In Kingdom Come 2, two guys, Henry and Hans, arrive at a castle in Bohemia with an urgent message. They are dressed like serfs and treated like such, with two guards dumping a bucket of feces on them over the front door. The two stinking lads retreat to the city to buy some food but are too poor and too smelly to afford it. After taking a bath in a nearby sink and slowly carrying sacks of flour, they are beaten by soldiers and put in chains. This adventure seems to be going well.
This is just Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – An RPG that’s as committed to an authentic medieval experience as Doom is to bloody first-person shooters. This game is almost entirely dedicated to bringing 15th century Europe to life, simply for the player’s amusement and patience. With this balance, developer Warhorse Studios has now built a lonely home for itself in the wider RPG realm. A lonely tower blends old-world charm with new-world conveniences, and it’s frankly tempting.
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For those who played the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance, this will sound familiar, as it’s a direct sequel. But it’s worth noting that some of the improvements here go beyond the typical. Not only does this game look and perform much better than its predecessor, but the animations have been completely overhauled, the combat has been updated, the settlements are more expansive and densely populated, and the crime system is more comprehensive, with enticing rewards and daunting risks. The leap from the first game to this is a remarkable achievement.
Sure, games can become overly complex for the sake of depth (I’m sure you can think of two games that failed miserably at that endeavor), but Kingdom Come 2 manages to hit that sweet spot, just on the edge of going overboard.
This game isn’t an all-encompassing medieval sim, though. There are gaps in what it allows you to do, use, and see. But everything it does do well. Each style of play–whether it’s combat, armor, conversation, getting drunk, or pickpocketing–has layered systems that you can enjoy. Each has its own exclusive tier, offering various benefits and perks for those willing to delve into a particular playstyle. If you want to be a stealthy archer like in Far Cry, you can totally do that. If you want to be a quick-witted drunk, congratulations, buddy, there are benefits to that, too.
This naturally lends a sense of openness to the game that goes beyond just having vast fields and city streets to run around in. It extends to the missions and Henry’s own character. Case in point; during our preview we were tasked with setting up a challenge between a pair of Germans and the town’s local guild of sword masters. To do this you have to steal a sword, but how you do this is more than just sneaky or aggressive. Whether or not you kill the guards inside the sword master’s residence will have an impact on the outcome, as will whether or not you poison the wine during the match after seizing the sword. You can even be struck by lightning yourself, causing you to stumble into the melee, with the blurry camera making combat incredibly difficult.
It offers up a character from Kingdom Come 2 that can be found throughout the game. This game is very different and richer than other games of its time. While the preview is fairly linear, it’s hard to ignore the temptation to go out and fight strangers, break into their homes and steal things, and break into the local tavern for fun. To me, this is the sign of a truly fun RPG. The first game had this trait as well, and it was probably the main reason for its success. But to see it here, expanded and improved upon, is really encouraging.
However, similar to the first game, there are some elements of this game that may not be very popular with players. The exploration process and even the main story of the game are full of humor, but it will inevitably put some people off. At the beginning of the game, you and your comrade Hans Capone are lured away from the camp because he hears women washing clothes nearby, so he comes to Horny Orgy In the secret section, you have to throw rocks to distract the ladies in order to get closer to achieving your goal.
I personally didn’t mind this (in fact, I found the relationship between Henry and Hans really funny), but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re a sensitive person. If you think your constitution might be a little too fragile for this kind of manly banter, play the first game to get a feel for its jokes – you’ll find many of the same jokes here.
Then there is another possible obstacle. Kingdom Come 2 is all about authenticity and realism at its core, and the balance between historical accuracy and fun is the game’s main focus. I feel the development team has done a great job, and this dedication to a realistic depiction of medieval Europe only makes the game richer and more unique. However, it is a double-edged sword; the monotony of authenticity is something players must deal with. It is a sword that cuts at both ends, as it should.
For example, the game has a very detailed weapons and armor system. There’s both light armor and heavy armor. However, wearing heavy armor requires you to wear a protective suit underneath, and only certain weapons work well against certain armor. This adds to the depth I talked about earlier, but it may be a bit too taxing for some people, having to manage several separate sets of weapons and armor to cover all the bases. Also, this isn’t a game where Henry can fend off 15 people at once. He’s not Lu Bu, so a slower — and more realistic — approach has to be taken. You can’t kill groups of guards, you can’t pickpocket without careful planning, and you can’t make potions and elixirs without going through a lengthy alchemy minigame. Just like, uh, real life.
To some of you, this sounds great. It’s exactly what you’ve been looking for. Me too, by the way. I love Warhorse Studios’ commitment to keeping things realistic. However, it’s no secret that this level of detail will become a hindrance to fun, rather than a step toward it. I can easily foresee the act of moving heavy bags of grain from a cart to a storeroom being the antithesis of fun, rather than a part of it. Warhorse can only add so many quality of life improvements without compromising its core values, and if you’re reading this, you probably already know which side you’re on.
But no matter how you feel about it, I think this is something that’s really needed right now. We’re in the middle of a renaissance in RPGs right now, both first-person, third-person, and CRPGs. There’s never been a better time to release an RPG, and I’d venture to say there’s never been a better time to release Kingdom Come 2. If the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring prove anything, it’s that there’s a real desire for RPGs that aren’t super easy to play and that bring some friction.
Kingdom Come 2 offers something completely different than those games, but the same resistance is there. This game offers something that no other major game studio has, and right now people are more open to trying new, interesting experiences than ever before.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance has proven its worth, selling over 6 million copies since its launch, and I have no doubt that this sequel will do even better given the market it’s in. It’s very similar to the first game, but of a higher quality. There are fewer hitches and less unnecessary frustration. The game looks better, plays better, and there’s more to do and more ways to do it. I’ve only played it for a few hours and can’t see a home run, but I can see pitches going straight to the bat with power, the swing looks good, and from where I’m sitting it’s almost certain that the ball will crack.
What makes me most happy is that Kingdom Come 2 exists. I’m glad the studio didn’t sacrifice authenticity to cater to a wider audience, and I’m glad they put more staff, money, and time into making this sequel. I wanted to play more after the preview, I wanted more when I got home, and I haven’t stopped wanting to play more since then. This is definitely a game worth keeping an eye on.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will be released on Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC on February 11, 2025This preview is based on a demo of the game conducted in the Czech Republic, with transportation and accommodation provided by the publisher.
