Mini-Games

Overview

Towns, cities, and settlements across Pywel offer a wide variety of mini-games and side activities that go well beyond the main story. These diversions provide meaningful breaks from combat and exploration while offering tangible rewards including silver, copper, crafting materials, equipment, and faction reputation. NPCs throughout the world invite players to participate, and some activities are tied to faction quests or Contribution progression. Winning mini-games in a region increases standing with that region's faction.

Mini-games range from casual diversions like rock-paper-scissors with local children to intense skill-based competitions like arena boxing and spear duels. Many mini-games become available during Chapter 1 as Kliff arrives in Hernand and gains access to the town's taverns, arenas, and training grounds. Others are scattered across the open world and only become available as players explore new regions. Most mini-games have an entry fee in Silver or Copper, and consecutive wins often increase the payout for each subsequent round.

Complete Mini-Games Summary

The following table lists every confirmed mini-game in Crimson Desert along with where to find it, how to access it, and what rewards are available.

Tavern Mini-Games

Taverns serve as the primary hub for social mini-games in Crimson Desert. Nearly every settlement with a tavern offers at least one competitive activity, and larger towns like Hernand feature multiple games under one roof. Tavern mini-games typically require a small entry fee and reward silver, with payouts increasing for consecutive victories.

Arm Wrestling

Arm wrestling matches are available at tavern tables and settlement gathering spots throughout Pywel. The activity first becomes available in Chapter 1 when Kliff visits the Hernand tavern, where an NPC challenger sits at a table ready to compete.

The mini-game uses a timing and button-input system. When a match begins, a gauge appears on screen and the player must press the correct button inputs at precisely the right moment to overpower the opponent. Rushing or mashing buttons will not work; success depends on finding a steady rhythm that keeps the gauge in the red zone. Each NPC opponent has a different difficulty level, with stronger opponents requiring faster and more precise timing.

Multiple difficulty tiers exist across Pywel's taverns. Early-game opponents in Hernand are relatively forgiving with their timing windows, while later challengers in more remote settlements demand near-perfect inputs. Winning arm wrestling matches earns silver and improves reputation with the local faction.

Duo

Duo is a card gambling game found in the Gambling Den on the second floor of a building in Hernand Town. It costs 15 Silver per match and is the most strategic mini-game available. Rewards increase with consecutive wins, making long streaks highly profitable.

Each player receives two cards. The goal is to have the highest-ranking hand at the end of the round. Points are calculated by summing the values of the two cards. If the total exceeds 10, subtract 10 from the result. For example, drawing a 6 and a 9 produces a total of 15, which becomes 5 points after subtracting 10. In addition to point totals, the game features Special Hands and Ranked Hands that automatically outrank regular point totals. You can view the full hand rankings by pressing the View Hands button during a match.

Betting Options

After receiving your cards, you have 10 seconds to select an action. If the timer expires, Call is used automatically.

The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the round and receives the Silver from the pot. Consecutive wins increase the payout for subsequent rounds.

Coin Gambling

Beyond Duo, taverns across Pywel host additional gambling games where players wager silver against NPCs. These include dice and card-based games of chance and skill. Different tavern locations offer different gambling games, so players benefit from visiting multiple taverns to find the games they enjoy most.

Players risk their own funds for the chance to win more, adding a layer of economic risk to tavern visits. The gambling mechanic ties into the broader economy as a way to earn (or lose) silver outside of quests and trading. Unlike Duo, which is heavily skill-based, some tavern gambling games rely more on luck, making them a faster but riskier way to build up funds.

Combat Arenas

Crimson Desert features several dedicated arenas and fighting venues where players can test their combat skills in structured bouts. These range from bare-knuckle boxing to formal weapon duels, each with its own rules and restrictions.

Goldenfist Arena

The Goldenfist Arena is a dedicated combat arena located in Hernand where players fight in structured unarmed bouts. The arena hosts the Unarmed Duel: Boxing mini-game, which costs 30 Copper per match.

Before entering the ring, players must unequip all weapons. Using any weapon during the fight results in immediate disqualification. The match is won by the first fighter to deplete the opponent's health bar through punches, jabs, and evasive counterattacks. Dodging is critical: watch for your opponent's wind-up animations and dodge to the side before countering with a quick combo.

Winning the Boxing tournament completes the "Steel Fist" challenge. The Goldenfist Arena is one of the first combat arenas players encounter, and its fights serve as an excellent way to practice the game's unarmed combat mechanics in a controlled environment.

Bonepit Arena

The Bonepit Arena is located in the Crimson Desert region and offers its own set of fighting challenges separate from the Goldenfist Arena. The Bonepit features rougher, more intense bouts that reflect the harsh environment of the desert region.

Opponents at the Bonepit Arena tend to be tougher and more aggressive than those found at the Goldenfist Arena, making it a natural step up in difficulty for players who have already mastered unarmed boxing. The arena has its own set of challenges and rewards, including unique equipment pieces not available anywhere else.

Fight Clubs

Fight clubs are organized unarmed combat events found in various settlements across Pywel. Players enter a ring and fight opponents using only bare-handed attacks, grapples, kicks, and wrestling moves. Weapons and elemental abilities are not allowed. Victory depends on mastery of the combat system's unarmed mechanics, including timing, dodging, and chaining grapple moves.

Fight clubs represent one of the more prominent side activities, with underground fighting rings appearing in multiple settlements throughout the game world. Unlike the formal arena bouts at the Goldenfist and Bonepit, fight clubs have a grittier, less regulated atmosphere. The opponents vary in strength and style, and some fight club locations feature multi-round tournaments with escalating difficulty.

Weapon Duel: Spear

The Weapon Duel: Spear is a formal weapon-based combat event in Hernand Town. It costs 45 Copper per match and emphasizes distance control, reach management, and precise striking with a single spear. Only spear attacks are permitted. Using non-compliant attacks such as shield bashes, kicks, or off-hand strikes results in disqualification.

The match is decided by depleting your opponent's health through spear thrusts, sweeps, and parries. A successful parry opens your opponent up for a lethal stab that deals massive damage. Winning 4 consecutive Spear Duels completes the "Dragon's Fang" challenge and awards the Trophy: Spear Duel.

Mud Fights

Informal brawling contests take place in muddy arenas found in certain settlements. These fights combine humor with the game's unarmed combat mechanics, pitting Kliff against NPCs in sloppy, entertaining matches. Mud fights use the same grappling and striking systems as fight clubs but with a more casual, comedic tone. The mud itself does not affect gameplay mechanically, but the visual spectacle of characters sliding and struggling in the muck makes these some of the most entertaining diversions in Pywel.

Test of Strength Challenges

Test of Strength challenges are combat scenarios scattered across various locations in Pywel. Unlike the structured rules of arena bouts, these challenges drop players into intense combat situations where they face waves of enemies or specific combat scenarios.

Each Test of Strength challenge uses a score-based system that evaluates the player's performance. Factors like time to completion, damage taken, and combo count all contribute to the final score. Higher scores earn better rewards, including silver, rare equipment, and faction reputation. Some Test of Strength locations are hidden off the beaten path and only become visible as players explore the wilderness areas between major settlements.

Ranged Competitions

Shot Contest: Bow

The Shot Contest: Bow is a marksmanship competition located at Lioncrest Manor in the Hernand region. It costs 80 Copper per match. Contestants shoot arrows at targets that appear at random positions across an archery range.

Hold L2 (PlayStation) or LT (Xbox) to draw and aim your bow, then release to shoot. The first player to hit 10 randomly appearing targets wins the match. Accuracy and speed both matter, since your opponent is shooting at the same targets simultaneously. Rewards increase with consecutive victories.

Shot Contest: Gun

The Shot Contest: Gun is a shooting competition in Hernand Town. It costs 1 Silver per match and honors the title of "Silver Trigger." The format is similar to the Shot Contest: Bow but uses firearms instead.

Hold L2 (PlayStation) or LT (Xbox) to draw and aim, then release to fire. The first player to hit 10 targets wins. Gun accuracy tends to be higher than bow accuracy at range, but the targets may appear at different distances to compensate. Consecutive wins increase rewards. Completing the Silver Trigger challenge by winning the contest grants the Insight I skill upgrade.

Horse Racing

Horse racing pits Kliff against NPC riders in mounted races through open fields and settlement courses. Races test horse handling, riding skill, and the player's ability to navigate turns and obstacles at speed.

Horse stats like speed and acceleration affect race performance, giving players who invest in horse taming and bonding a clear advantage. Before a race, players should ensure their mount is well-rested and properly equipped with quality horse tack. Different courses present different challenges: some feature tight turns through forest paths, while others are long straightaways across open plains where raw speed matters most.

Rewards for winning races include silver and sometimes rare equipment or horse tack. Race organizers can be found at settlement stables and at specific open-field race markers. Some races are tied to faction reputation goals, and winning them contributes to Contribution progression in the local region.

Fishing

Fishing is a rod-based mini-game available at rivers, lakes, and coastal areas throughout Pywel. Players must equip a fishing rod and approach a water source where fish are active. Look for ripples or splashing on the water surface to identify good fishing spots.

Once a line is cast, the player waits for a bite. When a fish takes the bait, a catching mini-game begins where the player must manage tension on the line while reeling the fish in. Pulling too hard causes the line to snap, while being too gentle lets the fish escape. Balancing these inputs is the core skill of the fishing mini-game.

Different locations hold different types of fish. Rivers in forested areas tend to yield freshwater species, while coastal spots produce saltwater catches. Rare fish appear less frequently but are worth considerably more when sold to traders. Fish can also be used in cooking recipes for stat buffs and health restoration, making fishing a practical activity for players preparing for difficult encounters.

Treasure Goblin Traders

Treasure Goblin Traders are random NPC encounters that can appear anywhere in the open world. These distinctive NPCs are easy to spot because they carry massive boxes on their backs containing gold bars. They are not hostile and will try to flee when they notice the player approaching.

To claim the treasure, players must scare the Treasure Goblin into dropping its box. Getting too close too quickly causes the goblin to run, so players need to approach carefully or use environmental tools to block its escape route. Once the goblin drops its box, players can steal the gold bar inside. The gold bars have a high silver value when sold, making these encounters one of the most profitable random events in the game.

These encounters are humorous and unpredictable. The Treasure Goblins appear at random locations and times, so players cannot farm them at set intervals. Keeping an eye out for their distinctive silhouette while exploring the open world is the best way to catch one. Some players report that Treasure Goblins appear more frequently on certain trade routes between settlements.

Kuku Iron Pot Puzzles

Kuku Iron Pot Puzzles are environmental puzzles scattered throughout Pywel. These puzzles involve using the Mystical Storage skill to seal objects inside specially crafted iron pots. The pots themselves are produced at the Klinden Workshop and must be acquired before attempting these puzzles.

Each puzzle presents a unique scenario where the player must figure out which objects to seal and in what order. Some puzzles require sealing dangerous creatures, while others involve trapping specific items to trigger environmental changes. Solving these puzzles rewards players with materials, silver, and entries in the Knowledge System. The puzzles range from straightforward single-object sealing to complex multi-step sequences that require careful observation of the surrounding environment.

Rock-Paper-Scissors

Rock-paper-scissors can be played with local ruffians in the back alleys of Hernand's towns. The ruffians challenge Kliff with dialogue like "Let's play rock paper scissors" and "No crying if you lose." The activity is a casual, humorous diversion that fits into the game's broader emphasis on making its world feel interactive and lived-in.

Rock-paper-scissors has a 23 in-game hour cooldown between matches. The rewards are modest, usually small silver payouts, but the activity contributes to the sense that Pywel's towns are populated by people who actually live there rather than simply standing around waiting for the player.

Life Skill Activities

Beyond competitive mini-games, Pywel offers several life skills that function as relaxing side activities. These complement the action-oriented mini-games by providing calmer, more methodical pursuits.

Rewards

Mini-game participation and victories earn a variety of rewards that benefit players across multiple gameplay systems.

Completing all mini-games in a region may unlock special achievements and additional contribution bonuses with the local faction.

Tips and Strategies

• Save your game before entering any mini-game with a currency cost. If you lose, you can reload and retry without losing Silver or Copper.

• For Duo, start conservatively with Check and Call actions while you learn the hand rankings. Aggressive betting early on can drain your Silver quickly.

• Arm Wrestling rewards steady rhythm over raw button-mashing speed. Find a consistent tempo that keeps the gauge in the red zone. Each opponent has a different speed, so adjust your timing between matches.

• In Shot Contests (both Bow and Gun), focus on accuracy over speed. Missing a shot wastes more time than taking an extra moment to aim.

• Unarmed Duel: Boxing matches can be won efficiently by dodging an attack and immediately countering with a two-hit combo. Avoid overcommitting to long combos that leave you vulnerable.

• Weapon Duel: Spear parry timing matches the standard combat parry window. If you have practiced parrying in regular combat encounters, the same timing applies here.

• Consecutive wins in Duo and Shot Contests increase rewards, making streaks much more profitable than single matches.

• Rock-Paper-Scissors has a 23 in-game hour cooldown. Plan your visits to coincide with other business in Hernand Town to avoid wasted trips.

• When fishing, watch for ripples on the water surface to identify spots with higher catch rates. Balance the tension on your line carefully to avoid snapping it on large fish.

• For Treasure Goblin Traders, approach slowly and cut off escape routes before getting too close. If you rush at them, they will run and you may lose the chance entirely.

• Invest in horse taming and bonding before attempting horse races. Higher horse stats give a significant edge in longer courses.

• The Bonepit Arena opponents are noticeably harder than those at the Goldenfist Arena. Practice at the Goldenfist first before moving on to the Bonepit.