Crimson Moon Review

Early-launch review. Crimson Moon released Sep 1, 2026. This page reflects critic and player reception as of Sep 2, 2026, when only a handful of reviews existed; scores will move as more reviews land.

Crimson Moon Review Summary (Verdict at a Glance)

Worth a look for $19.99 if you want co-op Soulslike-adjacent action with forgiving combat and replayable runs — wait if you need a 100-hour open world or a traditional class system. At launch the reception is Mixed: critics are mildly positive (Metascore 73), while Steam players sit at 56% positive on a small, fast-growing sample. The game's ceiling and its rough edges are both visible day one.

What Is Crimson Moon? (Genre & Feel)

Crimson Moon is a Soulslike × Roguelike × Diablo-flavored action-RPG. Hunts are self-contained 15–45 minute runs through the cursed city of Gildenarch; there are no classes — your build comes from weapons, Boons, and a pickable Angel form. IGN's preview captured the tone as "Marries Diablo and Dark Souls for a Bloody, Breezy Good Time": fast, parry-forward, and lighter on punishment than a pure Soulslike. CGMagazine frames it as "roguelike first," closer to Elden Ring: Nightreign than to Dark Souls.

Critic Scores So Far (Early Access)

As of Sep 2, 2026, Metacritic shows a Metascore of 73 (Mixed/Average) across 5 critic reviews:

This is a small, early sample and will shift as more reviews land. CGMagazine called it "a solid action title that doubles as an infectious co-op adventure," and praised the build experimentation and metal soundtrack.

Steam Player Reception

On Steam (checked Sep 2, 2026): Mixed, 1,293 reviews, 56% positive. That is a typical launch-week sample still accumulating — expect the number to move daily. We'll revisit it as the player base grows.

What We Liked

• Selectable difficulty that also gates loot rarity — a standout system versus genre peers.
• Forgiving, breezy combat: generous parry windows and stamina that allows combos.
• Build experimentation without class lock-in: gear, Weapon Arts, Boons, and Angel forms combine freely.
• Co-op is a real value pillar, not a tacked-on mode.
• Metal soundtrack (guest tracks from HEALTH, Misha Mansoor of Periphery, Jared Dines, and Ricky Armellino of Ice Nine Kills) that reacts to combat.
• $19.99 high-value AA positioning — no P2W, no forced Battle Pass.

What Held It Back

• Camera jank, especially in narrow spaces and boss fights — noted by multiple outlets.
• Control niggles and occasional awkwardness.
• Some PC crashes occurred at launch and were fixed in day-one patches; impact was platform-specific.
• Combat "lacks oomph" for some (GamingTrend) — light, fast, but not weighty.
• Loot/rarity sometimes doesn't map to better stats (IGN preview) — a roguelike-layer weakness.

Is Crimson Moon Worth It? ($19.99 Value)

At $19.99, multiple launch verdicts call it an easy recommendation for the price — launch-day coverage landed on "Buy it." You get a full action-RPG loop, co-op, and a reactive soundtrack for less than a movie ticket and a snack. The honest ceiling: it is not a 100-hour monolith, and its endgame (Eclipsed Hunts, which remixes existing areas) may feel repetitive to some. For a budget-conscious Soulslike-adjacent co-op fix, the value case is strong.

Who Should Buy / Who Should Wait

Buy if you: want co-op Soulslike-style action, enjoy build experimentation and loot grinding, like forgiving-but-skilled combat, or just want a cheap, complete ARPG at launch.

Wait if you: need a sprawling 100-hour open world, want a traditional class tree, can't tolerate camera/control rough edges, or are holding out for a larger review sample and post-launch patches.

Co-Op & Single-Player Verdict

Crimson Moon is fully playable solo — every boss, district, and story beat is reachable alone. Co-op is two-player online only (drop-in/out, no split-screen, no four-player), and it dynamically scales up enemy groups rather than making things easier. If co-op is your priority, it's a genuine selling point; if you're solo-only, nothing is gated behind a partner.