Kingdom Come Deliverance II Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, & PC)

Sequels aren’t always guaranteed to be better than the original. But in Kingdom Come Deliverance’s case, Warhorse Studios has nailed damn near every component that makes a game great. It’s unsurprising also, given that the video game series is their one and only baby. Since the first launch in 2018, the technical bugs have been quite the deal-breaker for some gamers. Nevertheless, the medieval action RPG sure did leave a mark in the gaming industry, one that I couldn’t wait to dig my teeth into once the sequel was out. And here we are, with yet another new adventure unraveling the intertwining tales of betrayal, revenge, and discovery of the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia. 

The series is championed for capturing an intense historical depiction of the Imperial State of the Roman Empire. Even if you’re not a history buff, you should enjoy the feeling of walking in what feels like a time travel expedition back to the 15th-century Czech Republic. Besides the extreme level of immersion, though, into a world vastly different from our own yet sharing shockingly similar societal and class privilege, the game also curates a genuinely enjoyable exploration simulation-like RPG experience. The protagonist truly feels like a human you can mold after your own heart. Among the many gameplay elements sure to please, here are the most noteworthy (alongside a few mishaps) in our Kingdom Come Deliverance II review below.

Sweeter Than Revenge

King Sigismund has just launched a mercenary raid on your village, sending your family to thy kingdom come. But you’re not quite ready to yield, joining Lord Radzig Kobyla on a mission against the resistance. It leads you down bloody conflicts and raging civil war. By no choice of your own, you become swept up in the fight for the future of Bohemia. Kingdom Come Deliverance II picks up where the original left off, with the series’ bold protagonist, Henry of Skalitz, returning to assert his revenge. While on the service of Sir Hans Capon, you set off on a journey that once again becomes layered in violence, revenge, betrayal, and tidbits of humor. 

By far, Kingdom Come Deliverance II’s story is one of its strongest points. You’ll be hard-pressed to find out every single plot point you can. Whether it’s sitting patiently through the cinematic cutscenes or talking to nearly every NPC you run into, Kingdom Come Deliverance II has a clever way of reeling you into its world. Part of the intrigue is the strong writing and personality each character brings to the table. 

Henry and Hans’ Strange Relationship

Both Henry and Hans enjoy a deep character progression. Henry is originally a good guy, keeping away from murder and stealing as best he can. But he’d enjoy his occasional drink. He’s the level-headed counterpart of Sans, who’s more obnoxious and can outright get on your nerves. His spontaneous aggression can often land you in trouble and often leave you to clean up the mess. But the two oddly marry well together. Their strange but deepening relationship often finds the perfect balance between bubbly and cautious. 

But it’s not just Henry and Hans who have engaging personalities. Kingdom Come Deliverance II brings back lots of returning characters alongside new ones. They are all treated with utmost care, whether it’s their backstory or writing. Even the side quests NPCs send you out to appear well thought-out. They pan out into full-blown adventures that can take several hours to complete, hours that, mind you, feel well-earned and nowhere near regrettable.

Be Your Own Henry

With Henry, though, you’re free to mold his character as you see fit based on the choices and actions you engage in. Whether it’s turning him into the village scoundrel, the do-gooder, the reckless murderer, or the burglar, among other ravish ideas. Just keep in mind that with each decision and action you take, the game will remember it. It’ll influence the characters so they trust you less or want your head on a spike. In the long run, your choices and actions can make your time in Kingdom Come Deliverance II easier or harder on yourself. You can use sweet-nothings to maneuver your way around the village. Or perhaps use force to get your way. The question is whether you have the stomach to live up to the consequences of your decisions. 

It’s at this exact juncture that Kingdom Come Deliverance II begins to shape up as more than your everyday RPG. Its design and gameplay choices are deliberate. They intend to really immerse you in a profound adventure. While other games will give you dialogue trees that quickly become obsolete by the next mission, the dialogue trees in Kingdom Come Deliverance II will remain nearly permanent. Future interactions will go smoothly (or not) based on your kindness (or otherwise). Yet perhaps Kingdom Come Deliverance II takes it a bit too far. 

Dance Between Choices and Consequences

The punishment icon keeps track of all your run-ins with the law. The consequences can range anywhere from outright hanging to more merciful, stripping you of your hard-earned resources. You may also get penalties. But another of the more frustrating kinds is when you take out the guards, the NPCs nearby can decide to enact justice on you, even without calling reinforcements. They will turn on you and force you to go to jail or resolve to more violence. It can be more frustrating when you kill a guard accidentally. It’s even more frustrating when the villagers’ outrage affects how quests unfold. You could miss out on dialogue trees, have NPCs lose trust in you, or even be unable to access certain quests. 

So, even if you want to have your fun rummaging through the village and killing every guard that looks at you the wrong way, there may be a hefty price to pay. Ultimately, it feels like Kingdom Come Deliverance II is nudging you to maintain a low punishment and a high reputation level. This takes away the freedom to mold Henry however you want. Would you want people to like or dislike you, and at what cost?

Always Something to Do

Perhaps it’s all forgivable when you consider the sheer wealth of things to do. Firstly, you have a deeply engaging story that infuses twisted moral choices and heavy political themes. But there’s also the most breathtaking 15th-century Bohemia you can explore freely. Its stunning beauty and detail are enough to veer off of the main quest and chase the sunset amongst the swaying grass and foliage. Heading to Kuttenberg, the second map ushers you from the countryside into the busy streets of one of the most important cities in the Holy Roman Empire. Beyond the immersive environments are the immense quests and side quests you can take on. Full-blown storylines, independent in their own right, with charming characters, conflict, and deep moral choices. 

Worth noting, though, is the pacing can sometimes grind to a halt. Seated on the back of a cart chatting away, it can feel like forever before you’ve arrived at your destination. Yet the conversations are interesting enough to put up with slog segments. Even the manual labor moments, which was the way to make coins back in the day. Alchemy and crafting, too, seemingly take a lifetime. You manually forge the steal with a hammer and sharpen the sword by hand if you want to have the upper hand in combat. Yet it’s all rewarding and actually puts you in the moment, in every sense of the word “immersion.” 

Punch or Slash

Wrapping up, combat is a significant part of Kingdom Come Deliverance II, too. It’s often first-person melee combat that can admittedly be a nightmare to nail perfectly. There may still be a few rough edges left to smooth over. However, the combat is overall better than the original. Rather than five directional inputs, you have four. You can swing your sword sideways, from above through the head, or pierce enemies through the chest. However, it takes far more than reflex to win Kingdom Come Deliverance II’s quite challenging enemy encounters. Especially when there are multiple enemies, you have to consider enemy armor, attack, and defense.

You can use your fists, too, which follow roughly the same idealogy. However, it’s paramount to carefully assess the battleground to know when to tap out. There are also medieval pistols and shotguns you can use that drastically up the ante. Further, you can unlock bows and arrows, though they can be quite inefficient, seemingly swayed by the wind at long range. Or you can unlock “master strikes” that are unblockable alongside more upgrades focusing on Henry’s escapades around Kuttenberg. The more you perform manual labor, the more stamina you retain, and you become a “soldier” student. You’ll become faster and inflict more damage in combat, and so on. 

Verdict

Kingdom Come Deliverance II definitely sits atop the must-play RPGs of the modern day. Its world is deeply thought-out, emulating historic Bohemia as authentically and realistically as possible. Prancing around the village feels immersive as you talk to NPCs and build a reputation for good (or evil) among the townsfolk. All along, you complete intense quests and trudge the story closer to achieving personal and societal fulfilment.