OpenTube

Crimson Desert's story is NOT what you think: Hidden secrets explained [SPOILERS]

loxian42

112,541 views

If you felt the story in Crimson Desert was disjointed or nonsensical, these hidden books are the "missing link" that turn a messy plot into an intriguing meta-narrative. In this video, we will explore the hidden secrets behind Crimson Desert's disjointed and seemingly nonsensical narrative, and I will do my best to explain and interpret them.

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING: This video covers the true ending and end-game lore.

You must first complete the main story quest and all 40 abyss puzzles in order to find the books mentioned in this video.

00:00 - Intro and requirements
00:50 - Umbra and the time leap
03:23 - Kliff as the chosen protagonist
04:18 - White Crow and Hexe Marie
06:56 - Initial atttempts and why everything is so vague
07:38 - Kearush's story
08:11 - The role of Woosa and Maegu
08:56 - Jian and Pailune conspiracy
10:23 - Goyen
12:18 - The Greymanes massacre
13:31 - Damiene's incomplete story
13:54 - Why Kliff is emotionless
15:23 - Caliburn's role
16:35 - Discarded questline
16:52 - Blackstar
17:15 - Kindness explained
18:14 - 107 cycles
19:24 - The player's role and the Buddhism references

Disclaimer: The voice is AI generated.

This is the video version of my own reddit thread on /r/CrimsonDesert
Cutscene videos taken from here: CRIMSON DESERT All Cutscenes (Full Game Mo...

20 Comments

@loxian42 Creator 1 month ago Pinned

After the 2.0 patch, the main quest has been revamped and all of the previously hidden lore secrets are now part of the main quest. This video is mostly a historic relic now, but it's interesting to see how everything was planned out since the start.

@luisferreira5003 4 months ago

And cliff can feel your presence, that is why he looks right at you

@assacrow 5 months ago

man thank you for this video, and I simply cannot believe they left all this information hidden as this pretty much completes the story, and now makes much more sense.

@dawnshaw101 4 months ago

One of the greatest story never told (properly) in video games history

@manganiaco 4 months ago (edited)

It's beautiful.
The player is canon.

@vraku9624 5 months ago (edited)

My new head canon is, everyone who failed to get past the first hours of the game, those that hated doing all the mundane tasks, are the iterations of kliff that failed, the ones that turn to killing everyone (like the exploint in the park, where you kill nobles continuously) to get abyss gears, aka power, are the corrupted Kliff, or better said Goyen, and we, the ones that stuck with the game, and saw the end, are the entry 108 Kliff. Don't come after me, but why tf does it look so plausible 😂😂

@Ideasintheflow 4 months ago

I don't know about any of you guys but this game in a weird way has become therapy. When I initially started the game I just ran off and grabbed loot from behind waterfalls. That was pretty much all I did the first week The second third weeks, I sat there just doing quests. I would do absolutely everything I could within each chapter rather than moving on to the next one. I think one of the biggest things that I've gotten out of this game is the ability to get a chance to have freedom and actually have experiences that I feel like I'm missing in my everyday life.

@archkyle 4 months ago

Something about the guardians finally realising a path of kindness is what they needed just hit me in the feels. It reminded me of Gandalf describing Bilbo to Galadriel. It's the small acts of kindness and courage that matter most.

@louissykes2406 4 months ago

To be fair I like that there’s story that’s not told. Kliff is a pawn in a bigger game

@laneharris940 4 months ago

Damn. Well done. This really makes this game complete and helps immerse myself even more.

@joannothing 2 weeks ago

Just wow! The story is amazing!

@robertdodge07 5 months ago

The game tracks you and creates the story everyone’s will be different

@mrheartwell812 4 months ago

Honestly, What a revelation it was to find this. Thank you! This connects so many dots and fills in gaps. Will definitely make this a better play thru for me going forward.

@TheStimWreck 4 months ago

This context makes so much of the game make so much more sense. I kinda want to play it again with this knowledge, to see how much it enhances the story.

@_alex_y.not_ 9 days ago (edited)

Re: Buddhist themes, a central concept of Buddhism is required suffering. To exist on this plane is to suffer, and there must be a requisite and specific suffering to achieve high goals. If you've seen or read JJK then you'll see those themes there as well as well as more obvious nods to it (the "honoured one", as Gojo refers to himself as during his battle-high awakening, is another term for Buddha) and across many other Asian and Asian-inspired stories. The idea of diefic beings watching you, crafting the exact kind of suffering and experiences that instilled Kliff with the resolve and character to succeed, is a very Buddhist principle, and something that I think is also a common experience for those who reach for something they are currently not.

@tetma18 5 months ago

Great video. Thanks for putting these pieces together. Now I wish they had incorporated this story into the game, though I think it would have been quite difficult with all the various timelines. Perhaps they'll expand on the story in an addon that serves as some sort of prologue to this version of the game.

@AVVGaming1 1 month ago

Dude! This is spot on! I also forgot to mention in my video how there's a house in the town in the south west, the beekeeper town which you can go in and find a bunch of masks. When you leave someone speaks to you about it. This game really hid so much great content and left it for players to discover. Some see it as a bad thing as it's not "on the nose" and in your face. But in my opinion, this will give the game extra legs! It will contribute to it's longevity!

@muldersxfiles 4 months ago

I think the secrets of the story were always meant for someone awesome like you to find and reveal to the player so he doesn’t give up and continues playing Kiff until the main story is complete. So you’re an iteration of the timeline as well!!!!😂😂😂😂