If you want better crash stability
Choose The Rogue Prince of Persia. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for crash stability, with a 4.0 overall score.
Crimson Moon Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for a low-cost co-op Soulslike/roguelite with strong build experimentation, striking visuals, and short runs. Skip it if camera jank, technical roughness, repetition, or thin storytelling will outweigh the $20 value.
Best for
Players who want a compact Soulslike/roguelite with build experimentation, short sessions, and two-player co-op will get the most from it, especially if they value strong art direction over perfect polish.
Not for
Players who want a highly polished camera, deep narrative, broad weapon and enemy variety, or consistently fresh replay runs may find the repetition and technical roughness hard to overlook.
Verdict
Crimson Moon has a strong foundation: responsive Soulslike-inspired combat, rewarding meta-progression, flexible elemental builds, memorable Gothic art direction, and two-player co-op that often makes repeated runs more enjoyable. Its $20 price is a major advantage, and several sources found the core loop addictive enough to keep returning. The tradeoff is a launch state that feels under-polished. The lock-on camera is the most consistent complaint, while bugs, uneven PC performance, restrictive UI and inventory choices, limited weapon and enemy variety, and sparse storytelling can erode the appeal over time. Players who value compact sessions and buildcraft may find plenty to like, but those seeking a polished, deep, highly replayable Soulslike may hit its limits quickly.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
68 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.019 (28%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.412 (18%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.410 (15%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.413 (19%)
-
Very negative below 1.514 (21%)
Pros highlights
-
The $20 price is one of the strongest points of agreement. Even many critical players feel the compact campaign, co-op, combat, and build systems make the package easier to justify at that price.
-
Combat lands well for many players thanks to responsive attacks, weighty hits, parries, dodges, finishers, and build-driven skills. Others find it shallow or inconsistent, especially when camera and hitbox problems interfere.
-
Despite its rough edges, the game is frequently described as fun, especially when experimenting with builds or playing with a friend. Enjoyment tends to decline for players more sensitive to repetition and jank.
-
Permanent gear, levels, upgrades, and run-based boons usually make attempts feel worthwhile even after failure. The system is approachable and often satisfying, though later grind and reset behavior can weaken it.
-
Two-player co-op is widely viewed as one of the game’s best fits, adding energy, shared decision-making, and more fun to repeated runs. Technical issues can still get in the way.
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The Gothic, religious-fantasy art direction is one of the clearest strengths, with ornate cathedrals, striking armor, and a strong visual identity that often looks above its budget.
Cons highlights
-
The camera is the most consistent complaint. Lock-on can swing, collide with geometry, or lose important targets, making difficult fights frustrating for the wrong reasons.
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Builds can change meaningfully through boons, gear effects, and elemental setups, but limited weapon classes, repeated enemies, and familiar spaces keep variety from matching the strongest roguelites.
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Difficulty is inconsistent: multiple lives and angel form can make bosses too easy, while tight parry windows, aggressive elites, and awkward hit reactions can make other fights feel unfair.
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Basic attack and movement inputs often feel responsive, but control customization was rough at launch and some layouts or PC bindings were frustrating until patches arrived.
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Lack of polish is the dominant weakness after the camera. Technical bugs, rough UI, inconsistent combat behavior, and launch-state jank repeatedly make the game feel less finished than its core deserves.
-
Loot is a strong motivator when new gear changes builds or creates elemental synergies, but shared drops, storage restrictions, and lost boons can make the system feel more cumbersome than it should.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Video Games, this product is above average in pacing, monetization fairness, cross-play support, near average in combat system, fun factor, below average in pause functionality, frame rate stability, character development.
Comparison summary
68 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher22 (32%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts11 (16%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower35 (51%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| pause functionality | 1.0 | 3.8 | -2.8 |
| frame rate stability | 1.0 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
| character development | 1.0 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
| side character depth | 1.0 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
| endgame content | 1.0 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
| onboarding experience | 1.0 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
| weapon balance | 1.0 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
| accessibility options | 1.5 | 3.8 | -2.3 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better endgame content
Choose SPRAWL zero. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for endgame content, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better controls responsiveness
Choose The First Berserker: Khazan. It scores 5.0 vs 3.2 for controls responsiveness, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better pause functionality
Choose Valheim. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for pause functionality, with a 4.5 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: blocking and parrying Crimson Moon's blocking and parrying are judged less effective than Ghost Of Yōtei's.
Ghost Of Tsushima
- Better: blocking and parrying Crimson Moon's blocking and parrying are judged less effective than Ghost Of Tsushima's.
FAQ
Is Crimson Moon fun to play solo?
Yes for many players: the combat, loot, and progression can be enjoyable solo, though several sources say co-op makes repeated runs more lively.
Is co-op one of the main strengths?
Yes. Two-player co-op is frequently praised for teamwork and shared build decisions, although connectivity and progression issues can interfere.
How is the combat?
Opinions are mixed. Many sources like the responsive, weighty Soulslike foundation, while others criticize shallow build expression, inconsistent hit behavior, or weak impact.
What are the biggest technical problems?
The camera is the clearest recurring problem, with lock-on frequently losing targets or colliding with geometry. PC performance, crashes, bugs, UI friction, and launch input options also draw criticism.
Is it worth $20?
Most sources view the $20 price favorably, even when they are critical of the polish. The compact campaign, co-op, loot, and visuals make the low price easier to justify.
Does it have strong replay value?
That depends on how much you enjoy buildcraft and repeated runs. Meta-progression can be addictive, but static environments, limited enemies, and repeated objectives reduce replay appeal for some players.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Prod
- Review score
- 3.7
YouTube - Scyushi
- Review score
- 1.3
Article Reviews
gamespew.com
Review: If you happen to like Soulslikes, Roguelikes and loot-filled action RPGs, Crimson Moon is the game for you.
- Review score
- 3.6
pcgamesn.com
Crimson Moon game director David Lesperance discusses launch feedback, post-launch plans, and making time for Soulslike action.
- Review score
- 4.3
sidequesting.com
Crimson Moon knows exactly what kind of game it is, and it nails the execution -- especially if that execution is of a demon god.
- Review score
- 3.7
paulsemel.com
Crimson Moon" Review A critique of this Gothic / epic fantasy third-person roguelike hack & slash action game.
- Review score
- 2.1
game8.co
2026.09.04 Crimson Moon is a roguelike with co-op features running a soulslike combat system. Read on to learn what it did well, where it...
- Review score
- 2.4
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