Crimson Desert vs Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Vast combat playground or dense medieval simulation — pick Crimson Desert for spectacle, KCD2 for character.
Updated 27d 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 Sep 21; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 21.
| Measure | Crimson Desert | Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
|---|---|---|
| Value Kingdom Come: Deliverance II wins on value | ||
| Price now | $52.49 −25% · GreenManGaming | $23.79 −60% · PlayerLand |
| All-time low | $50.39 | $20.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.81/hr $52.49 · 64 h main story | $0.43/hr $23.79 · 55 h main story |
| Off its low | +4% low was Aug 2026 | +13% low was Jul 2026 |
| Main story | 64 h | 55 h |
| Health Kingdom Come: Deliverance II wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 84% 174k reviews | 94% 196k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 74% 5k votes · vs 84% lifetime · souring | 91% 2k votes · vs 94% lifetime |
| Peak players | 37,002 Aug 2026 · ↑ 39% MoM | 25,797 Aug 2026 · ↓ 12% MoM |
| Launch peak | 13% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | 10% of Feb 2025 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 275,859 Mar 2026 | 255,607 Feb 2025 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | yesterday | 3 months 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 want a huge world with countless secrets and don't care if the plot is an afterthought.
- You're fine with a 64-hour main story and don't mind some grind near the end.
- You prefer combo-driven action over realistic simulation and fast travel convenience.
Pick Kingdom Come: Deliverance II if
- You loved Kingdom Come 1's early-game roughness and want the polished version.
- You enjoy dialogue-heavy RPGs where reading and talking are half the game.
- You want a medieval simulation with realistic armor, polearms, and no arcadey physics.
Bottom line
Crimson Desert is a 300-hour action playground with 84% positive reviews, but its weak narrative and grind walls make it a niche pick. KCD2's 94% positive reviews and writing depth offer a richer journey — choose it if you value story and can accept slower pacing.