This New RPG Could Be One of 2026’s First GOTY Contenders (but One Thing Might Hold It Back)

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2026 looks like an amazing year for games, with many potential award-winners coming out – everything from huge, detailed role-playing games to smaller, innovative indie titles. Despite the recent difficulties and losses the gaming industry has faced, it’s inspiring to see so much incredible work still being made. Many gamers are already excited about the major releases planned for 2026, including one massive RPG that promises to be unlike anything we’ve ever played.

I’m talking about Crimson Desert, a game that looks absolutely stunning and clearly draws inspiration from many beloved titles. It has a real chance of winning Game of the Year awards, both officially at The Game Awards and from gamers themselves. However, one problem could prevent it from dominating the competition and becoming the best RPG of 2026. While some players might not mind it, this core issue could be a dealbreaker for a lot of people.

Crimson Desert’s Onboarding May Be A Little Much For Some

Crimson Desert is a massive game, but we’re only now realizing just how big it truly is. It will take players many hours to fully explore its huge world, and even then, they might not discover everything. This impressive scale is something open-world fans often desire, but it could be a problem since the game doesn’t have a very clear introduction for new players.

It’s great that Pearl Abyss has so much faith in Crimson Desert, but the game’s complicated systems make the first few hours really frustrating and could easily discourage players. Simple tasks take too much effort because of the clunky interface and endless menus. Players will likely get annoyed by the awkward controls, the constant introduction of new features with unclear purposes, and the overly complex way some items work – like the memory-viewing helmet, which is more complicated than it needs to be.

Okay, let’s be real – a lot of this game design feels kinda frustrating and honestly, a bit old-fashioned. There’s just so much going on, and it’s way more complicated than it needs to be, especially in a game this massive. I can totally see people giving up early, calling it weird and moving on to the next big RPG. But here’s the thing – and I know it might sound strange – I actually find the clunky, unintuitive stuff kinda charming. It’s different, for sure, but all those detailed mechanics make you really feel connected to the world. It’s not streamlined, but it makes the experience stick with you.

Crimson Desert’s Bizarre Controls Will Make It A Better Game

I won’t pretend that poorly designed game elements are actually brilliant or intentional, though there can be some merit to that idea. I recognize that confusing or flawed systems can genuinely ruin a good game for many players. It’s disappointing when complicated features, like some in Crimson Desert, might cause people who would otherwise enjoy the game to stop playing.

I think Crimson Desert does something special with its gameplay. It doesn’t just offer a new take on familiar ideas – it actively draws players in and makes their experience more rewarding. Think about the stamina system in Breath of the Wild. It could be frustrating when you couldn’t climb a cliff and had to go around. But that limitation actually encouraged exploration. By taking the longer route, players discovered hidden areas and secrets they would have otherwise missed, adding a lot of depth to the game.

I’m not suggesting that digging through menus or equipping special items is as groundbreaking as the stamina system in Breath of the Wild. However, like that game, Crimson Desert seems to push players beyond simple, familiar actions and asks them to fully focus on what they’re doing. We’re seeing more games that make mechanics complicated to create a more engaging and realistic feel – think about how Sunset Overdrive handles reloading or the detailed combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Crimson Desert’s complexity appears to be a continuation of this trend, at least on paper.

Bold New Approaches To Game Design Should Be Encouraged

I think it’s worth taking a chance and potentially losing some players if it means creating a truly unique game, even if that uniqueness doesn’t fully pay off. I admit Crimson Desert’s design could completely fail and not be the groundbreaking game I hope it is. But given how carefully everything else in the game has been crafted, it’s reasonable to believe there’s a deliberate reason behind its complexity.

I’m really excited about Crimson Desert, and from what I’ve heard, the initial learning curve won’t be too bad. Apparently, it’ll take around six hours to get comfortable with everything, which honestly seems reasonable for a game of this scope. Even though it’s not a traditional RPG, people are predicting the main story will take about 60 hours to finish. So spending six hours to learn the ropes feels pretty standard, especially when you think about how long it took to get into Baldur’s Gate 3 or just to understand what’s going on in the Yakuza games with all their cutscenes!

I’m a big fan of making game mechanics more complex to create a more engaging and rewarding experience – something surprisingly rare in video games. It encourages players to really think about what they’re doing. For a long time, games have relied on simple button presses for complicated actions, and it’s time for a change. While Crimson Desert’s initial learning curve might be steeper because of this approach, I think it will ultimately be more satisfying for dedicated players and hopefully inspire other developers to explore similar ideas.

What are your thoughts on the challenging controls in Crimson Desert? Share your opinion in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-14 21:15