“Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in medieval times? What it would be like to have to ration your food, sharpen your blade, bow to lords and witness the first firearm go off? Well, if you have, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2” — “KCD2” — is the perfect game for you.

Whether you are a fan of the previous installment — “Kingdom Come: Deliverance” — or you have just seen the recent hype surrounding this game, it is a wonderful time to jump into the series.

I myself have been a fan since the first game released back in 2018, so this is more than likely going to be my game of the year for 2025.

To jump into “KCD2,” you don’t necessarily need to play the first game, although it will help with the crushing difficulty that this game can throw at you.

When asked about it, I have called this game a “hyperrealistic medieval simulator,” meaning that the combat is rigorous. You have to bathe, eat, feed your companions and repair your armor and weapons just to stay alive in this world.

Throughout the campaign you will play as Henry, who is the main character from the first game.

While you are more experienced starting out in this game than you were in the first, you still have a lot to learn.

Being the son of a blacksmith and working his way into nobility, Henry is a step behind almost everyone that he interacts with, and you have to take time to invest in your skills.

Things such as drinking, thievery, horsemanship, swordplay, heavy weapons, archery, alchemy and crafting are all skills that will improve the more that you do them.

This is not like your typical role-playing game where you have to pick one specific build and run with it for the rest of the game. No, in “KCD2” you can become a master of all trades if you are willing to spend the time to do it.

Since the game is relatively new, I won’t talk about the story any more than that. Instead, I will discuss the aspects of gameplay which have improved since the first game.

Combat is one of the most beloved aspects of these games and the developers over at Warhorse Studios understood that when making “KCD2.”

They reworked the entire combat system so it is more approachable to new players. However, it is now even more rewarding and difficult to master.

If you have ever found yourself wishing that you had a game that was as difficult as a Souls-like, but in the first person, this might be something you want to try. Not to say that “KCD2” is Souls-like — because it is not — just that it is incredibly difficult to master.

The crafting system is probably my favorite thing about this game. For whatever reason I get a massive dopamine release from blacksmithing and forging weapons inside of a game.

To perfect your crafting skill in this game, you need to spend time sharpening your blades, repairing your gear or actually forging new weapons.

When forging weapons, you not only need to work the forge to heat the metal, but you need to hammer it out properly and with good timing on your swings.

All of this needs to be done before you are allowed to temper the blade and sharpen it at a grindstone. Monotonous to some, but to me, it is the perfect way to spend a Saturday.

Another massive improvement since the first game is the addition of crossbows and crude firearms. Considering that the game takes place in the early 15th century, firearms were not overly common yet, and their historical accuracy within “KCD2” is a pleasant surprise.

They are less effective than the new addition of crossbows, but they serve well to scare off enemies who have never seen explosions before. The standard bow or a crossbow will still be more effective for players who prefer ranged combat, though, as these firearms are inaccurate and take forever to reload.

The learning curve of this game is steep. It is not one of those games where you can sit down and just be good at it. Even for an experienced gamer, you will need to learn new controls and approach difficult situations multiple times before you get the results that you want. However, if you are willing to dedicate some time to learning, “KCD2” is sure to challenge and entertain you.

But for now, I have spent enough time talking about “KCD2.”  I need to get back to the forge — there are weapons that need to be made, and I have heard that Henry feels quite hungry.