How Long to Beat Crimson Desert?

Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game, and the time to beat it depends heavily on your playstyle. A focused playthrough of the main story typically takes 40–50 hours, while completing the vast majority of side content and exploring the world can push that to 80–100+ hours. This guide breaks down the expected playtimes, what influences them, and how to plan your own journey through the game.

Main Story Only

If you stick strictly to the critical path—main quests, required boss fights, and minimal detours—you can expect to finish the campaign in roughly 40 to 50 hours. This assumes you skip most optional dungeons, side quests, and exploration, and that you don’t spend excessive time crafting or gathering. The game’s main narrative is substantial, with a large cast of characters and multiple regions to traverse, so even a rushed playthrough is a significant time investment.

Main Story + Side Content

Most players will naturally engage with some side content—a few side quests, some exploration, and maybe a bit of crafting. This “standardâ€� playthrough typically lands in the 60–75 hour range. Side quests in Crimson Desert are not just filler; they often provide meaningful lore, unique rewards, and introduce you to the game’s various systems, like the grappling hook, mount upgrades, and resource gathering. If you’re the type who likes to complete every quest marker in a region before moving on, expect to be on the higher end of this range.

100% Completion

For completionists who want to see everything the game offers, expect a playtime of 80 to 100+ hours. This includes:

• All side quests and optional boss encounters
• Finding every collectible, including lore documents and rare resources
• Maxing out all character skills and equipment upgrades
• Exploring every corner of the map, including hidden caves and ruins
• Completing all mini-games and fishing-related achievements

The game is designed to encourage thorough exploration, with many secrets tucked away that require the grappling hook or specific tools to reach. If you’re a completionist, you’ll likely spend dozens of hours just wandering the world, which is part of the intended experience.

Factors That Affect Playtime

Several variables can significantly alter your total time:

• Difficulty setting: Higher difficulties make boss fights longer and more punishing, adding hours to your run.
• Exploration style: Fast-traveling everywhere vs. riding your mount across the world changes how much time you spend on travel.
• Crafting and gathering: Spending time collecting materials for upgrades or cooking can add many hours.
• Familiarity with action games: Players experienced with similar titles (e.g., Dark Souls, God of War) may complete bosses faster.
• Side quest engagement: Skipping all side content vs. completing every quest is the biggest variable.
• Multiplayer features: While primarily single-player, the game includes some online elements that can extend playtime if you engage with them.

How the Game’s Structure Affects Length

Crimson Desert is structured as a large open world with three main regions, each with its own main questline. The story is non-linear to a degree, allowing you to tackle some regions in different orders, but the overall progression is fairly linear. This means the main story is a fixed length, but the open world is designed to encourage detours. The game also features a day/night cycle and dynamic events, which can prompt you to spend extra time in an area just to see what happens.

Common Misconceptions About Length

One common misconception is that Crimson Desert is a “short� game because it was originally announced as a prequel to Black Desert Online. In reality, it is a full-fledged standalone title with a complete narrative. Another misconception is that the game is purely a boss-rush experience; while boss fights are a highlight, they are not the majority of the playtime. The majority of your time will be spent traversing the world, talking to NPCs, and completing a variety of objectives.

Comparing to Other Open-World Games

To put these numbers in perspective, here’s how Crimson Desert compares to other popular open-world games:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Main story ~50 hours, completion ~150+ hours.
• Elden Ring: Main story ~50 hours, completion ~100+ hours.
• Horizon Forbidden West: Main story ~30 hours, completion ~80 hours.
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Main story ~60 hours, completion ~140 hours.

Crimson Desert sits comfortably in the middle of this range, offering a substantial but not overwhelming experience. It’s less bloated than some of the larger Assassin’s Creed titles, but more substantial than a linear action game.

Tips to Manage Your Playtime

If you’re concerned about time, here are a few practical tips:

• Focus on main quests first: You can always return to side content later, and some side quests unlock after the main story.
• Use fast travel wisely: While exploring on foot is rewarding, fast travel is available and can save hours.
• Don’t obsess over collectibles initially: Many collectibles are easier to find with late-game tools or abilities.
• Set your own pace: The game is designed to be enjoyed at your own speed. Don’t feel pressured to rush or to complete everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crimson Desert longer than Black Desert Online?

No. Black Desert Online is a massively multiplayer online game with endless endgame content, so it can be played for thousands of hours. Crimson Desert is a single-player action RPG with a defined ending, so it is much shorter, even at 100% completion.

Does Crimson Desert have New Game+?

As of the initial release, there is no New Game+ mode. However, the game does allow you to continue playing after the main story to finish up side quests and exploration. It’s possible that New Game+ could be added in a future update, but it’s not confirmed.

Can I skip cutscenes to save time?

Yes, you can skip most cutscenes, but the game’s story is one of its main draws. Skipping them will save you perhaps 5–10 hours, but you’ll miss out on the narrative context. If you’re playing for the first time, it’s recommended to watch them.

Is the game’s length affected by the difficulty setting?

Yes, significantly. On higher difficulties, enemies have more health and deal more damage, which means boss fights can take multiple attempts. This can add 10–20 hours to a playthrough if you’re struggling. The game does not lock achievements to difficulty, so you can play on a lower setting if you want a shorter experience.

How long is the main story if I only do the bare minimum?

The absolute minimum, ignoring all side content and rushing through dialogue, is around 40 hours. This is a rough estimate and could be slightly shorter or longer depending on your skill and how quickly you navigate the world.

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