Crimson Desert’s Open World Is Bigger Than Red Dead 2, Twice the Size of Skyrim

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Crimson Desert is shaping up to be a massive open-world RPG, potentially one of the most ambitious in recent years. The game’s world, Pywel, is confirmed to be significantly larger than many other popular game worlds. According to Pearl Abyss’ PR director, Will Powers, the playable area will be at least twice the size of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and bigger than the map in Red Dead Redemption 2. When it launches on March 19, 2026, players can expect a huge medieval fantasy world to explore with plenty to do.

Crimson Desert is an open-world adventure game developed by Pearl Abyss, a South Korean studio. The game takes place in the war-ravaged fantasy world of Pywel and is built using the studio’s BlackSpace Engine. Players control a mercenary named Kliff, who must survive political struggles, fight monsters, and complete quests to shape his own destiny through exploration and dynamic combat. While initially planned as a backstory to Black Desert Online, Crimson Desert became its own unique single-player game, emphasizing a rich, detailed world and engaging gameplay.

Crimson Desert’s Open World Is Larger Than Red Dead Redemption 2’s and Double Skyrim’s

During an interview with Gaming Interviews, Pearl Abyss PR director Will Powers discussed the massive size of the open world in their upcoming game, Crimson Desert. He explained that simply stating the world’s dimensions wouldn’t fully convey its scale, but confirmed it’s at least twice as large as the playable area in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and bigger overall than the map in Red Dead Redemption 2.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim’s Open World Size

  • Skyrim‘s playable map is widely estimated at about 37 square kilometers, which is approximately 14.3 square miles. This measurement comes from calculations using the game’s cell grid and heightmap data, and is generally accepted by players and map analysts.

Red Dead Redemption 2’s Open World Size

  • Red Dead Redemption 2‘s world is significantly larger than Skyrim‘s. Community and map-analysis results typically estimate it around 70–75 square kilometers (27–29 square miles). This would make RDR2‘s map roughly twice the size of Skyrim‘s.

Players and map experts estimate that the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 might be as much as twice the size of Skyrim. They’ve measured the borders of Red Dead 2 to be around 70-75 kilometers, while Skyrim‘s open world is roughly 37 square kilometers. However, it’s important to remember that these numbers aren’t official; they come from player measurements, not developer statements. Also, if Red Dead Redemption 2‘s map is closer to 70 kilometers across, it wouldn’t actually be double the size of Skyrim.

If the current estimates are correct, Crimson Desert could have a truly massive open world – bigger than both Red Dead Redemption 2 and twice the size of Skyrim. Player analysis suggests the game’s map could be 74 square kilometers or even larger. This would make Crimson Desert significantly more expansive than many highly-regarded open-world RPGs. Games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Elden Ring, while large themselves, would be smaller in terms of total land area. Very few single-player fantasy games, aside from older titles like The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, have attempted a world of this scale.

The key to success for Crimson Desert now lies in how well it’s made, not just how big it is. Large open worlds don’t automatically equal quality; they can feel empty if not carefully designed with engaging pacing, interesting things to find, and a world that encourages exploration. If Pearl Abyss can create the same sense of wonder found in games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring, then Crimson Desert’s expansive world could be a major highlight when it launches on March 19, 2026.

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2026-01-09 23:37