Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 launches worldwide on February 4, 2025, with simultaneous unlock times across time zones. Players in regions like Singapore (February 5, 12:00 a.m. SGT) and Australia (February 5, 3:00 a.m. AEDT) will gain access slightly later due to time zone differences. The release marks a significant upgrade from its 2018 predecessor, offering refined mechanics and a dramatically expanded scope.
World expansion
There are two open-world regions in the game:
- Trosky countryside. This is a large rural area with a lot of villages and forests. This region is the starting zone in the game.
- Kuttenberg (Kutna Hora). This is a city known for its silver mining. It is a huge urban center filled with NPCs, markets, and even politics. This is referred to as the biggest challenge in the game by the developers as it represents the Bohemia culture in the 15th century.
Unlike many sequels that tend to lose important details while increasing the scale of the game, KCD2 manages to maintain environmental storytelling through hidden quests, dynamic weather, and wildlife ecosystems. Players can gain unique gear and lore from the game unlike any other tied to real-world medieval customs.
Player autonomy and consequences
The follow-up continues to explore branching narratives:
- Branching dialogue. Speechcraft skill checks and the reputation system dictate how NPCs respond to Henry. For example, if you get caught stealing, you can try to talk your way out or live with the consequences.
- Non-linear progression. Skills such as swordsmanship and stealth are leveled up naturally like in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. Do you prefer the blunt approach? Henry’s physique and combat attributes will match that style of play.
- Side quests. Secondary objectives often determine primary objectives. Aiding a farmer might help you gain allies in a siege.
Warhorse Studios deliberately chooses not to offer gameplay assistance, opting instead to allow players to deal with the consequences. Players must use strategic planning to save the game as you can only do so with Saviour Schnapps or owned beds, creating a delicate balance between reward and risk.
Combat and crafting changes
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 retains the direction-based system but it comes with key changes:
- Improved controls. Combat now includes four directions of attack instead of six, combined with multi-hit melees for more optimal close-range combat.
- Crossbow integration. Historically accurate versions have their downsides; their power comes at the cost of reload speed and accuracy.
- Blacksmithing minigame. Crafting weapons and armor can be done through a skill-based system. You can sell the finished products for profit.
The enemy AI now adjusts to the player’s strategy, which requires some improvisation in longer combat encounters. Moving in heavy armor is more difficult, but it provides protection. Lighter armor, which allows for better movement and stealth, comes with a higher risk of taking damage.
Technical and narrative ambition
Leveraging modern-day hardware within an upgraded version of the Cry Engine, KCD2 can perform tasks such as:
- Crowd density. The streets of Kuttenberg are filled with hundreds of NPCs who have specific daily activities.
- Visual fidelity. Forests and dungeons lit with torches have improved lighting due to ray tracing and 4K textures make accurate period clothing and architecture look even better.
The focus shifts from local fighting to royal intrigue where Henry must deal with shifting allegiances and betrayal. More than five hours of cutscenes, which is 66% more than the original, support the story which is said to be, “epic but deeply personal,” and has the best narrative ever.
Addressing the shortcomings of the first game
Improvements in quality of life:
- Autosave system. More frequent checkpoints mean less harsh outcomes for dying.
- More forgiving survival elements. While still needing to be fed and rested, newcomers are no longer overwhelmed by these necessities.
- Better dialogue. Sir Hans Capon and other characters return, but this time they have better writing and more emotional depth.
Verdict: a new benchmark for historical RPGs
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a sequel that does not cut corners. Developers followed it with an obsession that can be called relentless. The historical events are burdensome, freedom is not easy, and there are consequences for every action. Comfort is absent. Clues are minimal and security is only a facade. Weakness is noticed, decisions are unforgiving, and punishment is dealt for failure. Storylines are executed with care, cities are molded, and destinies are decided. The rest period does not last. Hunger aches, gazes etch, and steel bites. There is no one to direct you. Movement in all directions will initiate the long-buried history to muster.
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5.
Release time: 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CET.