Black Desert

Sandbox MMORPG combining combo combat, life skills, and guild wars

Pearl Abyss · Released May 24, 2017

Action Adventure Massively Multiplayer RPG Strategy

Reviews: Mostly Positive; 74% of 94K
Recent reviews: Mixed; 69% of 310 in 30 days
Playing now: 10K; right now
Steam Deck: Unsupported
Last update: 6 months ago; Mar 6, 2026

What is Black Desert?

This open-world action MMORPG is set in a medieval world built around fast, non-targeted combat. Players explore, fight with command-based combos, join guild sieges, and pursue activities such as trading, fishing, farming, cooking, alchemy, sailing, and horse training.

For you if...

+you enjoy open-ended exploration and varied noncombat professions
+you want detailed character customization
+you like large-scale guild wars and online PvP

Not for you if...

−you dislike long, repetitive gear grinds
−you want cooperative play to drive progression
−you prefer a simple, uncluttered interface

What players say

74% of 94,387 reviews are positive · 69% of 310 in the last 30 days

Players consistently praise the fast, combo-driven combat and graphics. Common complaints focus on repetitive gear progression, a cluttered interface, and payment systems they describe as pay-to-win; veterans also criticize the recent replacement of permanent loyalty points with seasonally expiring rewards.

Screenshots and trailer

Black Desert system requirements

As published by the developer.

Minimum

OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i3 (4th Generation)
Graphics: GeForce GTX 970, Radeon RX 480
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 80 GB available space
Notes: 80GB HDD (SSD recommended)

PC version details

DRM, required accounts, controller support and Steam features.

DRM: XIGNCODE3
Third-party account: Black Desert Online
Controller: Keyboard and mouse
Platforms: Windows
Steam features: Trading cards, In-app purchases

Steam Deck: Unsupported

Not supported on SteamOS

Multiplayer and co-op

Languages

Full audio: English, Japanese, Russian, Traditional Chinese. Text only: French, German, Spanish - Spain, Thai, Turkish, Portuguese - Brazil, Spanish - Latin America.