Red Dead vs Crimson Desert: Gamers declare open-world winner after unique discovery

Almost eight years on and yet another subtle detail has been spotted within Red Dead Redemption 2 by players.

We’ll never know whether all of the game’s secrets have indeed been found; it goes without saying that something ‘new’ to 99% of the playerbase could’ve been spotted by one single player eight years ago.

This latest discovery, though, has impressed a number of fans. In fact, it’s started a debate as to whether Red Dead Redemption 2 or Crimson Desert boasts the better open-world.

The detail was spotted by Reddit user CamdenvinTV who used the photo mode to show that a horse’s tears will freeze if players are in a cold enough location. It’s a classic example of Rockstar Games’ attention to detail.

“I bet a lot of you have already noticed, but after eight years, this is the first time I'm seeing it,” they wrote. “Anyways, since I played Crimson Desert on my PS5, RDR2 just doesn't look as good anymore."

The OP was largely alone in that latter thought, with many replying to indicate that it’s very much still Red Dead Redemption 2 that they hold dear.

“This is the first time I've seen this! Saying that this game is something else is reductive,” replied This-Amount-118.

“Wow the game came out like eight years ago and there’s always something new to discover,” agreed Right_Muscle_3425.

On the topic of Crimson Desert, Avaricious_Wallaby said, “Crimson Desert might look nicer but the world feels mostly hollow, real pretty tho, but still. And it does not have as much attention to detail as RDR2.”

“NGL I tried playing Crimson Desert and it just made me want to play RDR2. Crimson Desert might have a slight edge graphically but the voice acting, physics, and overall story in RDR2 hit way harder for me,” added HextechAlternator, while Radang Pattaya countered with, “I get loving RDR2, it's a great game, but by almost all metrics (NOT the story which I agree is shallow and relatively inconsequential), CD is more expansive.”

The truth is that there doesn’t need to be a winner. After all, how do you compare a game launched in 2018 using previous-gen technology to a game launched in 2026 using current-gen technology?

Crimson Desert and Red Dead Redemption 2 do share many similarities, especially in the sense that they offer two of the most detailed open-worlds in gaming.

Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts arguably the stronger and more moving story and its open-world activities tie in more relevantly to the main narrative.

Crimson Desert offers more in the way of jaw-dropping surprises but then it can feel a little random and chaotic at times.

At the end of the day, they’re different beasts that are both well-worth playing.

READ MORE: 5 gameplay quirks that set RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker apart from The Witcher 3

Crimson Desert could soon be introducing a multiplayer mode to rival Red Dead Online

Crimson Desert is likely going to be a mainstay in the AAA space for quite some time. A paid DLC is already in development, although very little is known about what it’ll feature.

It’s also recently been teased that a multiplayer mode could eventually be incorporated into the Pearl Abyss hit.

“While it is not the stage to discuss a confirmed release plan, we are continuously reviewing ways to allow users to enjoy the Crimson Desert IP for longer, and I believe there is room for a multiplayer mode in that process,” Pearl Abyss CEO Huh Jin-young said.

Given that Pearl Abyss previously delivered the MMO Black Desert, this shouldn’t be a huge challenge for the studio; in fact, Crimson Desert was originally planned as a multiplayer title.

As for Red Dead, its future remains uncertain with no evidence of a Red Dead 3 yet having surfaced.