Best Game Since Morrowind? Palworld Exec Names the Project That Truly Impressed Him This Year
Hennadiy Chemеris
John Buckley, Head of Communications and Publishing at Palworld, has shared his thoughts after completing Crimson Desert—a journey that took him 189 hours. He described the game as a unique experience, saying that the sense of wonder and adventure it gave him was rivaled only by the classic The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind.
According to Buckley, not only did he unlock every achievement in the game, but he’s still discovering new content even after hundreds of hours—he still has over 20 hours of additional side quests left to tackle.
I have 100% Crimson Desert. Simply put, Crimson Desert made me feel a sense of wonder and adventure that no other game has. The only thing that comes close for me is Morrowind. A truly breathtaking experience, and one that I enjoyed every second of. Easily...my GOTY
While Crimson Desert may not be the highest-rated game of 2026 among critics, it’s certainly captured the attention of the audience and remains one of the year’s most talked-about and popular new releases. Buckley, as one of its most vocal fans, has essentially given it his top personal honor, calling it his game of the year.
We shared our own thoughts on Crimson Desert in our review, where we broke down its biggest strengths and weaknesses. The game has already sold over 5 million copies.
Do you agree with John Buckley’s opinion? Did Crimson Desert wow you as well, or did it leave you wanting more?
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Crimson Desert sold 5 million copies — another million was reached in just two weeks