Last year, I finally dove into the world of MMORPGs—a genre I’d always found a bit intimidating. These games are filled with expansive lore, evolving characters, endless content, and entrenched player cultures, which can make jumping in seem like more trouble than it’s worth. That’s why when a game like Final Fantasy 14 offers an extensive free trial to ease newcomers into its world, it’s hard to resist. With that same spirit in mind, if you’re looking forward to the launch of the action-adventure game Crimson Desert, you might want to give its MMO sibling, Black Desert Online, a try. Best of all, it’s available free for a limited period.
With Crimson Desert not arriving just yet, now is an ideal moment to explore the vast world of Pearl Abyss’ Black Desert Online. Unlike the familiar visuals of games like WoW and FF14, BDO boasts a refreshing and unique aesthetic. Its combat system stands out with a more action-packed style, delivering fluidity and dynamic movement in every encounter.
Excitingly, you can engage in these combat mechanics within the robust 600-player PvP mode in Black Desert Online. Recently introduced in the War of the Roses update, it pits two teams of 300 against each other in epic castle battles, utilizing siege engines alongside close-combat tactics. However, this feature is geared towards seasoned players, so newbies may need to build up their skills first.
If you’re as fond of the various job options in FF14 as I am, then exploring BDO should be on your radar. Earlier this year, Black Desert Online welcomed the Dosa class—a character wielding a sword and pipe to conjure phantoms in the heat of battle. Plus, the game just added the Deadeye, a class inspired by the Wild West, which lets you test its swift movements with revolvers and a shotgun, allowing you to dart around enemies for quick strikes.
Another notable point about Black Desert Online is that it doesn’t require a subscription to continue playing. Normally priced at $10/£9—unless you choose to sample the free trial first—purchasing the game is all you need to maintain access. Although further subscription options exist, like the Value Pack that enhances inventory space, provides experience boosts, and more, they remain entirely optional. If you find yourself engrossed in BDO as much as I absorbed the world of Final Fantasy 14, investing in the Value Pack might be worthwhile, but it isn’t mandatory.
Pearl Abyss has generously decided to offer Black Desert Online for free on Steam until Monday, January 6, 2025. You can snag your copy here.
Don’t forget to read our writer Ken’s impressions of Pearl Abyss’ upcoming action-adventure, shared during his Crimson Desert preview at Gamescom. It’s worth checking out before the game’s official release.
For newcomers diving into BDO, make sure you look for all available Black Desert Online codes and take advantage of our extensive beginner’s guide.
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