxe Pack is available as a separate $12.99 add-on on Steam.

Battles with enemy - Crimson Desert for PC: Guide, Tips & System Requirements (2026)

What is Crimson Desert?

Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game developed and published by Pearl Abyss. You play as Kliff, a mercenary whose crew, the Greymanes, was ambushed in the night and left dead or scattered across the continent of Pywel. The story follows Kliff as he tracks down survivors, rebuilds the faction, and uncovers a larger threat that puts the whole continent at risk.

Pywel is a large open world that covers green plains, dense woods, arid deserts, rugged mountains, bustling cities, and quiet villages. You explore it on foot, on horseback, on dragons, and even on mechs. The world is built around discovery: landmarks, ruins, hidden treasures, and side quests sit between every major destination. As the story progresses, you also travel to the Abyss, a mysterious sky realm where a threat to the whole world needs to be dealt with.

Two additional playable characters unlock as the story moves forward. Oongka and Damiane each fight differently, giving you a change of pace from Kliff without leaving the main story.

Official Trailer

See the open world of Pywel, the combat system, and the Abyss in action.

Key Gameplay Features

🌍Open World Exploration

Pywel is built for wandering. Ancient ruins, hidden treasures, and side stories sit between every main quest destination. You can follow the story or just explore at your own pace.

⚔️Flexible Combat

You choose how to fight. Mix weapons, pick up new skills, and change your approach as you go. No single play style is required, and the game rewards experimenting with different builds.

🐉Mounts and Movement

You travel on horses, dragons, and mechs. You can also scale cliffs and walls, then leap off to glide. Getting around Pywel feels like part of the game, not just a chore between destinations.

🌌The Abyss

Above Pywel sits the Abyss, a sky realm with its own threats and storylines. Something has gone wrong up there that is connected to what is happening on the ground. Reaching the Abyss opens a whole new part of the game.

👥Three Playable Characters

You start as Kliff, but Oongka and Damiane unlock as the story moves forward. Each has a different fighting style, giving you variety without stepping outside the main story.

🎨Crafting and Customisation

You can brew dyes and pick up materials as you explore to change how your gear looks. The world also has crafting systems built into its towns and camps, giving you things to do beyond fighting.

🤔 Is This Game for You?

✅ You Will Love It If:

  • You enjoy large open worlds with lots to discover off the main path
  • You like story-driven action games with flexible combat
  • You played Black Desert Online and want to see the world in a single-player format
  • You want a game that looks great on a powerful PC

❌ You Might Not If:

  • You prefer shorter, more focused games that do not send you wandering
  • You want online multiplayer or co-op
  • You are short on SSD space right now
  • You want a game that respects your time with a short main story

 

How the city looks - Crimson Desert for PC: Guide, Tips & System Requirements (2026)

System Requirements

Crimson Desert runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Check your specs before buying.

Component Minimum Recommended
OS Windows 10 64-bit Windows 10 64-bit
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 2600X / Intel i5-8500 AMD Ryzen 5 5600 / Intel i5-11600K
RAM 16 GB 16 GB
GPU AMD RX 5500 XT / NVIDIA GTX 1060 AMD RX 6700 XT / NVIDIA RTX 2080
DirectX Version 12 Version 12
Storage 150 GB SSD (required) 150 GB SSD (required)

5 Tips for Your First Hours

Pywel rewards curiosity. These habits help you get the most out of it early.

1. Wander off the main quest early

The world is full of things that are not marked on your map. Side quests, ruins, and hidden items sit between main story destinations. The early hours are the best time to explore before the story pushes you into bigger fights.

2. Try different weapons before committing

The game gives you room to experiment with different fighting styles. Pick up weapons you find and test them on regular enemies before deciding what suits you. What feels clumsy early can click once you unlock a few skills.

3. Keep a horse with you

Pywel is large and crossing it on foot takes much longer than it needs to. Get a horse early and keep it close. The mount system has depth if you want it, but even just using a horse for basic travel saves a lot of time.

4. Talk to everyone in towns

Residents in towns and villages give you side quests, point you toward hidden locations, and sometimes hand you useful items. Most of the best optional content in the game starts with a short conversation you might walk past.

5. Do not rush to the Abyss

The Abyss opens up later in the story and brings harder challenges. Spend time building your character and learning the combat on the ground first. Going in underprepared makes it much harder than it needs to be.

Gameplay Screenshots

Here is what Crimson Desert looks like in action on PC.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of game is Crimson Desert?

Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game developed and published by Pearl Abyss. You play as Kliff, a mercenary trying to reunite his scattered crew across the continent of Pywel. The game mixes exploration, story-driven quests, open combat, and a separate sky realm called the Abyss.

Where can I buy Crimson Desert on PC?

Crimson Desert is available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store for $69.99. If you buy on the Epic Games Store, you also get the Kliff Outfit for Fortnite as a bonus.

What does the Deluxe Edition include?

The Deluxe Edition ($79.99) adds the Deluxe Pack, which includes the Kairos Plate armor set (helm, gloves, boots, cloak, and chest), the Balgran Shield, and a full horse cosmetic set called the Exclaire set (head covering, body armor, saddle, and stirrups for your horse). On Steam, the Deluxe Pack is also sold separately for $12.99 if you already own the base game.

Do I need to play Black Desert Online first?

No. Crimson Desert is a standalone game with its own story and characters. It is set in the same world as Black Desert Online but tells a completely separate story. No prior knowledge of Black Desert is needed.

What are the PC system requirements for Crimson Desert?

Crimson Desert runs on Windows 10 64-bit. Minimum specs require an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Intel i5-8500, 16 GB RAM, and an AMD RX 5500 XT or NVIDIA GTX 1060, with 150 GB of SSD space. Recommended specs call for an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel i5-11600K, 16 GB RAM, and an AMD RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA RTX 2080, plus 150 GB SSD. See the full specs table above for details.

🔗 Helpful Community Links

For updates, patch notes, and discussions about Crimson Desert:

Explore more Windows games: Death Stranding 2 · Half Sword · Marathon · Best Action Games for Windows · Best RPG Games on PC · Best Adventure Games on PC

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Juniya Sankara

I love everything to do with Microsoft Windows, and the new Windows 11 is great so far. If it's not obvious, I love gaming, anime, anything to do with AI as I believe that is the future and I love to spend my time researching on how viruses and bacteria work in my personal lab. Oh, I also enjoy history and comics.

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