# Crimson Desert vs The Blood of Dawnwalker As of 28 October 2026, 83% of 117,622 player reviews recommend Crimson Desert, and 87% of 21,107 recommend The Blood of Dawnwalker. > Two big open-world RPGs came out six months apart in 2026. Players rate them closely, and they love Crimson Desert for its world and combat and Dawnwalker for its story. ## In short Crimson Desert suits players who want a huge world to roam and combat to master over a hundred hours or more, and who can forgive a weak story. Dawnwalker suits players who play for writing and choices, in a shorter run of about 40 to 70 hours under a 30-day clock. ## At a glance | | Crimson Desert | Dawnwalker | | --- | --- | --- | | Released | 19 March 2026 | 3 September 2026 | | Price at launch | $69.99 | $69.99 | | Developer | Pearl Abyss | Rebel Wolves | | Publisher | Pearl Abyss | Bandai Namco Entertainment | | Players recommend it | 83% of 117,622 reviews | 87% of 21,107 reviews | | Our reading | 80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 20 October 2026 | 80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 21 October 2026 | ## What players praise ### Crimson Desert - **The open world rewards wandering.** Castles, caves, camps and ruins sit off the main path, and many players lose hours roaming a map that feels alive. - **The combat invites experiments.** Players chain grapples, weapon swaps and combos into fluid fights. Gear mixes freely, so several weapons stay worth using to the end. - **It looks beautiful and runs well.** Landscapes, lighting and weather draw strong praise, and players on mid-range and older graphics cards report steady frame rates. - **Patches fixed most early problems.** Players credit steady patches and free content with fixing early crashes, stamina problems and gaps in the story. ### The Blood of Dawnwalker - **The writing carries it.** Players warm to Coen and his companions, and the story and dialogue draw more praise than anything else in the game. - **The combat clicks with time.** Blocking and parrying from four directions takes a while to learn, then holds up into the late game. - **The 30-day clock makes choices count.** Every quest spends time, so taking one job means passing on another. Players who like that pressure say it gives each decision weight. - **The world is worth a detour.** The handmade map is full of side finds, and the dark medieval setting pulls many players in. ## What players criticise ### Crimson Desert - **The story lags behind the world.** Players find the plot hard to follow and the main cast flat. Later reviews say the free Enhanced update’s added cutscenes and dialogue help. - **The controls take time to learn.** Many attacks share buttons and two-button inputs need precise timing, so some players never find a mapping that feels natural. - **Side quests are mostly errands.** Most are fetch, delivery or talk tasks, and some puzzles give too little to go on or accept only one answer. - **Crashes still hit some players.** Some report freezes on loading screens and bugs that block quests. Patches or a file check fixed it for several, and a few never got past it. ### The Blood of Dawnwalker - **Stutter and crashes marked the first weeks.** The most-read reviews describe frame drops and crashes, worst in dense cities, and some cutscenes capped at 30 frames per second. The latest reviews raise it far less. - **Lock-on and the controls fight players.** With several enemies around, the lock-on jumps to a distant target and the camera follows it. Remapping and controller support draw complaints too. - **Upgrades and errands cost days.** Skill points and small side jobs spend time from the clock, and many players feel punished for getting stronger. - **Many would wait for a sale.** Players point to the performance and the repetition and find the launch price high for the game as it shipped. ## Which to pick - Pick Crimson Desert if you want a huge world to roam for a hundred hours or more and layered combat to master, and the story matters less to you. https://creativecult.digital/games/crimson-desert - Pick Dawnwalker if you play for writing and choices in the vein of The Witcher 3, and you can live with a clock on your run. https://creativecult.digital/games/the-blood-of-dawnwalker ## Questions ### Is Crimson Desert or The Blood of Dawnwalker better? Players rate them closely. As of 28 October 2026, 83% of Crimson Desert’s 117,622 reviews recommend it, and 87% of Dawnwalker’s 21,107. Crimson Desert wins players over with its world and combat, and Dawnwalker with its story and characters. ### Which has the better story, Crimson Desert or Dawnwalker? Players give Dawnwalker the edge. Its writing and characters get more praise than anything else in the game, while the story is Crimson Desert’s most common complaint. Later reviews say Crimson Desert’s free Enhanced update, with added cutscenes and dialogue, makes it easier to follow. ### Which is longer, Crimson Desert or The Blood of Dawnwalker? Crimson Desert, by far. Players who finished its main story report about 100 to 240 hours. Dawnwalker’s players report roughly 40 to 70 hours to the ending, and most finish its 30 days with a week or so to spare. ### How do Crimson Desert and Dawnwalker run on PC? Crimson Desert’s players more often report steady frame rates, even on older graphics cards, though some hit crashes. Dawnwalker’s first weeks brought stutter and crashes, worst in its cities, and its latest reviews raise them far less. ### How much do Crimson Desert and The Blood of Dawnwalker cost? Both launched at $69.99. Crimson Desert’s expansion, Charting the Unknown, costs $24.99 and has a release date of 29 October 2026. ### When did Crimson Desert and The Blood of Dawnwalker come out? Crimson Desert on 19 March 2026 and The Blood of Dawnwalker on 3 September 2026. ## Sources 1. Steam: The Blood of Dawnwalker, user reviews and review history: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3751260/ 3. Rebel Wolves on Steam: launch at midnight CEST, 3 September: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3751260/view/667249057895285691 154. Steam: Crimson Desert, store page and user reviews: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3321460/ 167. Steam: Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown, store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/5001840/ Page: https://creativecult.digital/compare/crimson-desert-vs-blood-of-dawnwalker