This remarkable game could make things difficult for GTA 6 in 2025

GTA 6 is probably going to sell extremely well. But is it also going to be the best game of 2025? According to this game, no.

Without a doubt, Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most anticipated games of recent years. And this year, GTA 6 should finally be released. In fact, Rockstar Games can already count on sky-high sales figures.

Still, the long-awaited sequel to Grand Theft Auto 5 could struggle. That’s all because of this game: Crimson Desert.

GTA 6 has practically conquered 2025 already

Rarely do games get as much hype as GTA 6. Since the previous installment is already more than a decade old, fans are already craving a new one. In the meantime, though, Red Dead Redemption 2, also from Rockstar, was released, which only further fuels the desire for a rock-solid open-world.

(image: Rockstar Games)

Because that’s how the GTA series can be characterized: as a rock-solid open-world game where you can do whatever you want. Combine that with cool vehicles, fierce weapons and a whole lot of action and you have deciphered the formula for success.

Many games have made an attempt, with all sorts of themes and variations, but none have come close to GTA. Even the vaunted Red Dead Redemption 2, that is. Hence, GTA 6 is being looked up to before the game has even been released at all.

Crimson Desert is tough competition for GTA

That GTA 6 will sell well is beyond question, but will it also become Game of the Year? That could be tough yet again because of Crimson Desert. As it stands, this game has taken the success formula of GTA and created its own variation on it. So what makes this one better than previous open-world games?

First, the game is extremely ambitious. So much so that when it was announced people thought it was fake. It would feature one of the largest playable worlds ever. Combined with the fantasy setting, it quickly looks like a magical adversary to Grand Theft Auto 6.

Now that’s a big world (image: Pearl Abyss)

The game looks like a combination of games like The Witcher 3, Assassin’s Creed, Skyrim, Dark Souls and more. Solid sources of inspiration, in other words. Fortunately, the game remains original. Once this approach proves successful, Crimson Desert will be worthy competition for GTA.

Bigger, more magical yet similar

This magical game tells the story of a gigantic kingdom torn apart by all sorts of conflicts. The main character Pywel tries to hold his own in this enchanted world. He is a mercenary and soon becomes involved in the world’s many violent conflicts.

So the game gets very big and is packed with magic. Still, it offers a similar experience to GTA. You have a lot of freedom and travel through the world in different ways, from horses to dragons. In doing so, there are missions to do, but that is completely up to you.

So if you are looking for the same freedom as in GTA, you might just be enchanted by Crimson Desert. Especially if you have a soft spot for the fantasy world similar to Game of Thrones or The Witcher, for example. The game should be released sometime towards the end of the year on the current generation of consoles and PC.