Developer Pearl Abyss has a reason to be happy. That's open-world action-adventure Crimson Desert took home the award for PC Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2026.
The Golden Joystick Awards, also known as the People's Gaming Awards, is an annual video game awards ceremony that was launched in 1983. It has since become the longest-running and one of the biggest public-voted video game award shows.
Check out the complete list of winners here.
The Enhanced Version
Crimson Desert Enhanced features new cutscenes and story moments. There's also the expanded voice-over and language support. The adventure is loved by millions and since the original launch, has been refined with a wealth of updates. These include new content, mounts, pets, customization options, and various quality-of-life improvements, to name a few.
The game is set on the continent of Pywel where the rival factions of Pailune had managed to maintain a rather tense balance. At Kliff's side stood his steadfast Greymane comrades. However, a devastating ambush in the deep of night by their sworn enemies the Black Bears leaves members of the Greymanes dead or scattered across the continent. Kliff has lost his family in all but name and now is determined to reunite with the survivors and rebuild the faction. However, on a journey where alliances are forged, dangers abound, and mysterious factions are uncovered, Kliff now has to meet those who seek to upend the very order of the continent and face a mission unlike any he has ever known.
Welcome to Pywel
Pywel is a region where there are stretches of natural beauty and wilderness. These include the green plains and all the way to the woods to arid deserts and rugged mountains. There are also the bustling cities and quiet hamlets inhabited by residents from all walks of life.
Between destinations, players get to experience landmarks, ancient ruins, hidden treasures, and other points of interest that's sure to draw their curiosity to wander. The journey also inevitably takes players skyward to the mysterious realm known as the Abyss, where a mystical imbalance endangering the world must be restored.
While the story of Crimson Desert does focus on Kliff, players are introduced to new playable characters as the story moves forward. They'll get to experience Oongka and Damiane joining and becoming part of the journey. As the two new characters become available, players get to freely explore Pywel and take on quests that's outside the main story with them. Each character comes with their own combat style along with unique skills and weapons. This lets players experience the world and its battles in different ways.
Get Crimson Desert Enhanced on Steam now.