Overview
While the story of Crimson Desert centers on Kliff, two new playable characters will come to join your journey as his tale unfolds. As these characters become available, you will be able to freely explore Pywell and undertake many quests outside the main story with them.
This confirms three playable characters total, something that was alluded to when Crimson Desert was originally planned as an open world MMO but is now confirmed for the single-player experience.
Unique Combat Styles
Each character has their own combat style as well as unique skills and weapons, allowing you to experience the world and its battles in different ways. This variety encourages players to try different approaches to combat.
Where Kliff emphasizes sword and shield with elemental abilities through the Axiom Bracelet, the additional characters bring entirely different fighting philosophies and weapon preferences.
When They Join
The additional playable characters become available as Kliff's story progresses. Their joining points are tied to narrative milestones, meaning players will spend the early game controlling Kliff exclusively.
Once unlocked, players can switch between characters for exploration and side content while the main story continues to follow Kliff's perspective.
Exploration Freedom
With multiple playable characters, the already massive open world of Pywell gains additional replay value. The same locations and enemies can feel different when approached with each character's unique abilities.
This system provides incentive to revisit areas you've already explored as Kliff, discovering new combat possibilities and perhaps accessing areas that were difficult with his playstyle.