Crimson Desert’s 77 Metascore Sparks Debate Over Its Game of the Year Potential

Crimson Desert currently holds a 77 Metascore on Metacritic, placing Pearl Abyss’ open-world action RPG in the “Generally Favorable” category. The score is based on more than 100 critic reviews, while its user score is considerably higher at 8.8, highlighting a noticeable gap between professional reviews and player reception.

That difference has renewed discussion around whether Crimson Desert deserves a stronger position in the 2026 Game of the Year conversation. A recent post from X user GermanStrands directly challenged the perception created by the critic score, writing,

“Crimson Desert has a Metascore of 77 and is one of the best games this year imo.”

The post reportedly attracted thousands of likes, suggesting that a portion of the player base believes the game’s strengths are being overlooked.

Why Crimson Desert’s 77 Score Is Being Questioned

Crimson Desert is an unusually ambitious game, combining a large open world with extensive exploration, action-focused combat, progression systems and numerous activities across the continent of Pywel. Pearl Abyss describes its combat as a system where players can develop different approaches using weapons, skills and equipment, with battles often decided by timing and positioning.

Critics have nevertheless pointed to issues including clunky controls, interface problems and an overwhelming number of interconnected mechanics. Metacritic’s review collection demonstrates just how divided the critical response has been, with individual scores ranging from highly positive reviews to much harsher assessments.

The contrast becomes particularly interesting when looking at player reactions. Metacritic’s user reviews include players arguing that the 77 score fails to capture what makes Crimson Desert special, especially its willingness to let players explore Pywel without constantly following the main quest.

The combat is another major part of the debate. Rather than functioning like a straightforward action RPG, Crimson Desert gives Kliff access to different weapons, unarmed attacks, grapples and elemental abilities, allowing players to build their own fighting style. In a preview of the combat system, Inven Global highlighted the game’s emphasis on player choice, noting that there is no single “correct answer” for approaching battles.

Can Crimson Desert Still Become a GOTY Contender?

The 77 Metascore makes a major awards breakthrough more difficult, but it does not prevent Crimson Desert from remaining part of the wider Game of the Year conversation. The game’s continued development also gives Pearl Abyss an opportunity to address some of the concerns raised at launch.

That support has continued throughout 2026. Pearl Abyss has released multiple patches, including the September 11 Version 2.02.00 update, while also preparing the Charting the Unknown DLC for October 15.

Ultimately, Crimson Desert’s GOTY case may depend less on its aggregate score and more on how strongly players continue to recommend it. A 77 suggests a flawed but worthwhile experience, while the game’s higher user reception shows why many players believe its ambition, combat and open-world freedom deserve more recognition.