Open-world RPG fans might want to sit down for this one. Crimson Desert is reportedly launching with an open world at least twice the size of Skyrim and even larger than the map of Red Dead Redemption 2.
That’s a bold claim, and if it holds true, Crimson Desert could become one of the largest handcrafted open worlds ever created for a single-player-focused RPG.
How Big Is Crimson Desert’s Map?
According to developer statements and early previews, Crimson Desert’s world is designed to be significantly larger than traditional fantasy RPG maps.
For comparison:
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has long been a benchmark for large, explorable fantasy worlds
- Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely praised for its scale, density, and realism
Crimson Desert is expected to surpass both, not just in raw landmass, but in verticality, biome variety, and traversal depth.
A World Built for Exploration, Not Just Size
What makes this especially interesting is that the developers aren’t focusing on size alone. The world of Crimson Desert is designed to feel alive and reactive, featuring:
- Vast continents with diverse environments
- Seamless exploration without heavy loading breaks
- Dynamic weather and time-of-day systems
- Large-scale battles and roaming threats
The goal appears to be immersion first, scale second.
Single-Player Focus With MMO-Grade World Design
Despite early assumptions, Crimson Desert is not an MMO. It’s a narrative-driven action RPG with a strong single-player focus, borrowing large-scale world design techniques typically seen in online games.
That combination could give players the freedom of an MMO-sized map without the compromises that often come with shared-world design.
Can Bigger Maps Actually Be Better?
Massive open worlds come with risks. Players have become more critical of empty space, repetitive objectives, and bloated travel times.
Crimson Desert’s success will depend on whether its enormous map is:
- Meaningfully populated
- Rich with activities and emergent gameplay
- Designed around player choice rather than padding
If it delivers on those fronts, it could redefine what players expect from modern open-world RPGs.
What This Means for the Genre
If Crimson Desert launches with a world larger than Skyrim and Red Dead Redemption 2, while maintaining depth and quality, it could set a new standard for future RPGs.
It’s an ambitious move, and one that puts enormous pressure on execution.
Your Turn
Would you rather explore a massive open world like Crimson Desert’s, or do you prefer smaller, denser maps with tighter design?
Let us know what matters most to you.
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