Loading...
Loading...
Game Length and Content - Version 21 vs Version 22
Mar 30, 2026, 10:35 AM
Fix 1 red wikilink(s): update broken href slugs to correct article slugs
Apr 8, 2026, 02:10 PM
Convert partial-term wikilinks to full-term wikilinks (1 merges)
11Overview22Pearl Abyss originally estimated Crimson Desert's total gameplay at 50 to 80 hours, combining the main campaign with side content. Since the game's launch in March 2026, player reports and reviewer playtimes have shown that those early estimates were conservative. A focused main story run typically lands between 60 and 80 hours, while a standard playthrough that includes side content runs 100 to 180 hours. Completionist runs regularly exceed 150 hours.44The open world of Pywel is designed around exploration and discovery, so players who engage with every system will spend considerably more time than those who follow the critical path. Importantly, the progression system relies on Abyss Artifacts gained from side content, meaning that even players focused on the main story will find themselves regularly venturing off the beaten path to power up for boss fights.66Playtime Estimates by Playstyle88Multiple outlets and player-reported data paint a consistent picture of how long the game takes depending on your approach.1010PlaystyleEstimated HoursDetailsMain Story Only60-80 hoursCompleting only the 168 main story quests across the Prologue, 12 chapters, and Epilogue. In practice, some side content is almost mandatory because boss difficulty spikes require stronger gear and skills.Main Story + Side Content100-180 hoursTackling faction quests, camp clearing missions, environmental puzzles, rumor encounters, and life skills alongside the campaign. This is the most common playstyle reported by reviewers.Completionist (100%)150-200+ hoursAll 76 bosses, 430+ adventures, all collectibles, every achievement, full exploration of all five regions, and every side activity completed.1313GamesRadar noted that the game's time to beat is "at least 35 hours for a basic playthrough, but may be closer to 200, depending on you." PC Gamer's reviewer recommended treating the game as a slow burn after spending 75 hours with it, advising players to gamble, build farms, decorate houses, and solve puzzles between story missions rather than rushing the campaign. TheGamer spent 150 hours on their review playthrough and described the game as "a deeply flawed diamond" with best-in-class combat and one of the most immersive open worlds ever seen.1414Chapter Structure1616The main story is divided into a Prologue, twelve numbered chapters, and an Epilogue, totaling 14 story sections with 168 individual quests grouped into story arcs. The campaign follows Kliff and the Greymane mercenaries across the continent of Pywel as they rebuild their faction after a devastating betrayal by the Black Bears.1818ChapterTitleQuestsKey LocationsPrologueDead of Night5Hill of No Return, Three Saints' FallsChapter 1The First Encounter9City of Hernand, Hernand CastleChapter 2Golden Greed16Hernand, Springtide Mill, Goldleaf TradepostChapter 3Howling Hill17Greymane Camp, Mountain of Frozen SoulsChapter 4The Price of Knowledge13Kilnden Workshop, Scholastone, Spire of the StarsChapter 5Guest Unbidden10Hernand Castle, Demeniss, Spire of SoaringChapter 6Cracks in the Shield15Frontlines, City of CalphadeChapter 7Homecoming19Pailune, Silverwolf MountainChapter 8Blood Coronation15Pailune, DemenissChapter 9The Sage of the Desert19Cloister of Enlightenment, Jijeong TempleChapter 10Counterattack9The Gate of War, IronworksChapter 11Truth and Reality8City of Steel, Strange Manor, FortressChapter 12The Abyss6Forbidden Gate, The VoidEpilogueJourney's End8Hernand, across Pywel2020The story ramps up gradually. The Prologue and Chapter 1 serve as the tutorial, introducing combat, exploration, and the Abyss for the first time. The middle chapters (3 through 7) are the longest and most content-dense, featuring multiple story arcs per chapter. The final chapters (10 through 12) are shorter but more intense, with back-to-back boss encounters and story revelations. The Epilogue wraps up lingering storylines across the world.2121Three playable characters become available during the campaign. Kliff is playable from the start. Damiane unlocks at the beginning of Chapter 3 and fights with a rapier and swift thrusting attacks. Oongka unlocks at the end of Chapter 7 after fighting alongside him in Chapter 6, wielding his Dekarr Greataxe and Orc Blaster hand cannon with devastating power.2323Content Breakdown2525The game's content spans several distinct categories, each contributing to the overall playtime.2727Content TypeEstimated QuantityDetailsMain Story Quests168 questsSpread across 14 story sections (Prologue + 12 chapters + Epilogue). Pearl Abyss stated before launch that the main story represents only a "small percentage" of the overall content.Adventures430+Pearl Abyss confirmed over 430 "adventures," encompassing side quests, camp clearing missions, environmental puzzles, side bosses, and discovery-based encounters.Boss Encounters76 totalA small number are mandatory story bosses. The vast majority are optional encounters found through exploration, including world bosses scattered across all five regions.Mount Types29 confirmedHorses, bears, raptors, lizards, wyverns, and a Dwarven-engineered War Robot, among others.Factions110 trackedEach faction has its own questlines, territory, and relationship with the player.Life Skills7+Cooking, fishing, hunting, mining, logging, alchemy, gathering, and farming.Achievements34 at launchConfirmed via the Steam build. Some are tied to discovering every hidden area, defeating all 76 bosses, and completing specific challenges across the full map.2929World Scale3030The continent of Pywel spans an estimated 80 to 110 square kilometers (estimates vary by source), making it comparable to or larger than Skyrim's game world. The map takes approximately 2 hours to cross on horseback from end to end, or roughly 6 hours on foot. The world is seamless with virtually no loading screens between areas.3232Five distinct regions offer diverse terrain, each with their own questlines, wildlife, and environmental challenges:3434The green fields and forests of HernandThe frozen mountains of PailuneThe political heartland of DemenissThe industrial zone of DelesyiaThe barren wastes of The Crimson Desert3636Pacing and Progression3838One factor that distinguishes Crimson Desert from other open-world RPGs is how its progression system affects playtime. The game does not use a traditional experience-based leveling system. Instead, players strengthen their character by spending Abyss Artifacts, which are found by defeating enemies, completing quests, solving puzzles, and clearing challenges. While you do earn some Artifacts through the main story, the supply is limited, so most players will need to pursue side content regularly to keep pace with rising boss difficulty.4040PC Gamer specifically warned against rushing the campaign, noting that players who push through the main story without engaging with side activities will face punishing difficulty spikes, especially in the later chapters. The recommended approach is to alternate between story missions and open-world exploration. Activities like cooking, fishing, horse taming, and arena fighting all provide tangible power gains alongside their own rewards, making the game feel richer when played at a measured pace.4343The Rumor System is another factor that adds to playtime. Rumors lead to organic encounters, hidden bosses, and side stories that players stumble into rather than selecting from a quest log. Combined with dynamic world events, hidden chests, and Traces of the Abyss fast travel points that double as puzzles, these systems naturally extend play sessions beyond what a straightforward critical path would suggest.4545Gameplay Variety4747The majority of the game's content is found through organic exploration. The open world rewards curiosity with encounters ranging from taming wild horses at rivers and meadows, to engaging in arena fighting at settlement combat pits, to stumbling into encounters through the Rumor System. Fishing at rivers and coastlines, discovering hidden chests, and unlocking Traces of the Abyss fast travel points all contribute to the total playtime.4949The game also features mini-games within settlements, including card games (with penny-betting), horse racing, arm wrestling, target shooting, and mud fights. These provide breaks from combat and exploration while offering tangible rewards. Life skills such as cooking, mining, logging, and alchemy add further depth for players who enjoy crafting-oriented gameplay.5151Reviewer Playtimes5353Post-launch reviews provide concrete data points for how long the game takes based on actual playthroughs:5555SourceHours PlayedNotesPC Gamer75+ hoursRecommended treating the game as a slow burn. Advised players to alternate between story missions and open-world activities.TheGamer150 hoursCalled the game "a deeply flawed diamond" with best-in-class combat. Noted that the final chapter can feel like a slog due to steep boss difficulty.GamesRadar100+ hoursPraised the sandbox systems and recommended leaving the beaten path. Called the game far better as a sandbox than as a story-driven experience.GameSpot60-100 hours (main story)Noted that a standard playthrough with side content can reach 100 to 180 hours.5757Pre-launch hands-on previews (based on 4-6 hour sessions in early March 2026) consistently praised the world's scale and combat depth. PC Gamer described the experience as "one of the most overwhelming, chaotic, madcap videogames I've ever played, and I'm hungry for more." Checkpoint Gaming described it as "a ten course meal."5858Completionist Notes6060Crimson Desert has 34 achievements at launch (confirmed via the Steam build). Achievement hunters should expect to spend well over 150 hours to unlock them all, as some are tied to discovering every hidden area, defeating all 76 bosses, and completing specific challenges across the full map. See the Achievement Guide for the full list.6262For players chasing full 100% completion, every quest, all 76 bosses, every collectible across Pywel, and all faction questlines, budget 150 to 200 or more hours depending on playstyle. The sheer number of side activities means that even experienced players can discover new content after 100 hours of exploration.6464See the Main Story Walkthrough for a detailed chapter-by-chapter guide, and the Walkthrough page for additional guides covering side content and optional objectives.
