Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a sprawling, deeply immersive game set in 15th-century Bohemia. The game is so expansive that it has been split into two large open areas: Trosky, where the journey begins, and Kuttenberg, a bustling city with a mining heritage. These areas offer distinct environments and experiences, encouraging exploration while weaving together a narrative driven by open-ended systems.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Overview
It is basically impossible to talk about this game without spoiling the first one, and that is because it is a direct sequel. This game starts about two or so days after the first game ends, so certainly be aware of that as we move through.
Broadly, I was very much looking forward to the second game because I reviewed the first game in its final form at the beginning of 2023. To this day, I believe it is one of my top five or six most-watched videos. While the first game was certainly janky with a lot of interesting choices, I mostly loved it. It was really cool.
When it comes to the sequel, I would say it was mostly exactly what I was looking for. It retains a lot of what Kingdom Come: Deliverance was but with better systems, improved mechanics, and more intuitive design, making it easier for new players to jump in. Most importantly, it provides a proper conclusion to the story that began in the first game, which was my biggest concern. The original game ended on a somewhat unsatisfying note, with little closure to any of the storylines. Here, we do get that closure.
If you enjoyed the first game, this is probably a no-brainer—you’ll really enjoy this one. However, despite how good I think this game is (which we’ll get into), its systems are inherently not going to be for everyone. More than anything, the combat and save system will remain contentious, and there are certainly parts of the game that still feel a little bit janky. Some moments will remind you that you are absolutely playing a video game. But even with that, it is a huge step up from the first game.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Performance, Optimization, Bugs
For me, the game ran mostly fine. I did not experience anything I would consider a major issue, nor did I run into anything game-breaking. However, I did encounter some problems. The most frequent were minor issues like clipping, occasional visual glitches, and character models briefly acting weird when loading the game—though these usually fixed themselves. Characters occasionally got caught on terrain, but honestly, that’s pretty normal for an open-world RPG.
I also experienced a couple of crashes, but only a handful over the course of more than 100 hours, so it wasn’t a major problem.
More Serious Issues
One bizarre bug I encountered was that Henry suddenly stopped being able to get drunk after a certain point. While this was arguably beneficial, it actually caused a problem because some achievements require your character to be drunk. I had to reload an earlier save where it was still working. Given that one of the game’s skills is literally drinking, this was a strange issue that genuinely affected gameplay.
The biggest issue I ran into was that some repeatable side quests stopped working in the late game. These included activities like fist fights and shooting contests, which you are supposed to be able to repeat. The NPCs had quest markers over their heads, but I could no longer interact with them, even though I had previously completed the quests.
This also affected achievements. For example, there’s an achievement for winning a marksmanship contest without missing a target. Even if you complete this successfully, the achievement doesn’t unlock. Additionally, the NPC who starts the contest claims to have another quest for you, but it never triggers. This issue seemed to apply mainly to repeatable side activities, so while it’s not game-breaking, it’s certainly not great either.
Overall, from a technical standpoint, the game includes solid PC support, a customizable field-of-view slider, and other essential features. While there is room for improvement, it is in a much better state than the original game at launch, which was quite buggy.
Difficulty and Save System
At launch, there is only one difficulty setting. The first game had a separate Hardcore Mode, but it is not included here (though it may come later).
Henry, as the returning protagonist, starts in a much better place than in the original. In the first game, he was basically a useless peasant at the beginning. Here, he is a warrior with experience, and while some of his stats are reset, he retains a good portion of his skills. This makes the game easier than the original, especially for returning players.
That said, newcomers may struggle with some of the game’s more obtuse systems—one of which is almost certainly the save system.
Save System
This was a gripe of mine in the original game, and while it returns here, it is slightly improved. To manually save, you must either:
- Find and sleep in a proper bed that you own or rent (not just any random bed).
- Drink Savior Schnapps (an alcoholic beverage).
Perhaps due to my experience with the original game, I found this system less frustrating this time around. Savior Schnapps is more readily available, easier to buy, and much simpler to craft thanks to a vastly improved alchemy tutorial.
I still don’t love this system. I think manual saving should be an option on the base difficulty, while the Savior Schnapps system should be reserved for Hardcore Mode. That said, the game does create an exit save when you quit, so you won’t lose progress. Additionally, it auto-saves fairly frequently, especially during major quest steps. The game also keeps multiple auto-saves, which helps.
Story Setup and Thoughts
(Spoiler warning for the first game.)
The story remains historically adjacent, taking place in 15th-century Bohemia. Many of the events are based on actual history but have been embellished, with some characters altered to fit the narrative.
Once again, we play as Henry of Skalitz. He started the first game by watching his village get raided and his parents killed, eventually rising from nothing to become a respected knight. At the start of the sequel, Henry is accompanying Lord Hans Capon on a journey to Trosky to deliver a letter petitioning the League of Lords for aid. Their goal is to support King Wenceslas, who is imprisoned by his usurping brother, King Sigismund of Hungary.
Naturally, things go sideways. Henry is severely injured, barely surviving. This serves as the game’s explanation for why some of his stats are reset. From there, the story unfolds as a long, political drama filled with intrigue, battles, and shifting alliances.
Pacing Issues
For the most part, the game keeps you engaged, especially later on when dealing with sieges and large-scale battles. However, there are some slow moments.
For example, one mission has you pouring drinks for 30 minutes while listening to political conversations. This part felt drier than the wine being served. Exposition-heavy sections like these occasionally bog down the pacing, sometimes repeating the same information multiple times.
Themes and Ending
The game explores themes of redemption and revenge. Henry is still seeking vengeance against those who destroyed his village. However, the game challenges the player to consider whether revenge is worth it.
What makes the ending powerful is that you decide how Henry’s story concludes. Unlike the first game, which ended on a frustrating cliffhanger, this one provides a satisfying resolution while giving you control over how things wrap up.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Progression Systems: A Blend of Old and New
Progression systems are interesting because it’s a mix of old and new. That is to say, a lot of this stuff works exactly how it did in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but there are slight variations on it, or they’ve combined things and added things here and there.
Polearms and Skill Adjustments
As an example, we have polearms, which I believe were found in the data of the original game but not implemented outside of a mod. Well, here we actually have polearms as a usable weapon and their own skill slot. Whereas other things were combined, so we no longer have a bow skill; we have a marksman skill because it also includes a little bit of the late-game gun items we can get a hold of—though naturally, the incredibly primitive early iterations of guns that were just starting to be adapted at the time.
Improved Starting Point
But right away, I do have to once again iterate that our Henry here starts off in a better place than he does in the first game. In particular, though, what I mean by that is that in the original, any skill that was below level five (and they all pretty much started at that in the original), you would take basically a penalty to whatever it was you were trying to do until you got it to five, and then you started getting better at it from there.
Bow Usage and Stealth
As an example, when you used bows in the first game under level five, if you weren’t wearing a vambrace item, your character would actually take some health damage from the bowstring hitting your forearm. You also couldn’t stealth kill enemies until you had enough stealth skill to actually earn the perk to do so. Whereas here, we don’t have to do any of that. Henry knows how to stealth kill from the start of the game. He’s not going to take health damage from firing a bow, which means all those little penalties that were in the original are simply not things you’ll have to deal with.
Higher Skill Ceiling
On the other side of that, though, the maximum has been increased. It was 20 for all of these individual skills in the original, but here it is 30. But just like the original, we ultimately have our main level stats, skills, and combat skills. Each of these has their own associated perks, and every two levels in a given individual one of those will give you a perk for that associated skill, which is going to make you better at some aspect of it.
Perks and Benefits
This can be things like making stealth easier, making you more easily able to talk your way out of things in given situations, giving you stat boosts in certain environments—as an example, more damage in combat, that kind of thing—with your main level perks being a bit more general in their approach.
A few of these are especially interesting, like Scholarship. Henry does not need to learn how to read this time around because he didn’t know how in the first game but knows how here. So you can read things like skill books and whatnot straight away, which allows you to study them and increase skills. But in particular, the scholarship skill has certain perks that will give you increased experience towards other things—reflecting how easily our character learns.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Crafting Systems: Alchemy and Blacksmithing
Whereas still other stuff has been made much more clear, like the original was, I would say, pretty known for its very in-depth Alchemy system. Alchemy is both a skill you have but also a process you have to undergo. All of the recipes you find for various potions and whatnot—or even poisons—have to be actually crafted by you, the player, and the game does a much, much better job of tutorializing all this information.
Alchemy is not the only thing we can get up to now. There is a proper blacksmithing mini-game (for lack of a better word) where you can actually craft items yourself, as Henry is ultimately the son of a blacksmith and knows what he’s doing in that regard. There’s even some really cool weapons this way. In fact, stat-wise, the best stuff you can get comes from a high craftsmanship version of the stuff you can make.
Hidden Perks
Overall, I would describe this as a really cool combination of new and old stuff. A lot of it we’ve already seen in the previous games, but some of it is new, has new perks—things like that. You can do fun and interesting stuff with him, and I think that was pretty satisfying overall, especially as a progression curve across the game. Even starting from a better place than the original, if anything, it might be a little easier on people.
But believe it or not, there’s still a little more to talk about because we also have hidden perks. There are some perks in the game that can only be acquired by performing certain actions. These are not listed in your chart or anything until the moment you actually unlock them.
Tool Master
To give an example of the most basic one—once you pick the hardest version of the lock (and the odd lock-picking mini-game returns, by the way—though admittedly on PC, it was never that bad), once you successfully unlock the hardest version of a lock, you get a perk called Tool Master, which makes it much, much easier to pick locks in general, alongside the skill level making it just generally easier as well. So that’s a real easy example of one.
Return of DLC Content: Mut and Horse Progression
Interestingly, we also see the return of things that were added by the DLC. For example, Mut is with us—our dog from the first game. He has a skill associated with him called Houndmaster, and he can be very useful in doing things like hunting or fighting enemies, where he can distract them by attacking them, actually dealing damage, maybe even causing them bleeding—which should help you even the odds against greater and greater numbers.
Horse Upgrades
As a sort of side progression, you can also get better and better horses if you want—buying and upgrading them from the various horse dealers. Though you can find your original horse if you want. After you are attacked at the beginning of the game, you can track it down, just like Mut. But even if you don’t, you’ll also be given another horse named Herring as part of the story. That’s kind of a reddish color—that is to say, our horse is a red herring.
Open World and Exploration
The environments are stunningly detailed, making exploration rewarding. Trosky feels more rural, with winding paths, dense forests, and scattered hamlets. In contrast, Kuttenberg is a bustling urban center with underground mines and a layered cityscape. The freedom to travel between these areas is seamless. A carriage system allows for fast travel, though random encounters on the road add risk and excitement.
Forests return from the original game, rich with detail, inviting players to wander off the beaten path. Hidden cabins, caves, and ruins dot the landscape, ensuring that those who choose to forgo fast travel are rewarded with secrets and unique encounters.
Crime and Punishment System
Actions have weight in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The crime and punishment system remains central, holding players accountable. Stealing from shops or attacking villagers can result in fines, branding, or execution. Reputations are forged through these deeds, impacting how townsfolk interact with Henry. Being caught can lead to public flogging or even hanging, making crime a risky path.
However, evading detection is possible. Bodies can be hidden, and thefts executed under the cover of darkness. Private and restricted zones require caution. Guards patrol regularly, and civilians are quick to report suspicious behavior. Even accidental crimes can spiral into larger consequences, highlighting the game’s commitment to realism.
Story and Choices
The narrative is rich, with the player’s past choices influencing the present. A robust introductory section allows for the customization of Henry’s backstory and skills, accommodating both newcomers and returning players. The story is deeply rooted in themes of redemption and morality. Religious elements play a larger role, with pilgrimages offering paths to forgiveness.
Side quests shine with variety and depth. Some involve mediating disputes or exposing frauds, while others unravel mysteries like livestock deaths blamed on demonic forces, only to reveal a madman hiding in an abandoned mine. Each quest can be approached in multiple ways—through persuasion, theft, or violence—allowing players to shape Henry according to their playstyle.
Character Progression and Systems
Progression is natural and rewarding. Henry’s health, nourishment, and hygiene need attention. Early struggles with basic survival give way to comfort as resources become more accessible. Bathhouses offer respite, and securing a reliable horse eases travel. Skills improve through practice, making actions like lockpicking and combat more fluid over time.
Combat is brutal and unforgiving. Mastering weaponry and defensive techniques is vital, as engagements often favor skill over brute force. Reading returns as a skill, though the focus shifts towards scholarship, expanding Henry’s intellectual pursuits.
Dynamic Interactions
The interconnected systems create emergent moments. A quest to acquire a dress might involve purchasing it, pickpocketing a tailor, or resorting to murder. These branching paths ensure that no two playthroughs feel identical. Situations escalate organically—an argument could lead to a brawl, resulting in arrest or death.
Kuttenberg’s underground mines add another layer of exploration. These dark, dangerous tunnels hide valuables and dangers alike, emphasizing the game’s dedication to historical authenticity and player agency.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Combat Explained
Combat is, in all likelihood, going to be the most contentious part of this game for most players. It certainly wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea in the original, and while this sequel improves upon many aspects, it still carries over some of the same core systems—and, with them, some of the same problems.
Stats Matter
The first thing to understand is that this is an RPG first and foremost. There are stats behind everything you do in combat. While there are things like combos and skill-based maneuvers to learn, ultimately, your stats are going to determine the outcome of many fights.
For example, if you’re using a weapon you’re not skilled with and wearing little to no armor, a higher-level enemy is probably going to crush you. Blocking their attacks will be difficult, and they’ll deal significant damage. On the other hand, if you’re proficient with your weapon, decked out in full armor, and stocked up on stamina, you can mow down groups of enemies with surprising ease.
Learning the Ropes
Once you gain full access to the open world, there’s a quest to speak to a combat master. This character helps you relearn techniques like combos and the powerful master strikes. Master strikes work specifically with longswords, and while they remain incredibly effective, they are far less common among NPCs this time around.
The Struggle with Multiple Enemies
As with the original, fighting more than one enemy at a time is a challenge. If foes manage to flank you, getting around your back, you’re vulnerable to attacks you can’t block. Realistically, this is a tough situation to be in, and the game offers tools to mitigate it, but it still requires a tactical approach.
Target Lock and Auto-Lock: A Mixed Bag
Some of the issues in combat stem from the game’s targeting system. You can either fully lock onto an opponent or rely on the game’s auto-lock, which is hit-or-miss at best. Neither option feels perfect, leading to some frustration in the heat of battle.
Combos: Good on Paper, Less in Practice
The combo system returns, and while it’s interesting in theory, it often falls short in practice—just like in the original. The idea is to string together attacks from specific directions to unleash a combo. The problem? Against skilled, armored opponents later in the game, your attacks frequently get blocked.
While the game claims enemy blocks don’t interrupt your combo input, it sure feels like they do. Deflections often mess up your flow, causing you to attack from unintended angles. That said, the system is a bit simpler this time around, reducing the number of attack directions to four: top, left, right, and bottom (the original had five, plus a stab).
Armor and Stamina
When it comes to melee combat, armor is king. Good armor can prevent you from taking any health damage, provided you have stamina. Attacking drains stamina, but so does taking hits. If you’re armored and have stamina, most attacks will drain that stamina bar instead of your health. If you’re unarmored, however, every hit goes straight to your health, which is as bad as it sounds.
New Additions to Combat in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Polearms: A Missed Opportunity
The game introduces polearms as a new weapon type. Unfortunately, they don’t feel all that unique. They function like most other melee weapons, offering a different damage type and a few specific perks. Despite the potential, they ultimately feel like more of the same. Longswords, once master strikes are in your repertoire, still reign supreme due to their ability to break through blocks with uninterruptible precision.
Guns: Deadly but Clunky
Firearms make their debut, and they are devastating. You acquire a primitive firearm during the story, and later, a specialized shop sells a variety of them. Each gun supports two types of ammo:
- Scatter Shot
- Lead Shot
Achievement Tip
If you’re hunting the achievement for shooting a rabbit, use scatter shot. Lead shot won’t work, and it’ll save you an hour of frustration.
Power vs. Precision
Guns are incredibly powerful, capable of downing enemies in one shot, even at range. However, they are slow to reload and difficult to aim accurately. They can be a lifesaver against heavily armored enemies but aren’t ideal for every situation.
Mixing Combat Styles
Sticking rigidly to one form of combat is usually a recipe for disaster. The game encourages blending different approaches:
- Stealth: If a bandit camp is giving you trouble, sneak in at night and assassinate them in their sleep.
- Night Raids: Even if you’re not stealthy, attacking at night often means enemies are lightly armored, making them easier to dispatch.
- Alchemy: Potions can buff you or debilitate enemies.
- Dog and Mut Perks: Use your dog to pin enemies down while you land free hits.
- Horse Combat: Charge into camps and trample foes for some chaotic fun.
Immersion and Atmosphere
The attention to historical accuracy and realism is unparalleled. Daily life in 15th-century Bohemia is depicted with meticulous detail. Towns bustle with activity, blacksmiths hammer away, and markets overflow with goods. Characters react believably to Henry’s deeds, creating a living, breathing world.
Visuals and audio design enhance this immersion. Forests sway with the wind, torchlight flickers realistically, and the clang of swords resonates during combat. The soundtrack blends seamlessly with the environment, reinforcing the medieval atmosphere.
Accessibility and Improvements
While the original game was often criticized for its steep learning curve, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 introduces a refined tutorial system. New players receive clear guidance, while veterans can dive into the action. Quality-of-life improvements, such as streamlined inventory management and more intuitive quest markers, enhance the experience.
The fast travel system is balanced, providing convenience without eliminating the dangers of the open road. Random encounters during travel maintain tension, ensuring that even a simple journey can lead to unexpected events.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite its strengths, the game is not without flaws. Some quests can feel tedious, particularly those focused on menial tasks. Crime detection can sometimes be overly sensitive, leading to frustration when innocent actions trigger hostile responses. Performance issues occasionally arise, with frame drops and minor bugs disrupting immersion.
Verdict
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering enhanced mechanics, more intuitive design, and a satisfying narrative conclusion. The game retains the immersive historical setting and deep exploration options that fans of the series appreciate. However, it still faces some technical issues like minor glitches and bugs affecting certain side quests.
The combat system remains contentious, and the save system might be frustrating for some players. Despite these challenges, the game provides a rich experience with improved progression systems and engaging themes of redemption and morality.
Overall, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is recommended for fans of historical RPGs who enjoyed the first game or are looking for an immersive experience with depth in storytelling and gameplay mechanics.