Summary
There are plenty of things that set Warhorse Studios’Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2apart from other RPGs, but its commitment to authenticity and realism are its most defining characteristics. In fact,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s desire for realism in its gameplay structure is a significant part of why it and its predecessor have proven to be divisive among players. Because it leans so heavily into authenticity, it essentially offers a more hardcore experience than modern RPG enthusiasts are likely used to, but that’s also something it would never be able to let go of, lest it lose itself in the process.
It’s not just the gameplay that is impacted byKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s approach to realism either, as its biggest narrative beats are often immensely affected as well. Rather than encouraging players to relentlessly employ underhanded tactics likesave scummingbefore a big choice and fast traveling away from their guilt,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2almost forces players to commit to their chosen path and accept the outcome, regardless of what it is. Furthermore, this design philosophy makesKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s story hit even harder than it could if players were able to constantly course correct throughout their playthrough.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Commitment to Realism Makes Choices Hit Harder
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Heavily Emphasizes Player Agency
In its commitment to offering players one of the most authentic role-playing experiences ever made,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2heavily emphasizes player agency, even more than manychoice-driven RPGshave been known to do. While other choice-driven RPGs generally confine player power to dialogue options,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2spreads that power to nearly every aspect of its gameplay and story. Players can go anywhere and do anything, and the game will never pressure them into fulfilling specific objectives unless they specifically subject themselves to those objectives.
On top of that,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s unforgiving save system, which requires the use of a somewhat rare consumable called Saviour Schnapps, prevents players from saving as liberally as some RPGs allow by making it more costly. Then, there’s the fact that Saviour Schnapps increases Henry’s drunkenness, so saving too frequently can severely impact gameplay. All of this, of course, is to reinforce the game’s realism, which does encourage players to make their own decisions but also puts them in a unique position where they are often forced to embrace the outcome rather than attempt to change it.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Biggest Plot Points Don’t Let Players Skip the Ride Home
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s realismdoesn’t just rely on its save system to make a point, though, as the presence of such a system really serves to reinforce the player’s power.Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2wants its players to feel the weight of their choices, and it will frequently put players in moments where they have no option but to sit and reflect on the choices they made.
This is plainly seen in moments like the ride back to Trosky after the Semine raid inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s “Necessary Evil” quest— which involves one of the first major plot-altering decisions players can make. After the choices are made and the event unfolds, players are forced to endure the full journey back to Trosky on horseback by preventing them from using the game’s fast-travel function. Moments like this ensure that players both confront and feel the weight of their decisions, thereby enhancing any emotional connection they have to the game’s story.
While other choice-driven RPGs generally confine player power to dialogue options,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2spreads that power to nearly every aspect of its gameplay and story.
So, whileKingdom Come: Deliverance 2certainly asks and encourages players to make their own choices, it also demands that they live with them. The game’s commitment to realism isn’t just a quirk or a gimmick, but an intentional design choice that makesKingdom Come: Deliverance 2one of the most distinctive role-playing experiences ever made. Unlike many other modern RPGs that allow players to easily escape or alter the outcome of their choices, Warhorse’s latest makes doing so much more difficult, but that’s largely whyKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s storyis so memorable.
