Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – Honest Review of the Brutally Real RPG Sequel
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers immersive sword combat, a gripping story, and vast open-world adventures with memorable quests.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 took me by surprise, much like the first time I played Skyrim. It brings a fresh feeling to medieval RPGs, with deep, skill-based melee combat and a captivating story. The game strikes a balance between being a worthy sequel and a grand achievement, much like how The Witcher 3 pushed CD Projekt Red or Greedfall elevated Spiders. While no game of this size is free from bugs and occasional design struggles, its scale and impact are undeniable.
Set almost immediately after the events of Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018), the story follows Henry, the blacksmith’s son turned warrior. You dive straight into the political struggles of the time, with a strong cast that includes both memorable fictional and real historical characters. Even if you haven’t played the first game, the story is easy to follow, with helpful callbacks and explanations as you go along.
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance, we praised the game’s rich storytelling, immersive combat, and deep character development. While occasional technical issues, like bugs or unclear quest objectives, could be frustrating, the overall experience was one I didn’t mind revisiting.
The real standout in this world is the city of Kuttenberg, a marvel in modern RPG design. Based on the real-world town, Kuttenberg is one of the most immersive and detailed cities I’ve seen in a game. It feels alive with countless stories and side quests, from sword school rivalries to hunting down a serial killer. Sure, some NPCs share faces or voice actors, but the charm of the city easily outweighs these minor issues. After 40+ hours of gameplay, I found myself happily exploring the streets, shopping for the best gear and just soaking in the atmosphere. It’s everything a great RPG city should be—huge, vibrant, and full of adventure.
Experience Over 100 Memorable Quests in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
The variety of quests in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 truly impressed me, and it’s not just limited to the city of Kuttenburg. Rarely will you be asked to simply kill bandits or deliver packages without some interesting twist, emotional dilemma, or tough decision thrown in. With over 100 quests in total, I’ve completed nearly all of them, and each one was memorable enough to stand out in a lesser RPG.
While some quests were better in concept than execution—like a creepy, horror-themed quest I stumbled upon underground—it was still a thrilling moment. However, it ended too quickly for the full effect of dread to set in. Despite a few small missteps, side quests never felt like a chore. Every quest felt like a new chapter in The Adventures of Henry, filled with great writing and unique objectives. It’s a testament to the game’s strong design that 120 hours never felt too long.
The game features two expansive open-world maps filled with breathtaking landscapes, closely modeled after late medieval Bohemian life. While the geography mostly consists of wooded hills and meadows, the world is immersive and large enough to get lost in. The villages and open wilderness provide enough variety, though it’s a bit odd that you can’t enter most of the churches, which would have been a highlight if I were touring 1400s Europe.
If the side quests are like episodes of a TV show, the main quest is a big-screen war movie, with ambition, compelling dialogue, and deep emotional moments. There were parts that made me cheer, and others that brought me to tears. Henry’s ultimate nemesis was a standout, challenging my choices and making me rethink everything I’d done up until the final, unforgettable confrontation. The main quest is mature, historically authentic, and asks thought-provoking questions about heroism and villainy.
Experience a Blockbuster-Style Main Quest in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers a unique mix of linear action-drama and open-world exploration, but these two elements don’t always mesh smoothly. One memorable moment that highlights this is the Hungarian Camp quest.
In the late game, you come across a military camp set up by King Sigismund, the main antagonist. Determined to take revenge, I tried to assault the camp alone and was quickly defeated. However, I spent the next 40 hours building my strength, learning combat skills, and crafting the best weapons. When I finally returned, I successfully wiped out most of the camp, a thrilling moment that tested my combat abilities and felt empowering.
But here’s where things took a turn: soon after, I was tasked with infiltrating the same camp as a spy, and the game didn’t acknowledge that I had already decimated it. Despite having a massive bounty on my head, Henry didn’t even mention his actions. This forced me into a frustrating stealth sequence where I had to sneak past unkillable quest NPCs to progress, which was both unrealistic and disruptive to the story. Additionally, my reputation took a hit, as killing enemy soldiers angered the peasants, despite their oppressors being Sigismund’s forces.
Aside from this frustrating moment, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the game. The sword combat, which was already great in the first game, has been refined. Though stats now play a bigger role than player skill, the combat system is smoother and more varied. Archery has also seen significant improvements.
There’s a new blacksmithing mini-game, which, while a bit clunky, adds a nice touch, allowing you to craft your own weapons. Alchemy is now more intuitive, and the new perk system offers meaningful upgrades, making each level-up feel rewarding.
The game runs impressively well on my 4070 Ti at 4K with very high settings, something the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance couldn’t manage on the same machine. While there are a few bugs, most are minor and don’t seriously disrupt gameplay, making this sequel an optimized and enjoyable experience overall.
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Pros and Cons of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Fun and skillful sword fighting | ❌ Some bugs and glitches |
| ✔️ Great story with interesting quests | ❌ Some quests feel rushed or underdeveloped |
| ✔️ Over 100 fun side quests | ❌ Can’t enter some buildings like churches |
| ✔️ Beautiful, immersive world | ❌ Some NPCs share the same faces and voices |
| ✔️ Realistic city (Kuttenberg) | ❌ Stealth sections can feel awkward |
| ✔️ Good character writing and voice acting | ❌ Reputation system can feel unfair |
| ✔️ Better archery and combat | ❌ Blacksmithing mini-game feels awkward |
| ✔️ Smooth gameplay on modern PCs | ❌ Some story moments break immersion |
Conclusion
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a powerful RPG that brings back the feeling of classic first-person role-playing games. It gives you a big open world, meaningful choices, and great sword fighting. The melee combat is much better than what we’ve seen in games like The Elder Scrolls.
Sometimes the game feels torn between telling a focused story and letting you explore freely. But most of the time, it handles both sides well. You can enjoy the main story or take your time with side quests—both are full of interesting moments.
With improved combat, fun quests, and a world that feels alive, this game is a big step forward. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 isn’t just a sequel—it’s one of the best open-world RPGs in years.
