A majestic medieval RPG that blends historical authenticity with gripping storytelling
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 arrives like a valiant knight, presenting players with a richly detailed medieval tapestry woven with compelling storytelling, refined combat mechanics, and cinematic ambition. This sequel builds impressively upon its predecessor’s foundation, echoing the evolution seen in other celebrated RPG franchises. While technical imperfections occasionally surface and the balance between linear narrative and open-world freedom sometimes creates tension, its ability to captivate throughout a 100+ hour journey remains undeniable.
A Tale of Nobility and Bloodshed Continues
The narrative resumes almost immediately after the original game’s conclusion, yet remains accessible to newcomers. Henry, the blacksmith’s son turned warrior, finds himself entangled in dynastic conflicts and brutal warfare. Surrounded by a vibrant cast—including a boisterous noble and authentic historical figures—the story unfolds with remarkable clarity and depth. The plot progresses smoothly, with flashbacks and references to previous events naturally integrated to keep players informed.
Honouring Its Legacy
The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance earned acclaim for its grounded realism, engaging combat, and unique narrative approach. Despite occasional bugs and sometimes unclear quest markers, it delivered a memorable RPG experience. This sequel maintains that vision whilst offering noticeable refinements. The first-person melee system has been enhanced, and the world feels more responsive and alive than before.
Kuttenberg – A Medieval Masterpiece
Among all locations, none impresses more than the city of Kuttenberg. Many consider it one of the most remarkable medieval cities in RPG history, with its layout meticulously recreating the actual Czech town down to its street arrangement. Exploring this urban marvel proves delightful, whether engaging in minor city dramas like sword school rivalries or unravelling a complex murder mystery. Though some characters share facial models and voice actors—even important NPCs—Kuttenberg’s vibrant energy makes these minor issues easy to overlook. After adventuring for over 40 hours, arriving at this grand capital naturally inspires the desire to purchase extravagant gear and premium armour.
A Quest Log Brimming with Quality
One of the sequel’s greatest strengths lies in its quest variety and quality. With nearly 100 available missions, few feel like mere filler content. Henry rarely faces simple bandit elimination or item delivery tasks—each quest offers emotional depth, moral dilemmas, or narrative twists. Some quests show more promise in concept than execution, such as an eerie underground mission that shifts toward horror but concludes before truly capitalising on its frightening potential. Nevertheless, the writing, pacing, and scenarios maintain sufficient momentum that questing never becomes tedious.
Two Vast Regions, One Immersive World
Spanning two open-world areas, the game meticulously recreates 15th-century Bohemia. While forests, hills, and meadows dominate the landscape, this uniformity accurately reflects the historical terrain. The contrast between rural settlements and untamed wilderness maintains visual interest, though it seems strange that most churches remain inaccessible—particularly considering their central importance to medieval life.
A Main Quest Worthy of Cinema
While side quests resemble self-contained television episodes, the main campaign unfolds like an epic war drama. Players will experience moments of genuine triumph and scenes carrying profound emotional weight. Henry’s primary antagonist develops into a compelling presence, forcing reflection on past decisions and actions in what becomes one of the most memorable final confrontations in recent RPG history. The narrative maintains maturity and thoughtfulness, exploring questions of morality and identity without resorting to melodrama or excessive darkness.
When Linear Storytelling Meets Open-World Freedom
However, the game occasionally struggles to balance its scripted narrative with open-world freedom. One notable example involves the Hungarian Camp—established by the series’ longstanding villain, King Sigismund. After building strength, training with master swordsmen, and forging superior weapons, Henry returned to this stronghold and defeated the entire enemy force in a thrilling display of skill. Yet later, the story required a stealth infiltration of this same camp. Despite Henry’s earlier victory, the game forced a sneaking approach as though nothing had happened. This inconsistency broke immersion and resulted in a significant reputation penalty, as local peasants inexplicably turned against Henry despite his actions against an invading force.
Refined Combat and Crafting Systems
Fortunately, such issues rarely occur. The improved combat system remains a highlight, with enhancements to responsiveness and variety. While higher-level balance shifts somewhat favour character statistics over player skill, the experience remains satisfying. Archery particularly benefits from mechanical improvements.
Crafting systems have evolved positively as well. Though the blacksmithing minigame occasionally feels awkward, creating a sword and subsequently wielding it in battle delivers genuine satisfaction. Alchemy has been streamlined, and the revised perk system offers truly meaningful choices. Gone are the awkward trade-offs from the original—players now make substantial upgrades with each level rather than side-grades that effectively cancel each other.
Technical Performance and Minor Glitches
From a technical perspective, the game runs surprisingly well, even at high settings and 4K resolution. This proves particularly impressive considering the original game’s ongoing optimisation challenges. Most encountered bugs provide amusement rather than frustration, serving as light-hearted reminders of the game’s ambitious scale rather than barriers to enjoyment.
Verdict
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 confidently advances the legacy of reactive, first-person RPGs. With its deeply engaging narrative, memorable characters, and refined combat, it delivers an experience both ambitious and emotionally resonant. Though occasionally struggling to balance open-world freedom with linear storytelling, it consistently immerses players in its richly textured world. Whether exploring Kuttenberg, navigating royal intrigues, or confronting moral dilemmas, players embark on an unforgettable journey—one that establishes a new standard for historically grounded RPGs.
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