Crimson Desert vs Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Crimson Desert offers accessible open-world adventuring; Shadow of the Erdtree demands Elden Ring veterans endure punishing difficulty for masterclass DLC.
Updated 16d ago
The combat rig and region-by-region exploration carry 300 hours; the main story and voice acting fall short — buy it for the world, skip if you need a plot.
Best-in-class single-player DLC if you finished base Elden Ring — Land of Shadow rivals a full game, and patch 1.14 tamed Consort Radahn's combos.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Crimson Desert | Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree |
|---|---|---|
| Value Too close to call | ||
| Price now | $59.19 −15% · AllYouPlay | $35.17 −12% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $59.19 | $31.49 |
| Cost / hour | $0.92/hr $59.19 · 64 h main story | $1.37/hr $35.17 · 26 h main story |
| Off its low | At its low low was Mar 2026 | +12% vs $31.49 low |
| Main story | 64 h | 26 h |
| Health Crimson Desert wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 84% 166k reviews | 70% 104k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 78% 2k votes · vs 84% lifetime · souring | 58% 186 votes · vs 70% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 26,599 Jul 2026 · ↓ 44% MoM | — Not yet charted |
| Launch peak | 10% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 275,859 Mar 2026 | — |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | yesterday | — |
| Patch cadence | 16+ in last 90 days, at minimum | — |
| Steam Deck | Gold | — |
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Crimson Desert if
- You enjoy open-world exploration with light puzzle-solving.
- You can tolerate filler side quests for a vast world.
- You prefer a less punishing difficulty curve.
Pick Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree if
- You finished Elden Ring and want more of its world.
- You enjoy exploration-based leveling via hidden collectibles.
- You accept steep boss difficulty and cryptic quests.
Bottom line
If you've beaten Elden Ring's base game, choose Shadow of the Erdtree; otherwise, Crimson Desert is the more accessible open-world RPG.