“Action RPG,” Crimson Desert has often been called, despite developer Pearl Abyss refraining from putting the RPG label on it. The definition of “RPG” has become increasingly muddled over the years, as games seemingly only need to have RPG elements now to be considered a new entry in the genre. Of course, claiming the RPG label has led to a lot of confusion about what a game actually is, and for that reason, Crimson Deserts developers have explicitly stated that it does not describe the game as one. During a recent breakdown of the game during episode 457 of the Dropped Frames podcast, PR manager Will Powers said that while there is an “absolute ton of RPG elements… the developers don't want to call this an RPG.”
The reason for that hesitation ultimately boils down to Crimson Deserts skill and leveling system, as well as the connotations commonly associated with the RPG genre. “With the term RPG comes a lot of connotations around a character creator,” Powers said, “specs [like] experience points and leveling system and stuff. Those, as the players expect them, are absent from this game.” Crimson Desert falls more on the action-adventure side of the aisle than action-RPG, and its character growth and skill system are a direct result of that.
Crimson Desert's non-traditional leveling system
As Powers strongly suggested, Crimson Desert does not have any progression systems that one would find in a traditional RPG. There is still character growth in the game, but it is not driven by the XP-based leveling mechanics of the RPG genre. Instead, the character gets in Crimson Desert increases as players explore Pywel's world, find important items, defeat bosses, and take advantage of stat boosts provided by weapons and armor.
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How leveling works in Crimson Desert
- NO TRADITIONAL LEVELS — The game has no XP gains or level bars at all.
- EXPLORATION DRIVEN GROWTH — Character power increases through exploration and discovery rather than grinding enemies.
- ARTIFACT STAT INCREASE — Abyss Artifacts increase core stats like health and stamina, replacing level growth.
- GEAR PROGRESS IS CURRENT — Weapons and armor upgrade core attributes, affecting strength.
- BOSS AND QUEST REWARD — Defeating large enemies and completing large tasks provide meaningful development items.
Unlike traditional RPGs where players gain experience points and level up their character, Crimson Desert avoids the XP/leveling system entirely. There are no defined character levels that automatically increase through battles or missions, so players “level up” in the normal RPG sense. To fill that void, Crimson Desert puts its world at the center and invites players to explore it if they want their character to grow stronger. Ultimately, it makes character development in the game more prominent, with players deciding how they grow, as it depends on what they do and where they go.
That said, just wandering around the world won't get players anywhere. Rather, they must look out for valuable items called Abyss Artifacts, which are directly tied to stat growth in Crimson Desert. These artifacts can be found in the possession of powerful bosses, hidden in discreet areas across Pywel, and even lying in the Abyss itself. After acquiring Abyss Artifacts, players can spend them on stat enhancements such as health and stamina in the game's skill tree. This system effectively replaces the XP and skill point based progression systems of typical RPG games, meaning the primary “grinding” players have to do is explore.
Unlike traditional RPGs where players gain experience points and level up their character, Crimson Desert avoids the XP/leveling system entirely.
Gear also plays an important role in character growth Crimson Desertand players can buy, find and craft equipment to give them a greater advantage in battle. Their equipment can then be upgraded to improve their stats, and materials to do so can be found through mining, hunting, defeating bosses, completing quests and revealing them in various locations throughout Crimson DesertPywel's open world. Gear can also be customized with extra stats and special effects, which encourages experimentation but allows for a more personal approach to progression than even the XP-based character growth of an RPG can offer.
Crimson Desert's skill system explained
Because Crimson Desert avoids using traditional leveling mechanics as a way to progress, its skill system is also affected. In most RPGs, players earn experience, level up, and then use skill points they earn after surviving to unlock new abilities for their character. IN Crimson Desertbut with character growth largely tied to exploration, skills are primarily unlocked as players venture off the beaten path, find Abyss Artifacts, defeat powerful bosses, and even learn these abilities from the world around them.
How skills work in Crimson Desert
- ARTIFACT BASED UNLOCKS — Skills gained by finding Abyss artifacts scattered throughout the world.
- LEARN FROM THE WORLD — Some abilities are earned by watching NPCs use them.
- COMBO FOCUSED SYSTEM — Skills emphasize battle chaining and player choice, not static presets.
- SYNERGY FOR GEAR — Many skills interact with weapon types and enhancements for different playstyles.
Just as Abyss Artifacts can be used to improve a character's core stats i Crimson Desertplayers can also use them to unlock new skills. This makes these items more valuable than almost anything else in the world if players want to make their character a powerhouse to be reckoned with and create paths to more distinct playstyles.
With character growth largely tied to exploration, skills are primarily unlocked as players venture off the beaten path, find Abyss Artifacts, defeat powerful bosses, and even learn these abilities from the world around them.
But skills are not only acquired through Abyss Artifacts, as players can also learn them by observing NPCs on their own that are scattered throughout Pywel. It's currently unclear how players will be notified when a skill can be observed, but given that it's one of the primary ways players can unlock new abilities outside of Abyss Artifacts, Crimson Desert should make it clear whenever possible.
Another way players can acquire new abilities Crimson Desert is by defeating challenging bosses and equipping their gear. When you do, players can potentially learn that boss' signature abilities or gain unique effects and other bonuses, making it all the more worth seeking out these encounters in the end. These three methods of unlocking new skills boost Crimson Deserts emphasis on playstyle freedom, whether players prefer to make their journey more exploratory or combative.
The player's combat skills and playstyle i Crimson Desert will also be affected by what weapon they use – such as sword and shield, spear, greatsword, axes and various ranged weapons.
Eventually, Crimson Desert is certainly not an RPG by definition. Still, importantly, its progression system clearly rejects the genre's most recognizable pillars and replaces them with something more world-driven and discovery-based. There are no experience bars to fill or arbitrary levels to chase, just the tangible rewards of exploring, preparing and mastering. Strength comes from where players go, what they find, and what battles they choose to fight.
- Released
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March 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, drug reference, intense violence, strong language
- Developer
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Pearl Abyss
- Publisher
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Pearl Abyss
