2026 is preparing to welcome Crimson Desert, and it looks like a biggie in every sense of the word. If it’s anything like its predecessor, your free time is in trouble, but not as much as you’d think. Here’s the latest on Crimson Desert’s game length and how many hours it could require.
Crimson Desert has the unenviable task of trying to better or, at the very least, match Black Desert Online. This means packing the game with plenty of content to justify its price tag and genre switch.
How Many Hours To Beat Crimson Desert?
According to a Pearl Abyss press release, Crimson Desert is expected to have around “50 to 80 hours of gameplay.”
A ResetEra post from 2024 revealed a blogger’s full notes from a “Pearl Abyss’ IR session at Kiwoom Corp Day, September 26, 2024,” revealing a ton of details about the game.
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The extensive list of notes covered so much, from Crimson Desert’s development time to different gameplay and open-world mechanics, to the game’s actual length itself:
“Crimson Desert will offer around 50 to 80 hours of gameplay and will have a definitive ending as a single-player game.”
One of the biggest differences between the new game and Black Desert Online is the switch from an MMO to a single-player title. MMOs generally offer almost infinite gameplay, making Crimson Desert’s more isolated focus a talking point.
However, as you can see from the notes, there should be plenty to keep you occupied. This is only an estimation, too, and doesn’t clarify whether this is just for a more campaign playthrough or factors in a full 100% completionist run.
Also, this last indication was nearly two years ago, so this range could have increased by now. Stay tuned for more updates to this guide on the game’s content and projections.
How Does Crimson Desert Compare To Black Desert Online?
Black Desert Online has Crimson Desert beat in terms of projected longevity, as the MMO’s main story takes around 100 hours alone to complete before anything else.
It’s a slightly unfair comparison, granted, but the fact is that when you weigh up Black Desert Online and Crimson Desert, there’s a gulf in hours and playtime between the two—for now.
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If Crimson Desert adds more DLC and expansions, the gap between the two will decrease. Either way, your Crimson Desert purchase should be more than just satisfied with a mountain of content expected at launch.
Go to the Insider Gaming Discord to let us know if you’re happy with the game’s length, or if maybe you think it’s too much.
Crimson Desert went Gold two months before release, which is great news! If you’re keen to read more about it, Insider Gaming had a special Crimson Desert HANDS-ON PREVIEW.
60 hours for 80 dollars not worth it.
Someone always has to moan about EVERYTHING. Complaining that an 80 hour campaign isn’t long enough is utterly ridiculous especially when it will obviously take longer if you 100% it. Absurd comment.