One of the big Xbox releases of March 2026 is Crimson Desert, which is an open-world action-adventure game from the team at Pearl Abyss (known for Black Desert), and it's coming to Xbox Series X and Series S on March 19th.
Ahead of that date, a whole bunch of hands-on previews have gone live across the web today for the game on PC specifically, with more details and footage for the console versions set to be revealed in the near future.
In fact, the studio's marketing director recently issued a plea for patience when it comes to the Xbox and PS5 footage, insisting that the team isn't "hiding anything" and that console will get some love in the run up to release.
Back to those previews, then — and it sounds like Crimson Desert is impressing the majority of critics on PC so far! We'll share a bunch of impressions for that version down below:
IGN (Positive)
So far, Crimson Desert is showing a lot of promise. It's certainly been on the minds of many for several years now, which has invited a host of comparisons with other large-scale games. But my extended hands-on time has made me feel optimistic and intrigued by the game's maximalist action style. And that's gotten me plenty interested in seeing if the full game can deliver on reaching the same highs as other genre greats.
PC Gamer (Positive)
It is an oncoming tidal wave of unrelenting mechanical complexity and systems where absolutely nobody, at any point, asked if this was all a bit much. But you will find me there, arms outstretched, bellowing "Witness Me!" with silver spray paint on my teeth—ready to be swept away, whether that's into greener pastures or to get dashed upon the rocks.
GamesRadar (Positive)
Crimson Desert is stitched together with a thousand RPGs, and its seams are easily traced. The Witcher 3's medieval-fantasy grit here, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's insular puzzles and open-world sandbox there. A splash of Fable and Dragon's Dogma's reactive worlds, for good measure. In less sincere hands, the result would be derivative. But after playing Crimson Desert for six hours, the upcoming RPG feels more like an overstuffed toybox, offering pure entertainment if not always cohesion.
Well Played (Positive)
When I think of my six hours with Crimson Desert, I find myself constantly drawing comparisons to two other big-name, fantasy action titles: Dragon’s Dogma 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. To evoke quality names surely speaks to a certain calibre and ambition, no?
Press Start (Positive-Mixed)
Early Dragon Age’s grit. Breath of the Wild’s traversal curiosity. Fable’s earnest morality. A whiff of Black Myth: Wukong wire-fu. It shouldn’t gel. It absolutely should not gel. Somehow, it mostly does.
TheGamer (Mixed)
Crimson Desert could be one of 2026’s biggest games, but I also have a feeling it might be one of the most divisive. It offers up a stunning world with a breadth of mechanics and so much to do, but, at least from what I played, it feels like it’s too afraid to embrace its silliness.
Checkpoint Gaming (Mixed)
Maybe I’m completely wrong, but I sense that some people will find Crimson Desert overwhelming and unfocused; that there is simply too much. But others will likely find something that will occupy countless hours, and many evenings just discovering that yes, you can do that too. I’m not sure which I am yet, but I’m excited to find out.
As you can see, it's not all good news here — there's a sense that the game is so massive that it might buckle under its own weight — but the majority of critics seem to have at least enjoyed the four-six hours they've played so far.
The big question is whether the final release can live up to the hype, and we'll find out for sure in just a couple of weeks' time. Stay tuned to Pure Xbox for a review roundup, along with more details on the Xbox version ASAP.