Crimson Desert is Pearl Abyss's bold pivot away from the MMO formula that defined Black Desert Online, and it arrives with a surprisingly focused vision: three distinct playable characters, a fluid action combat system, and a single-player open world that Pearl Abyss estimates will keep you busy for 50 to 80 hours. Whether you're drawn to Kliff's balanced swordplay, Damiane's ranged agility, or Oongka's raw brutality, there's a playstyle here worth mastering.
The Three Playable Characters in Crimson Desert
Unlike most open-world RPGs, Crimson Desert skips the character creator entirely. You're not building a hero from scratch. Instead, you step into the boots of pre-written protagonists, each with their own personality, backstory, and combat identity. All three are unlocked progressively through the main story.
Crimson Desert Playable Characters and Customization Guide
Kliff: The Greymane Soldier
Kliff is the game's central figure and the character you'll spend the most time with. He's a soldier from the Greymane faction, a group dedicated to protecting the innocent and keeping peace across Pywel, the game's northern continent. When an enemy force scatters the Greymanes from their homeland of Pailune, Kliff's early story becomes about regrouping his people and rebuilding what was lost.
In combat, Kliff plays like a well-rounded fighter. He carries a sword and shield as his primary tools, with a bow slung across his back for ranged options. He's not a specialist but a generalist, which makes him the ideal starting point for learning how Crimson Desert's combat engine actually works.
Damiane: The Agile Duelist
Damiane is the game's ranged-melee hybrid. She wields a pistol and musket for distance engagements, then closes the gap with a rapier and buckler for tight-quarters dueling. Her kit rewards players who enjoy mixing pressure from afar with quick, precise melee punishes. If you like controlling the pace of a fight rather than trading blows head-on, Damiane is your character.
Oongka: The Brutal Powerhouse
Oongka (sometimes written as Unka in early coverage) is the team's heavy hitter. This large Orc male swings a two-handed axe and backs it up with what appears to be a musket or shotgun-style firearm. He's built for players who want to feel every hit land with weight. His armor also exposes more of his body, which makes him the ideal canvas for showing off the game's body tattoo customization.
Character Comparison at a Glance
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All three characters have their own skill trees, letting you push each one toward a more specialized build. You're not locked into a single approach just because the character has a defined weapon set.
Is Crimson Desert Single-Player or Multiplayer?
This is one of the most common questions surrounding the game, especially given Pearl Abyss's MMO heritage with Black Desert Online. The answer is straightforward: Crimson Desert is a purely single-player experience. There is no multiplayer, no co-op, and according to Pearl Abyss's PR lead Will Powers, none is planned post-launch either. When directly asked about multiplayer in a public interview, Powers gave a single-word answer: "No."
The two additional characters (Damiane and Oongka) are AI-controlled companions during the main story, not player-controlled slots for a second or third person. This is a deliberate design choice, positioning Crimson Desert as a narrative-first open-world title rather than a live-service game.
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If you're coming from Black Desert Online expecting shared-world features or player trading, reset those expectations. Crimson Desert is built around a solo journey with a definitive ending.
What Customization Options Are Available?
Since there's no character creator at the start, customization comes later through two dedicated locations inside the Greymane Camp: the Barber Shop tent and the Dyehouse.
Barber Shop Options
The Barber Shop handles facial and hair customization. Here's what you can change:
- Hair: Kliff has at least 6 distinct hairstyle options, with a full color palette including multiple shades
- Beard: Available for Kliff and Oongka (the two male characters), with style and color options
- Eyebrows: All three characters can have eyebrow style and color adjusted
- Face tattoos: Oongka has at least 13 face tattoo options confirmed; the other characters likely share a similar set
- Body tattoos: Visible primarily on Oongka given his armor style, though options exist for all characters
Dyehouse Options
The Dyehouse goes deeper, covering your gear and mounts:
- Armor and weapons: Choose which piece to customize, then adjust color and material finish
- Horse armor: Full color and material customization, section by section
- War Robot armor: Same system as horse armor, letting you retint individual pieces of your mech
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None of the customization options affect combat stats or gameplay mechanics whatsoever. Everything available through the Barber Shop and Dyehouse is purely visual, so don't expect a dye job to make Oongka hit harder.
Crimson Desert Playable Characters and Customization Guide
How Long to Finish Crimson Desert?
According to Pearl Abyss's own investor communications (from a September 2024 IR session at Kiwoom Corp Day), Crimson Desert is expected to offer 50 to 80 hours of gameplay with a definitive ending. This figure may have shifted since that estimate was made, and it's unclear whether it covers a straight story run or a full completionist playthrough.
For context, Black Desert Online's main story alone clocks in around 100 hours before side content, so Crimson Desert is a leaner experience by design. That said, 50 to 80 hours is a substantial commitment for a single-player title, and the open world is reportedly larger than both Skyrim and Red Dead Redemption 2 in terms of map size.
Platforms and Release
Crimson Desert launches on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game crossed two million wishlists ahead of launch, signaling strong demand from players who've been watching Pearl Abyss's development journey closely.
That's the rundown on Crimson Desert's setup. Three solid characters with their own concept and gameplay, no multiplayer hassle, and some fun ways to tweak looks without messing with stats. Kliff's your go-to for starting out balanced, Damiane keeps things quick and shooty, and Oongka's all about that heavy axe swing. Clock in 50-80 hours exploring Pywel, and you're good.
Check out our Crimson Desert Guides for more on builds, tips, and everything else.