Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PC) review: A stunning, triumphant sequel

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II isn't your typical RPG, and it's clear from the outset that developer Warhorse Studios hasn't softened its approach in the sequel. As someone who genuinely enjoyed the original game despite its punishing combat and insane-level realism, I was cautiously optimistic going into this follow-up. After spending close to a month with the game, I’m glad to say that my anticipation paid off – albeit not without some bruises.

Picking up directly where the first game left off, Henry and Hans Capon venture into the politically unstable region of Trosky, hoping to deliver an urgent message to Otto Von Bergow. Naturally, the mission quickly goes sideways, plunging you into a plot that's more tightly woven and action-driven than the original. While the first game revelled in the slow burn of political manoeuvring and painstaking character development, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 ramps up the urgency and emotional stakes. Yet it never loses sight of the depth that made its predecessor memorable.

Henry’s character continues to evolve significantly, and this time the developers have given more breathing room to explore his internal struggles. Dream sequences involving his deceased father, Martin, are particularly effective, revealing Henry's inner turmoil and trauma in a deeply personal manner. It's commendable how seamlessly these psychological elements blend into a historical narrative packed with political tensions and looming threats of war. Unlike many other RPGs where character arcs feel tacked-on, Henry’s journey feels integral, believable, and engaging.

The dynamic between Henry and Hans Capon also deserves special mention. What initially began as an unlikely and somewhat uneasy companionship in the first game has matured into a nuanced relationship reminiscent of a medieval Merlin and Arthur scenario. Voice actors Tom McKay and Luke Dale deliver remarkably convincing performances, making interactions between these two characters consistently entertaining and genuinely moving. Their banter and camaraderie kept me hooked, even during the game's slower sections.

Where Kingdom Come: Deliverance II truly shines, however, is its staggering commitment to historical authenticity. Set in a meticulously recreated Bohemia, the game presents two expansive maps packed with details begging to be explored. The city of Kuttenberg alone exemplifies the level of care Warhorse has put into environmental storytelling. On my first visit, I found myself completely absorbed, wandering for hours through bustling streets filled with merchants, craftsmen, and townsfolk, each offering insights or tasks that felt unique rather than artificially placed. Unlike typical RPG towns with single-purpose NPCs, Kuttenberg feels alive and organic – a city where every street corner genuinely holds something worth discovering.

Exploration remains incredibly rewarding, but it’s the quests that consistently impressed me most. Side missions in the game never felt like they were mere afterthoughts, thanks to their complexities, variations, and are often surprisingly lengthy too. I recall embarking on a seemingly simple side quest only to find myself engrossed in a storyline that lasted several hours and took me far from my original path. This quality of quest design is rare in modern RPGs, where side quests frequently fall into predictable fetch-and-deliver routines. Here, each quest feels purposeful, narratively rich, and uniquely compelling, adding hours of actual fun beyond the main storyline.

Combat has received subtle yet meaningful adjustments too, thanks to a more thoughtful control scheme that helps players to focus more on strategy and less on fiddling with directional inputs. But make no mistake, the combat here remains brutally challenging. Encounters are demanding, with survival frequently more about careful planning and quick thinking rather than simply hacking and slashing. The addition of a historically accurate, albeit primitive, 15th-century firearm adds a fresh dimension to combat. And as you would expect from a firearm in this era, frustratingly difficult to use. But master it and it becomes a huge asset during engagements.

The game's crime system has also evolved, introducing severe consequences that genuinely affect gameplay. Being caught stealing or causing trouble doesn't merely result in a slap on the wrist. Instead, you can be subjected to public punishments like being branded (yes, it’s permanent and NPCs will react differently to you) or event executed (and yup, you’ll get to witness and then it’s game over). Such elements underline the game’s relentless commitment to realism, and after experiencing these penalties firsthand, I found myself adopting a far more cautious playstyle.

Visually, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II surpasses its predecessor significantly. Playing on the PC, the graphical fidelity is genuinely impressive, showcasing stunningly detailed environments and lifelike animations that frequently tempted me to pause and simply appreciate the landscape – especially at 4K. That my PC runs on the Intel Core i9-14900K and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card certainly helps, but I’ve also checked the game out on our test rig paired with the Powercolor Radeon RX 9700 (read our review) and the game ran very smoothly at 1440p. The developers certainly did a fine job optimising Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

Another noteworthy highlight is the game's sound design. The ambient sounds of nature, bustling cityscapes, and intense battlefields enrich the immersive experience significantly. The music, though subtle, complements the game's tone perfectly, ebbing and flowing with the narrative's tension and release, enhancing emotional engagement during critical moments.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an uncompromising sequel that excels by staying faithful to the strengths of the original while significantly enhancing technical quality, narrative depth, and player engagement. It maintains a deliberately slow and immersive pace that I know won't suit everyone's tastes, particularly if you’re accustomed to more streamlined RPG experiences. But for those willing to invest in the time and patience, it delivers a deeply rewarding, historically authentic journey that stands out distinctly in today’s gaming landscape.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is now available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

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