Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 by Warhorse Studios is a first-person RPG title, similar aesthetically to Elder Scrolls, with a similar questing and map structure. Where KCD2 differs from those titles is in mechanical depth, sheer range and variety of quests and side activities, and the fact that nary a dragon, troll, or goblin is to be seen, for this title is set in the real-world medieval times, in Bohemia (aka modern-day Czechia).

The story is set across two expansive maps, and follows a realistic , albeit twisty story. Our protagonist is Henry, squire to the spoiled yet lovable Lord Hans Capon. Henry is something of a jack of all trades, able to fight, sneak, charm, forge, and brew his way out of most situations. This is just as well, as what begins as a simple mission to meet with a powerful noble soon devolves into murder and chaos. This leaves Henry alone, equipped only with ragged clothing and a poor weapon, with survival and success looking like an impossibility.

Guiding our hero from such an unfortunate opener is actually really tough, but thanks to an in-depth levelling system and a great feeling of reward whenever you make an advancement, it’s well worth the arduous work. Milestones like securing a bed to sleep in, liberating some battered armour, and finding where to find some good food, each day will have you feeling a real sense of achievement. Finding your horse, saving your loyal canine companion Mutt, and getting back on track with your quest just add to it all.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an action RPG, and it takes its role-playing seriously. The people of Bohemia interact with you differently depending on a number of factors. If Henry is dirty, or covered in blood after a fight, then it will be commented on, and make speech checks that much harder. Likewise, if you’re dressed in noble finery, you’re going to get a better reception than if you’re dressed like a beggar.

Levelling rounds out this game’s RPG elements, implementing a system whereby activities level depending on how often Henry uses them. If you want to be an expert blacksmith, get to work making horseshoes and swords at the forge. Want to be a master of the longsword or crossbow? Get to using these weapons. As you level, you also unlock perks, such as making lockpicking easier, using a longsword one-handed to free up the other for a shield or torch, and even teaching Mutt new skills to aid you in the field.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a fine-looking game, too. I played it on the Series X, and Microsoft’s monolith did an excellent job rendering a handsome, visually immersive experience. Everything looks sufficiently lived-in, towns and villages pop with colour, rivers and lakes catch the sunlight in a believable manner, and fields sway with waist-high crops, bordered by dense and shadowy forest. Character models look good, especially focal characters, and animals are also rendered with care and attention.

The game sounds great, too. Ambient effects all sound natural and as they should be (apart from the bat noises, which sound really weird and not at all like a load of flying rodents coming past you), the music is sufficiently grandiose, and the main theme is also really catchy. Voice acting is great for the main characters, with special props to Tom McKay, who does a fantastic job of making Henry a likeable protagonist and really sells his earnest nature well. Luke Dale is also fun as Sir Hans Capon.

Most NPCs are voiced by the same cast of actors (much like the Elder Scrolls games), and the quality does differ between this cast of actors. You can also encounter strange situations wherein the voice actor changes between dialogue and ambient lines for the same character. For example, I met a gamekeeper early on who spoke with a Scottish accent in dialogue, then reverted to a plummy English accent when speaking to his wife while I was returning to my horse. Very funny, but a bit odd!

While Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s story provides the overall objectives, dragging our heroes into more and more political intrigue, the day-to-day gameplay provides the meat of the experience. There are tons of quests to do, and all involve fighting, talking, crafting, and thievery to get the job done. While I probably don’t have the word count to extrapolate on how all these mechanics work, I can at least say that no aspect has been sold short. Stealth, crafting, and potion brewing, it’s all there.

Combat is also really interesting, and took some getting used to, as it is quite different to other games in this genre. Instead of a button to attack and another that you hold to block, Kingdom Come carries over a refined version of the model from the first game. Blocking is timing based, with easy-to-follow onscreen prompts flashing up denoting when you’re supposed to block and riposte (or deliver a master strike counter once you learn it). The right stick is used to choose the direction of your swing, and different sequenced of directions can deliver powerful combos. Combat against groups can be daunting, but with enough wits you’ll soon be winning.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an ambitious game from a relatively small developer, who have made an immersive, challenging, and fun title using limited resources, especially when compared to giants like Bethesda. I highly recommend it to fans of action RPGs, history nerds, or those who enjoy a strong early game challenge. If you don’t enjoy the difficulty, stick with it. Trust me you won’t regret it!