Crimson Desert vs Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Exploration-driven fantasy versus meticulous historical simulation — which demanding open world suits your patience?
Updated 12d 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.
The quest writing and side characters are why people replay it at 500 hours — it deserves the medieval-RPG crown, if you can live with save limits and slow travel.
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 | Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
|---|---|---|
| Value Kingdom Come: Deliverance II wins on value | ||
| Price now | $59.19 −15% · AllYouPlay | $23.99 −60% · GOG |
| All-time low | $59.19 | $20.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.92/hr $59.19 · 64 h main story | $0.44/hr $23.99 · 55 h main story |
| Off its low | At its low low was Mar 2026 | +14% low was Jul 2026 |
| Main story | 64 h | 55 h |
| Health Kingdom Come: Deliverance II wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 84% 166k reviews | 94% 191k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 78% 2k votes · vs 84% lifetime · souring | 89% 3k votes · vs 94% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 26,599 Jul 2026 · ↓ 44% MoM | 29,234 Jul 2026 · ↑ 22% MoM |
| Launch peak | 10% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 11% of Feb 2025 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 275,859 Mar 2026 | 255,607 Feb 2025 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | yesterday | 6 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 16+ in last 90 days, at minimum | 1 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Crimson Desert
The sprawling combat rig and open world keep 300-hour fans hooked, each region's encounters teaching new angles.
Main story and voice acting stay the sore spots even for veterans who praise the world's scale.
from our August 2026 verdict
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The writing and quest design stay unmatched to 500 hours — side characters and missions are what long-haul fans replay for.
Late-game save freedom and travel pacing still grate on 100-hour veterans, though the story keeps them pushing.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Crimson Desert if
- You value exploration over a compelling story.
- You enjoy puzzle-solving and boss fights.
- You can tolerate repetitive side quests for a vast world.
Pick Kingdom Come: Deliverance II if
- You loved KCD1's realistic combat and systems.
- You want a 100-hour RPG with complex mechanics like alchemy.
- You enjoy a slow-burning narrative with historical authenticity.
Bottom line
Pick Crimson Desert if exploration and boss puzzles outweigh story concerns. Pick KCD2 for rigorous historical simulation and a character-driven tale.