Swords and shields at the ready! Seven years after Warhorse Studios first introduced us to the harsh but exciting medieval kingdom of Bohemia, gamers can now continue beloved blacksmith son Henry’s monumental story as the riotous Kingdom Come Deliverance II releases on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X. It’s certainly been worth the wait as this sequel is bigger, braver, and bolder than the original, being this year’s must have game for fans of immersive RPGs and historical epics. So saddle up your steed ready for this action-packed ride!
Picking up after the thrilling events of the 2018 original, gamers can once again step into Henry’s shoes as he fights against King Sigismund during a tumultuous civil war. Our bruised and battered hero is seeking revenge for the horrific raid of his village, which resulted in the deaths of his family and friends. He wants Sigismund to pay and quite frankly, so do we! This time around Henry's travels take him to major bustling towns and cities such as Kuttenberg in the pursuit of allies who will join him in his vengeful quest, along with nobleman and friend Hans Capon.
Now, if you are medieval history nerds like ourselves who have probably spent too much time reading Horrible Histories, you may recognize Sigismund’s name given that he was a real life ruler, becoming King of Germany and King of Bohemia, with the game dropping you right in the middle of his bloody siege on the realm. But the impressive historical detail doesn’t stop there. In fact, many of the key aspects and events of Kingdom Come Deliverance II draw from medieval history, which adds another fascinating dimension to the game.
Crucially though that’s not to serve as a simple backdrop to a stunning adventure, as the historical authenticity feeds into every single part of the game, from the weapons to the locations. Some of the places you will visit are actually still standing today, which only adds to the immersion. We already can’t wait to visit these ourselves on a Kingdom Come Deliverance II themed holiday (or shall we say, epic quest), although don’t worry, we will be leaving the swords at home this time!
This mighty sequel features a wide variety of quests to take on including numerous side adventures which will have you instantly hooked, so much so you might even forget what you were initially doing. From defending a castle in a bloody siege with everything you have to deceiving curious bandits in protection of your allies, the quests feel fresh and dynamic, allowing you a lot of freedom in how you decide to approach every single one.
As you engage with these quests there are various locations to explore as the world of Kingdom Come Deliverance II is twice as big as the original game. On your journey you can enjoy the natural landscape of Bohemian Paradise and the bustling city of Kuttenberg, two starkly different locations which are vividly brought to life. The visuals are so jaw-droppingly stunning it will be understandable if you mistake them for real life photographs – that’s how beautiful and incredibly realized this world is.
As you walk through the villages you will see the local sellers boasting about their goods, in the hope that you will purchase their wares. Meanwhile as you gallop through the gorgeous countryside on horseback it’s so detailed you can practically breathe that fresh air and feel that cool wind on your neck, providing some much-needed light relief from the intensity of the blood-soaked combat.
On your journey you will meet a range of unforgettable characters including some returning fan-favorites from the first game who we welcome again with a warm embrace. It’s a joy to be reunited with the charming parish priest who has a knack for swordplay Father Godwin, whilst the villainous Istvan Toth remains deliciously evil. Put simply, you just can’t have an all-swords blazing medieval romp without some dastardly baddies – and thankfully, Kingdom Come Deliverance II more than delivers.
It’s easy to lose yourself in the impressive landscapes, especially when every single part of the game is designed to be as immersive as possible, from those memorable characters to the gripping realistic combat, from the in-depth mechanics to the intricate dialogue. The impressive script which might soon take the world record for longest video game script was 2.2 million words for a good reason!
From the moment you step back into the world of Bohemia you are guaranteed to find yourself completely absorbed but the best thing about that is that’s only the start of this bloody, brash, darkly humorous, unexpected, and brilliant medieval adventure. Just take our word for it when we say this is a game you won’t be able to put down!
"Audentes fortuna iuvat!" Kingdom Come Deliverance II is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X, so pick it up today digitally or physically. You can find out more on the game’s website.
