Crimson Moon review: Bring angelic powers, and take the save warning seriously

The big picture

Crimson Moon sends a human-angel hybrid into Gildenarch to confront demons, vampires and undead. The city clearly has problems beyond finding somewhere pleasant for lunch. ProbablyMonsters builds this gothic action RPG around melee combat, supernatural abilities and repeatable missions, with solo play or two-player online cooperation. Its clearest promise is an evening of purposeful, highly theatrical monster removal.

There is a substantial qualification: the developer has acknowledged unresolved save issues. A progression game depends on the work you put into a character remaining there, so this deserves attention before the appealing combat details. Crimson Moon fully launched on September 1, 2026, for Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, without an earlier commercial Early Access release. Being fully released does not make its current repair work irrelevant. Official game overview

Returning home does not mean the run is over

A full run consists of three missions and a world boss. You can return to the sanctuary between missions, but that does not end the run, and the Loadout Station stays unavailable until completion or death ends it. The sanctuary may look like a useful moment to reconsider your equipment, but the rules have decided you are still committed to the choices made earlier. Official run and equipment explanations

That structure gives a session a defined shape. Preparation has consequences across a sequence instead of being freely revised whenever a particular enemy becomes inconvenient. It can make the eventual boss feel like a destination you have worked towards, rather than another room you happened to enter while looking for something else.

It also asks you to accept the commitment. A player who wants to change tools constantly should understand that a visit home is not a full reset of the expedition. The useful question is whether carrying a plan through several encounters sounds satisfying or whether you will mainly resent not being allowed to change your mind.

Purification keeps the possibility, not the rare prize

Purifying equipment permanently unlocks it at Common quality, regardless of the rarity you found. Gajov's upgrades then raise its minimum quality in future runs. That distinction is important before you imagine a particularly impressive discovery moving unchanged into your permanent collection. You have secured access to the item, not preserved every flattering detail of the example you were holding.

The long-term appeal is expanding future possibilities. A find can matter because of the options it opens, while upgrades improve what later runs can supply. This is a sensible basis for experimentation, but only if you understand the exchange. Otherwise, the word “purification” may leave you staring at a Common item and wondering what happened to the interesting bit.

Temporary strength and permanent progress can work together, provided their boundaries are clear. Take time to learn which reward you are actually receiving rather than assuming every upward-looking action means the same sort of improvement.

Two players, one enthusiastic soundtrack

Online co-op supports two players and adjusts the challenge for the pair. Solo play remains available; on PS5, online cooperation requires PlayStation Plus. A defined run gives friends a shared objective without requiring the game to become a permanent second life. Agreeing to three missions and a boss is at least a more concrete proposal than “we'll stop when we're done.”

Original boss music involves HEALTH, Jared Dines, Misha Mansoor and Ricky Armellino. The combination fits the theatrical setup. A confrontation with a world boss seems like an appropriate occasion to let the guitars have an opinion. It is part of the intended mood, rather than evidence that every fight will suit every player's taste.

The repairs remain part of the buying decision

Hotfix 1.0.2 addresses combat, co-op, crashes and saves, but explicitly leaves unresolved save problems. The developer advises avoiding switching devices on the same save and considering a local backup on PC. A larger save-system rework belongs to planned Patch 1.1. As of October 18, the October 2 retrospective still identifies that patch as next, not delivered. Save warning and hotfix details

The Deluxe post-launch expansion also remains in development, with content and timing unfinalised. Treat neither future additions nor future repairs as benefits already received.

Crimson Moon has a clear audience in players attracted to gothic combat, repeatable runs and cooperative character-building. Its current save warning makes waiting a sensible choice even for that audience. Gildenarch already contains enough things threatening your progress. You should not need to recruit your backup folder as the third member of the party.