When Kingdom Come: Deliverance was first released in 2018, it sparked a fair bit of controversy. Its director, Daniel Vávra, was linked to the Gamergate movement, which tainted some of the conversations around the game. However, despite the backlash, the game itself found a dedicated audience, with many praising its more realistic take on medieval life over the usual fantasy tropes. When CGM reviewed the original, we gave it an 8 out of 10 and had this to say, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance attempts to shake up the Western RPG by shedding familiar fantasy tropes and focusing on realistic mechanics and historical events.”
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 picks up where the first left off, continuing the story of Henry of Skalitz. He’s a blacksmith’s son turned knight, fighting for the imprisoned King Wenceslaus IV against the usurper King Sigismund. Early in the game, Henry, along with Sir Hans Capon and a small group, sets out from Rattay to deliver a message to Otto von Bergow at Trosky Castle, questioning his loyalty to Sigismund.
Things go south quickly when a bandit ambush wipes them out, and they lose everything—from their weapons and armour to their horses and the letter itself. The rest of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 follows Henry and his companions as they try to rebuild and exact revenge by reclaiming his family’s sword and tracking down the letter, among other twists and turns.
“Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 started as an enjoyable medieval adventure, much like the first game, but technical issues quickly soured the experience.”
Like the first game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is grounded in reality, which gives it a certain charm. There are no magical creatures or dragons here—just humans being human, with all the dumb, power-hungry mistakes that come with it. Despite that realism, there are still plenty of intense cinematic moments, like fighting through a siege with the odds stacked against you. The emotional weight of knowing that you’re just one man in a vast conflict adds a nice layer of tension.
The gameplay in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is largely the same as its predecessor, which can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s still a game where every little action has consequences. Steal something, and people will notice; act suspiciously in town, and you’ll be remembered for it. If townsfolk have “accidents,” your name might get dragged into it.
But on the other hand, some of the more complex systems—like smithing, alchemy and lockpicking—are incredibly detailed to the point of being frustratingly obtuse. Smithing a sword, for example, takes a long time and requires an almost painstaking level of control. It’s all impressively intricate, but it can be exhausting when you’re forced to use those skills without much experience.
“It’s a lot more realistic than most games, but that means you need to play smart or face the consequences.”
As for combat, it’s still tough and realistic, which is both a blessing and a curse. You’ll be wielding swords, bows and crossbows, but the real game-changer is the introduction of firearms. They’re hard to aim, slow to reload and the ammo is scarce.
Honestly, I avoided using them unless absolutely necessary. Swords were my weapon of choice, and even when I found myself in one-on-one duels, I could usually come out on top. But when facing multiple enemies, I didn’t stand a chance. That’s the thing about the combat—it’s harsh, and Henry can’t take many hits before he’s done for. It’s a lot more realistic than most games, but that means you need to play smart or face the consequences.
In the middle of the game, there’s a particularly drawn-out section where saving is nearly impossible, and the pressure of a ticking timer combined with the forced use of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s complex systems can be really punishing. Some players may appreciate that, but for me, it felt like hitting my head against a brick wall.
Now, I know I sound a bit harsh, but the truth is, I was enjoying Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 at first. The immersive world and attention to detail kept me hooked for the first 10 hours. But after that, things took a turn. Frequent crashes, graphical glitches and performance issues started to pile up. Early on, there were a few minor issues, but nothing that ruined the experience. However, when crashes started costing me up to an hour of progress at a time, and characters became permanently broken—one of them had a neck that was separated by a solid black line—it became harder to overlook, especially with them being a key character.
It’s especially disappointing because the environments, while somewhat repetitive, were stunning. But as the glitches piled up, the once-beautiful landscapes became a frustrating mess, especially near bodies of water. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which had been a visual treat, soon became a technical nightmare. I experienced six major crashes, each costing me about an hour of progress. One quest became completely unplayable after a crash prevented a key item from spawning, forcing me to restart the entire game just to continue.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 started as an enjoyable medieval adventure, much like the first game, but technical issues quickly soured the experience. The story remains emotional and engaging, and Henry’s journey is one that’s easy to root for, but the constant crashes and bugs make it impossible to recommend in its current state. It’s a real shame because I was on track to give it a high score before the technical problems derailed everything and ruined the experience. I couldn’t recommend it to anyone in its current state.
