When Black Desert was released in the West in March 2016, the MMORPG shone with its powerful combat system and great graphics. However, more than eight years have passed since then. How does Black Desert fare in 2024, is it worth joining or returning?
What do I basically need to know about Black Desert? BDO (short for Black Desert Online) is an MMORPG from South Korean developer Pearl Abyss, released for PC in Europe on March 3, 2016. The launch on Steam followed on May 24, 2017. There is also now a mobile branch of the online role-playing game.
At first glance, Black Desert seems like a typical theme park MMORPG with its numerous quests, but it actually has more sandbox roots, with a focus on grinding, crafting, housing, animal husbandry, trading, as well as post and conquest wars between guilds.
However, the higher the level, the tougher the grind felt. In addition, the random factor was frustrating when upgrading equipment, breeding horses and pets, and producing alchemy stones. And then there was the cheeky pearl shop, the gender lock typical of Asian MMORPGs and the unfinished interface.
Despite these startup problems, Black Desert continues to entice our MMORPG enthusiasts back to the servers to see what has happened. Below he tells you how Black Desert will perform in 2024.
The experience for newcomers in 2024
Black Desert may be a few years old, but the MMORPG provides you with one of the most powerful character builders of all (online) role-playing games at the start of your adventure. You can recreate yourself or a celebrity, or create a fictional alter ego with just a few clicks or a lot of love.
Not only are the numerous setting options somewhat overwhelming, but also the 27 classes that you can currently choose between. In addition to typical careers such as warrior, shooter or ranger, you will also find crazy playing styles such as the corsair, who can transform into a mermaid and summon whales.
Unfortunately, you have to live with the fact that the specializations are firmly tied to given races and genders. Some of the classes are at least the female or male counterpart to another. For example, you can create a magician or a magician.
Which starting zone should it be?
Once you have created your hero, you are faced with the next choice: which starting zone should it be? There are three options. “Land of Morning Light” and “Mountain of Eternal Winter” are aimed at veterans; the “Ancient Stone Chamber” is the best place to start.
Additionally, create your character on a seasonal server for newcomers to receive particularly fast progress and additional rewards via a season pass. If you follow the main quest line with these supports, you should reach a level between 50 and 60 relatively quickly.
From level 56 onwards, an important milestone awaits you: the quest series for awakening and rebirth, through which your class receives further development. After completing these tasks you should have reached around level 60 and thus the endgame.
Free Tier 9 mount at launch
For some time now, Black Desert has been providing old and new players with a fantastic Tier 9 mount that allows you to travel through the world particularly quickly and offers special advantages. Pegasus, for example, can fly. After logging in for the first time, you will find the mount in your gifts tab under rewards.
There is also now a fast travel system that takes you from the fountain in one city to the fountain in another city in the game world – with your currently active mount. Traveling in Black Desert has never been so comfortable and time-saving.
Black Desert has been moving and exciting players for many years – this trailer proves that:
That’s why it’s worth playing Black Desert
But why should you even give Black Desert a chance? I’ll give you a few reasons:
We continue on the next page with Black Desert’s biggest weaknesses, the Pay2Win question and my conclusion.