Crimson Desert Players Discover The Purr-fect Way To Play

Crimson Desert key art

Crimson Desert keeps finding new ways to surprise players who wander far enough into its sprawling world. Some folks have ditched the main quests and turned the whole experience into a cat-collecting extravaganza, treating the game less like an action RPG and more like a feline friendship simulator. Players roam the countryside, feeding strays, earning trust, and building up a furry following that would make any neighborhood cat lady jealous. Who knew the path to true power in Crimson Desert involved nothing more than cooked bird meat and a whole lot of patience?

Thirty Felines Follow One Brave Soul

One player, going by ButeosDolichovespula, took this concept to an absurd extreme by gathering an army of thirty cats while adventuring through Pywel. Thirty cats wandering around together, following a single person through forests and ruins, sounds like the setup for a ridiculous fantasy novel nobody asked for but everyone secretly wants.

Crimson Desert’s animal taming system requires feeding and petting critters to increase their trust, with the magical number being one hundred points before the option to take them in appears. For cats, reaching that threshold turns into a genuine test of endurance because they are, unsurprisingly, skittish and demanding. How does anyone even manage to befriend thirty of these creatures without losing their mind?

Cooked Bird Meat Unlocks True Power

According to that dedicated player, standard cooked bird meat does the trick, giving a trust boost of twenty points each time, and cats accept it up to three times a day. Sneaking up helps since they scare easily, and dropping the meat while standing still gives them the confidence to approach. Picking them up and feeding them during a petting session also works wonders.

The cat village called Pororin, tucked away in a secret corner of Crimson Desert, houses almost every cat breed available in the game, ranging from sleek and slender to gloriously round and chunky. Did anyone expect a hidden village dedicated entirely to cats when they first started playing? Some players have gone beyond simple collection and started using Crimson Desert to honor real-life pets that have passed away.

One person mentioned a calico that died a few years ago, and now they know exactly which companion to keep by their side throughout the journey. Another player found a fat tuxedo cat that looked just like their late Mr. Kitty, and walking through towns with that cat on their shoulder brought back fond memories. Dog lovers are getting in on the act, too, with one player admitting their in-game dog is an exact replica of their real one, making the entire adventure ten times more enjoyable. Isn’t it something special when a game lets someone carry a little piece of their heart along for the ride?

Meow-n Quest Abandoned For Furry Friends

Digital Deluxe Edition of Crimson Desert
Image of Crimson Desert Digital Deluxe Edition, courtesy of Pearl Abyss

Crimson Desert has turned into an unexpected memorial for some, a place where digital pets stand in for beloved animals no longer around. Developers have done this sort of thing for years, hiding tributes to their own furry friends inside the games they build, but seeing players do it spontaneously feels different.

It speaks to how much freedom the world offers, letting people carve out their own meaning beyond the main story. Of course, the wholesome side of animal interactions has a dark counterpart, as one player discovered you can actually drown certain creatures by holding them underwater long enough. Why does any game even include that as a possibility?

Forget Quests, Collect Cats Instead

For those jumping into this massive open world for the first time, plenty of guides exist to help get started, covering everything from essential skills to early weapons and tips for surviving Pywel. But the real charm of Crimson Desert might just be the unexpected paths players carve for themselves, whether that means assembling a personal cat army, recreating a lost pet, or simply enjoying the quiet company of a virtual companion on long journeys across the map.

Between the chaos of combat and the weight of the main narrative, these small, personal moments end up leaving the deepest impression. A person can spend hours chasing story beats, but sometimes the best part of the game ends up being the chunky tabby riding shotgun through it all.

Author

  • David Gilbert

    David Gilbert is a poet and writer from Dayton Ohio, revealing themes of love and life to uncover the importance of self-discovery and self-recovery. Attending four years at Stivers School for the Arts with a focus on creative writing and receiving his Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree in English, David has learned his craft by understanding the significance of words to provoke fresh emotion and raw honesty.

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