Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

First-person role-playing action in the vast open world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a direct sequel to the 2018 game, taking players back to fifteenth-century medieval Bohemia (in what is now the Czech Republic). Everything fans loved about the original—its graphics, scale, and attention to detail—has been improved. While preserving historical accuracy and an advanced combat system based on inverse kinematics, the developers have made the gameplay more flexible and added firearms and crossbows to combat.

The sequel continues Henry’s story: he has grown into a man, become a skilled swordsman, and is ready to make his mark on history. Caught in the middle of a civil war between King Wenceslas and his brother Sigismund, Henry must prove himself and influence the course of history. The game offers dozens of hours of gripping story, with branching paths and cinematic cutscenes.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s graphics are a major step up from the original and can compete with modern gaming hits. The world is packed with detail, whether you’re exploring natural landscapes or city streets, with plenty of finely detailed objects in every area. Voxel tracing provides realistic lighting and convincing reflections. Unlike traditional ray tracing, it doesn’t put a heavy load on your system. Character models and animations have been greatly improved, and facial expressions are now lifelike and expressive. The biggest achievement is the optimization: the sequel runs smoothly in 4K at high settings without upscaling.

The creators of the Kingdom Come series took a unique approach to building their game world, resulting in a truly authentic virtual setting. The games take place in Bohemia, a region at the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. After the death of Charles IV, one of its greatest emperors, the throne passes to his weak and indecisive son, Wenceslas. His inability to rule the country leads to a crisis: his younger brother, King of Hungary Sigismund, starts a civil war, seizing power with the help of Cuman mercenaries and brutally crushing any resistance.

The story remains personal, following a fictional character named Henry, who could very well have existed in real life. Yet it is skillfully woven into well-documented historical events. Against the backdrop of royal intrigues and wars in medieval Europe, the story explores the feudal system and the harsh life of an ordinary person in a tough, realistic Middle Ages with no fantasy elements.

Almost all the supporting characters are real historical figures, which gives the story special depth. Jobst of Moravia, who would later become King of Germany, is shown as a slippery schemer who changes allies as often as he changes gloves. The stern Lord Otto von Berg believes in the right of the strong, but is willing to negotiate. The future Bohemian military commander Jan Žižka dreams of a better future for Bohemia, but for now he resorts to banditry. Our companion Jan Ptáček, also a historical figure, is portrayed as a young and inexperienced nobleman, prone to showing off in front of commoners, drinking, and courting girls.

At the start of the first game, Henry was an ordinary commoner, whose life was limited to the everyday concerns of village life and helping his father in the forge. After Sigismund’s forces attacked, his home village of Skalitz was burned to the ground, his father’s house was looted and destroyed, and his family was killed. This tragic event turned Henry’s life upside down: from an ordinary village boy, he became a refugee driven by a thirst for revenge. Having lost everything, he vows to take revenge, recover his stolen family sword, and find his place in the harsh world of Bohemia.

As the story unfolds, Henry becomes a vassal of the local nobleman Radzig Kobyla, a leader of the resistance against the invaders. As he unravels the intrigue, he learns a secret about his origins that ties him to larger political events. The original game’s story has an open ending: some questions remain unanswered, while Sigismund’s power continues to grow. At the end, Henry receives a new mission, setting the stage for the sequel.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers an entirely new game world, larger than that of the first game, but divided into two vast regions: Bohemian Paradise, with small settlements and villages around Trosky Castle, and the huge city of Kutná Hora. These regions were recreated using real maps, but the developers didn’t chase sheer size—instead, they focused on filling the world with things to discover.

At the beginning, Henry explores the first half of the world, where nature reigns over civilization. The landscape impresses with its natural variety: dense coniferous and deciduous forests give way to picturesque valleys and fertile fields, while rocky hills rise into mountain ranges, giving the terrain depth and realism. Numerous bodies of water—rivers, streams, and lakes—not only bring the surroundings to life but also serve as natural landmarks. The careful detailing of natural features, combined with high-quality lighting, creates truly picturesque views, while a dynamic ecosystem of animals and vegetation, along with changing times of day and weather, makes the world feel truly alive.

The game’s second region is centered around Kuttenberg (Kutná Hora), a silver-mining hub recreated with impressive historical and architectural accuracy. Available later in the story, Kutná Hora is home to many notable places: shops and markets, smithies and workshops, residential districts, taverns with gambling and colorful patrons, as well as other entertainment typical of the era.

Vast fields, narrow medieval city streets, and cozy little villages don’t just look authentic—they stir emotions. Instead of hyper-realistic textures, the game relies on thoughtful art direction and handcrafted detail.

Unlike the “plastic” locations in modern games, Bohemia in Kingdom Come 2 has a life of its own. Every NPC is part of a carefully designed social system, with daily duties and routines. This is especially clear in Kuttenberg, where some people live in nearby villages and travel to and from the city each day to take care of their business. Merchants are smarter: constant attempts to haggle will anger them, and prices are also influenced by the hero’s reputation. Ordinary townspeople don’t just wander around town; they discuss current events and sometimes share useful information about quests or world secrets.

The locals also have their own habits and unique personalities. For example, a strong blacksmith is more prone to conflict, while an elderly scribe avoids it. NPCs also behave better in groups: they react to events in town, wars, crimes, and public gatherings by changing their plans.

The world responds closely to the protagonist’s condition: NPCs notice the hero and assess his appearance, reputation, and even smell before making decisions. A dirty, smelly ragamuffin will face distrust even if he comes from a noble family. But dressed in fine clothes, clean and smelling pleasant, he’ll climb much higher on the social ladder.

Stolen items can now be recognized by their owners: if Henry was seen near the scene of a crime, he’ll be in trouble. You can always pay, negotiate, or resort to violence, but if you rob people too often, you’ll earn a reputation as a thief, and NPCs will start keeping a closer eye on their belongings. Punishments are harsher now: serious crimes can land you in the stocks, get you branded as a criminal, or even hanged.

Fast travel points in Kingdom Come 2 are located in large settlements, while story locations are usually much farther away. You’ll need a horse, which can be taught to follow a route without any input from the player. In the spirit of RDR2, fast travel comes with random events: packs of wolves guard forest trails, caravans and travelers journey along the roads, and bandits lie in wait to ambush them. All of this creates a believable picture of medieval society—a living, constantly changing world where events unfold whether or not the player is there.

The map marks basic survival essentials—shops, blacksmiths, and places to wash clothes. As you take on more quests, the map gradually fills with markers. However, key information about quests and hidden locations isn’t given directly; you have to get it by asking innkeepers and locals. Sometimes, in the name of realism, you’ll have to find your objectives based on descriptions or visual clues.

The first Kingdom Come was only a prologue, introducing the main characters and antagonists but not giving Henry a chance to take revenge. The sequel continues the story almost where the first game left off, expanding it into a full-length story and bringing in more historical figures, including Czech national hero Jan Žižka of Trocnov, with whom Henry must unite the people of Bohemia against King Sigismund.

Henry, accompanied by his friend Sir Hans Capon, sets off on a diplomatic mission to meet Otto von Bergow, a supporter of Sigismund, who deposed King Wenceslas. On the way, the group stops by a lake, where the heroes are attacked by bandits. During the fight, Henry is wounded, falls off a cliff, and loses all the skills he learned in the first game.

After recovering with the help of a local healer, the heroes, dressed in rags, make their way to Trosky Castle, but are turned away. Later, they end up at a tavern, get into a fight, and find themselves in the stocks. This is where the main game begins: Henry must find a way to complete his diplomatic mission.

The prologue briefly introduces the basics of the combat system, survival mechanics, and alchemy. Flashbacks also cover the key events of the first game, so you don’t need to play Deliverance before the sequel (though of course, you can). For those who are too lazy to play it, the developers have uploaded the full story of the first game to their YouTube channel.

Kingdom Come 2 offers a complex, dozens-of-hours-long narrative that reveals the struggle for

power in Bohemia, with the intrigues and betrayals of the medieval nobility. Henry, now a knight, helps restore King Wenceslas to power while also trying to recover his father’s sword and avenge his parents’ deaths. The main antagonist, King Sigismund, is portrayed as believably vile, with a worldview that still feels familiar today. The story also includes a more grounded, everyday side, showing the characters’ relationships and adventures.

The main story arc in Kingdom Come 2 is quite linear, and any attempt to stray from it leads to an early ending. The game has one ending, with only a few variations in the final dialogues. The writers skillfully balance the grim realities of the Middle Ages with situational humor, while also exploring deep questions, moral ambiguity, dilemmas, and difficult choices that affect how the story unfolds.

Deliverance 2 isn’t afraid to address sexuality, and the writers don’t bend to restrictions on so-called “objectification”: Henry regularly meets women he can charm, from young healers to noble widows, and they flirt with Henry too, asking him, “What do you like best?”

The storytelling has reached a new level: cutscenes are more cinematic, animation quality has noticeably improved, and motion-capture technology helps the characters express their emotions more accurately. Henry and Hans are convincing characters, thanks to the excellent performances of Tom McKay and Luke Dale. The sound design is top-notch—the voices and ambient sounds blend naturally with the atmosphere. The music is impressive, too: a symphony orchestra and opera singers provide the epic moments, while heartfelt folk songs and lively tavern music add a touch of medieval life.

Every character in Deliverance 2—from ordinary NPCs to iconic heroes—is carefully written, with a backstory and motivations. They feel real. They are naturally connected to one another and woven into the adventure, rather than simply acting as quest-givers tied to a single location, as in other modern RPGs. A minor character, like a crooked-faced bandit and outcast, may have hidden depths, becoming a defender of women and the unarmed in a critical moment.

Relationships between the characters and the hero are always changing: a temporary ally may turn into an enemy, while an enemy may become a reliable partner—and every change makes sense. The triple plot twists are especially impressive, repeatedly forcing the player to rethink what is happening.

The dialogue system has been greatly expanded—the characters are more talkative, with quick responses and more dialogue checks for persuasion, showing off your knowledge, or intimidating others. Warhorse’s writers have created lively dialogue without censorship or overly literary language. Everyone speaks in a way that fits their status, situation, and motivations: Henry and Ptacek trade lighthearted banter, nobles start off pompous but loosen up after some ale, and soldiers are rude but fond of jokes. Almost every line reveals something about a character, the story, or the era, making it an important part of the narrative.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is built around three types of quests: main, additional, and side quests, each with its own game design.

Main quests offer large-scale and memorable events without annoying notifications about their impact on the story: military battles, a castle siege, reconciliation between warring churches, and other political intrigues. They follow a clear dramatic structure and offer difficult choices. They unfold slowly, but grow more significant over time. To deepen the sense of realism, these quests often make use of medieval trades and events—a treasurer’s corruption reveals details about coin minting, while working with a gravedigger shows an unusual side of the “profession.”

Additional quests are the best part of the game. They are carefully thought out down to the smallest detail, and offer a glimpse into the daily life and worldview of people from an era when no event was complete without a touch of mysticism or superstition. They offer enormous variety, letting you do whatever you please, and are better than anything else at making players feel something when they succeed—the search for the herbalist’s missing daughter can end in tragedy or bring you a valuable ally.

Side quests are fully fleshed-out episodes that can be serious or funny. They’re full of ordinary human folly and greed, which makes them especially memorable. The Gypsy baron uses the hero in his schemes, but completing a series of tasks for him doesn’t live up to expectations. Reconciling villages whose conflict has lasted for generations brings plenty of headaches and little gratitude.

The creators of Deliverance 2 took the criticism of the first game to heart and simplified its more complex elements, while preserving its gameplay depth and making it feel more natural and relaxed. Now, the player’s skill, the character’s abilities, and tactical thinking determine the outcome of every fight. Instead of six attack directions, the combat system now uses just four: up, down, left, and right. Attacks aimed in the right direction are more deadly.

Parrying and counterattacks are now much easier. A parry blocks every attack while it’s being performed, and there’s enough time to deflect an incoming strike. The instant block has been replaced with a mechanic that requires you to watch your opponent’s movements closely. Combos have been improved, and grapples and clinches have been added. Fighting multiple enemies is now more manageable. Opponents attack less often, but coordinate their actions, forcing you to keep moving. Combat has a rhythm to it—you need to alternate between attacks, defense, and maneuvers.

New weapon types have been added: crossbows that pierce armor; primitive firearms that deal huge damage but are inaccurate and slow; and various types of polearms. Fistfights are more realistic: now you just need to watch your stamina and block blows in time. Weapon and armor maintenance has been simplified, and there’s enough money in the game to leave it to the blacksmiths.

Kingdom Come 2 stays true to realism and doesn’t follow typical video game conventions. If your character can’t fight, even a peasant will beat him. To sneak around, you first need to take off your noisy armor and change into black clothes. Between quests, you have to cover long distances, escort characters, and find a place to sleep, supplies, and somewhere to wash and repair your gear.

As in the first game, players must keep an eye on Henry’s basic needs: hunger, rest, and health, but the survival mechanics demand less attention, making medieval life realistic yet more balanced. Reputation, cleanliness, and clothing all play a key role, as do the hero’s attributes: strength, agility, vitality, and eloquence. The equipment system has been improved: you can now quickly change between three clothing sets, while belts and pouches provide easy access to weapons and consumables.

The character progression system has two levels: the hero’s main level rises alongside individual skills. Using a sword often improves your skill with melee weapons, running and physical activity build stamina, and successful conversations and reading books improve eloquence. As players level up specific skills, they earn skill points that can be spent in any development branch, regardless of how they were earned.

At the same time, raising the main level unlocks access to especially valuable perks in another development branch. Although players receive plenty of skill points, the maximum level is capped at thirty, so you have to decide on your playstyle in advance. Even secondary skills have a significant impact on gameplay: battle cries demoralize opponents, trading skills provide discounts, and stealth perks improve your ability to move unnoticed.

Players have access to a wide range of activities. Alchemy lets you brew potions with different effects from gathered herbs. The process is now more convenient, with boiling stages added and a chance to produce a weaker version if you make a mistake. Blacksmithing is repetitive, but lets you craft powerful gear. In games of chance, such as dice, you can not only test your luck but also cheat. Hunting provides food and valuable materials to trade, while theft and lockpicking offer a quick path to riches. By the way, lockpicks can sometimes be found in bird nests.