Black Desert Online vs Throne and Liberty
Every attribute in the database, side by side — MMOlist scores Black Desert Online at 72 and Throne and Liberty at 64, but the right pick depends on how you play.
Black Desert Online
2015 · Buy-to-Play · Action
Throne and Liberty
2024 · Free-to-Play · Soft-lock Action
The short version
What they share: open-world PvP and vertical endgame progression.
Compared with Black Desert Online, Throne and Liberty is lighter on crafting and more PvP-focused, with a themepark world instead of a sandpark world, soft-lock action combat instead of action combat and a free-to-play model instead of buy-to-play.
Black Desert Online — strengths: Best action combat in the genre; Deep life-skill economy. Watch out for: Enhancement RNG progression.
Throne and Liberty — strengths: Spectacular 100v100+ sieges run well; Weather/day-night systems matter in PvP. Watch out for: Trait/gear system rewards spending.
| Black Desert Online | Throne and Liberty | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Live | Live |
| Release year | 2015 | 2024 |
| Developer | Pearl Abyss | NCSoft |
| Business model | Buy-to-Play | Free-to-Play |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Combat type | Action | Soft-lock Action |
| World design | Sandpark | Themepark |
| MMOlist score | 72 | 64 |
| Steam rating | 77% | 62% |
| User score | 6.4/10 | 5.9/10 |
| Critic score | 73 | 72 |
| Steam peak CCU | 30K | 336K |
| PvE focus | ||
| PvP focus | ||
| Grindiness | ||
| Solo friendly | ||
| Duo friendly | ||
| Casual friendly | ||
| Typical session | 1–2 hours | 1–2 hours |
| Time to endgame | 300h+ | 40–100h |
| Catch-up friendly | ||
| Chore pressure | ||
| Endgame progression | Vertical | Vertical |
| Alt friendly | ||
| Crafting depth | ||
| Guild importance | ||
| P2W perception | High | High |
| Open-world PvP | Yes | Yes |
| Full-loot PvP | No | No |
| Housing | Instanced | None |
| Steam Deck | Unsupported | Playable |
| Cross-play | Partial / N/A | Yes |
| Cross-progression | No | No |
| Update cadence | Very Active | Very Active |
| Best for | Combat feel purists; Life-skillers; Grind enjoyers; Node war PvPers | Large-scale siege PvP; Guild loyalists; Players who like vertical gear chases |
Pick Black Desert Online if you want…
- Combat feel purists
- Life-skillers
- Grind enjoyers
- Node war PvPers
Pick Throne and Liberty if you want…
- Large-scale siege PvP
- Guild loyalists
- Players who like vertical gear chases
Keep exploring
Still torn? Add a third game, or let the quiz decide from how you actually play.