It's a never ending grind in BDO. If you don't like running in circles avoid this game at all cost.

The update cycle in this game is dense and lifeless: new barren region > new gear (pointless and unrewarding) > new grind zone (repeat cycle). As what people say, there's really NO ACTUAL CONTENT in this game. Don't get me wrong vertical progression is okay but to make it your content is complete ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. The playerbase wants to do something else too!

This is by far the worse year for this game and the devs are so out of touch from their community. They never listen to our feedbacks and instead implement new systems that are so ♥♥♥♥ and downright unfun. PVP content in this game is mostly dead. Currently, the devs are treating BDO like a mobile game.

I want to start by saying I LOVED this game. My hours aren't insane compared to some, but I did reach a high level of gear, and I've experienced pretty much everything the game has to give. I streamed the game consistently for over a year, and found a community I loved. Also, this review is a ramble.

The devs went through a great era after Pearl Abyss took over NA/EU servers, listening to the community in part, and implementing insane QOL improvements. Also I can't speak for EU, but I believe the staff who interact with the community in NA are lovely people and the state of the game should not reflect them whatsoever.

Yet;

As of recent updates, since the introduction of easier debos imo - that love has been taken away.
The PVP community, once the core of the game, has been left to rot, to the point the top guild in NA retired completely after many many years.
The game is completely catered to PVE players now, with rewards for PVP essentially non existent.
With the absence of PVP outside of 1hr node wars and capped gear AOS, lifeskillers in turn have so much less of a market to cover, essentially making running in circles the only worthwhile endeavour.

If you are looking for a game where you experience long, tedious and uninteresting quests, and repeat the same actions for thousands of hours, only to reach an end game completely diminished of content, this is the game for you.

I'll miss the good days! It was fun til it wasn't. GGs

RIP BDO