Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best gaming gadgets
  • New Games 2026
  • Arc Raiders
  • Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert speedrun champ rolls credits over 50 hours faster than average, but is very modest
Crimson Desert screenshot shows Kliff looking out over a vast landscape.
RPGs Crimson Desert player finds out-of-bounds village that looks like medieval Red Dead Redemption 2
Kliff from Crimson Desert asleep.
Open World Games Crimson Desert "is almost like cheating," former Elder Scrolls Online lead says
Kliff seen in the Crimson Desert official launch trailer.
Open World Games Baldur's Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon is also in Crimson Desert, which he calls "really impressive"
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert to get another update with "special mounts" and a way to recover materials
Macduff running from a monster during the upcoming PS5 game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert combat "became less frequent" as players progressed, so a new patch adds rematches for 69 bosses
Macduff on his horse looking at the landscape of Pywel in Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert's updates weren't pre-planned as Pearl Abyss is "not baking in presumptions around what the players want"
Crimson Desert: Macduff looking out into the distance during the new game, Crimson Desert.
RPGs The ultimate Crimson Desert guide for exploring Pywel
Crimson Desert
RPGs Crimson Desert review: "A game that's far better as a sandbox than as a story"
Crimson Desert screenshot shows Kliff looking out over a vast landscape.
Open World Games Crimson Desert roadmap reveals boss rematches, extra difficulty settings, new pets, and more
Kliff sits at a pond in the middle of a lush green forest in Crimson Desert
Adventure Games 100 hours of Crimson Desert made me realize how perfect Breath of the Wild is
Crimson Desert open world gameplay showing the dragon mount flying above Pywel
Open World Games Crimson Desert players discover space travel, and that space is way more detailed than it needs to be
Kliff resting by a stream in a forest in Crimson Desert
Open World Games Despite Crimson Desert's popularity, almost 80% of Steam players haven't made it halfway through the story yet
Kliff from Crimson Desert asleep.
Open World Games Crimson Desert fan "played 56 hours straight and slept 8" on repeat to earn Platinum trophy, and Pearl Abyss is worried
How long is Crimson Desert
RPGs How long does it take to beat Crimson Desert?
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Open World Games
  3. Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert players average over 20 hours a week in the open-world game, blowing away almost everything else on consoles

News
By Dustin Bailey published 6 April 2026

Players are pouring in the hours, at least in the US

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Crimson Desert
(Image credit: Pearl Abyss)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Crimson Desert is utterly massive in scope, above and beyond even what's typical for open-world games. Some players are pouring in dozens of hours, and they're not outliers. New data suggests that players are averaging over 20 hours a week exploring Crimson Desert.

In the week ending March 28 – the first full week after launch – Crimson Desert players in the US averaged 20 hours of playtime on Xbox and 22 hours on PlayStation, according to Mat Piscatella of market analysis firm Circana. That makes it the number one game on Xbox in terms of average playtime, and number two on PlayStation behind the famously in-depth action-RPG, Path of Exile.

I know some of you will look at 20 hours of gaming in a week and think that's a rookie number, but remember, these are averages. Those 20 hours balance out between the no-lifing obsessives spending triple-digit hours in the game, the folks with life obligations who can only manage short gaming sessions, and everybody in between. With that caveat in mind, the average is extremely impressive.

Latest Videos From
You may like
  • Crimson Desert at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023 Nearly 2 weeks after Crimson Desert's launch, tons of players are still in the first region
  • Crimson Desert Crimson Desert speedrun champ rolls credits over 50 hours faster than average, but is very modest
  • How long is Crimson Desert How long does it take to beat Crimson Desert?

For the week ending Mar 28, Crimson Desert ranked 1st on Xbox in weekly hours per US active user (20 hours per active user) and 2nd on PlayStation (22) behind only Path of Exile. Crimson Desert also moved into the top 20 in US total weekly active users across both console platforms. Great momentum.

— @matpiscatella.bsky.social (@matpiscatella.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-04-06T19:54:09.581Z

"Crimson Desert also moved into the top 20 in US total weekly active users across both console platforms," Piscatella continues. "Great momentum." More specifically, the game is number 14 on PlayStation and 18 on Xbox. Much of the top ten on both platforms is made up of live-service titles, according to another Circana chart.

Crimson Desert's length can top 200 hours if you truly want to do everything, so I'd expect those averages to stay pretty high for the foreseeable future – especially as more and more players pour in and start exploring.

Here are the best open-world games you can play today.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PS5 Xbox Series X PC Gaming Platforms PlayStation Xbox
Dustin Bailey
Dustin Bailey
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

Dustin Bailey joined the GamesRadar team as a Staff Writer in May 2022, and is currently based in Missouri. He's been covering games (with occasional dalliances in the worlds of anime and pro wrestling) since 2015, first as a freelancer, then as a news writer at PCGamesN for nearly five years. His love for games was sparked somewhere between Metal Gear Solid 2 and Knights of the Old Republic, and these days you can usually find him splitting his entertainment time between retro gaming, the latest big action-adventure title, or a long haul in American Truck Simulator.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Crimson Desert at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023
Open World Games Nearly 2 weeks after Crimson Desert's launch, tons of players are still in the first region
 
 
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert speedrun champ rolls credits over 50 hours faster than average, but is very modest
 
 
How long is Crimson Desert
RPGs How long does it take to beat Crimson Desert?
 
 
A woman in witchy garb surrounded by crows and dead trees in Crimson Desert
Open World Games Palworld dev reluctantly goes back to work instead of playing more Crimson Desert
 
 
Kliff draws his sword against the GamesRadar On The Radar hub image orange backdrop
Open World Games On the Radar with Crimson Desert – adventuring through this ambitious and massive open world
 
 
Kliff resting by a stream in a forest in Crimson Desert
Open World Games Despite Crimson Desert's popularity, almost 80% of Steam players haven't made it halfway through the story yet
 
 
Latest in Open World Games
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert update nails fan request as lions, tigers, bears, and more can now be special mounts
 
 
Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
Open World Games Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered used PlayStation's AI animation tool, and Naughty Dog is following suit
 
 
Kliff seen in the Crimson Desert official launch trailer.
Open World Games Crimson Desert studio Pearl Abyss is "an indie publisher with a triple-A quality game," lead says
 
 
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert to get another update with "special mounts" and a way to recover materials
 
 
Bruised Neverness to Everness character wide-eyed
Open World Games Neverness to Everness devs admit using "AI-assisted tools" after deleting slop animation
 
 
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Wuthering Waves crossover
Open World Games Cyberpunk: Edgerunners collab with action RPG Wuthering Waves sees Lucy and Rebecca return
 
 
Latest in News
PS3 Future Owns
Games "Stop submitting AI slop code": PS3 emulator RPCS3 shuts down vibe coders
 
 
Aaron Paul as Caleb Nichols in Westworld season 4
Sci-Fi Shows Fallout season 3 adds Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul in reunion with Westworld producers
 
 
Stardew Valley character Haley, a blonde young woman with long wavy hair and bright blue eyes, against a blurred backdrop of a farm
Xbox Fallout 4 and Stardew Valley lead new Xbox Game Pass "starter edition" tier for Nitro subscribers
 
 
Forza Horizon 6 red cover car
Racing Games Playground Games confirms Forza Horizon 6 leak, threatens "franchise-wide and hardware bans"
 
 
Offroad vehicles race through a shallow stream in The Crew
Games Industry lobbyists ridicule "false premise" that "consumers 'own' digital games"
 
 
Kung Liao and Liu Kang in the Blue Portal
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 star Max Huang wants a Shaolin Monks spin-off after that standout Blue Portal fight
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. PS3 Future Owns
    1
    "Stop submitting AI slop code": PS3 emulator RPCS3 shuts down vibe coders
  2. 2
    Fallout season 3 adds Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul in reunion with Westworld producers
  3. 3
    Fallout 4 and Stardew Valley lead new Xbox Game Pass "starter edition" tier for Nitro subscribers
  4. 4
    Playground Games confirms Forza Horizon 6 leak, threatens "franchise-wide and hardware bans"
  5. 5
    Industry lobbyists ridicule "false premise" that "consumers 'own' digital games"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...