Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is out, and honestly, it’s one of the most impressive RPGs I’ve ever played. Some people might say Expedition 33 will sweep the Game Awards, but I’m sticking with KCD 2. If it had released earlier in the year, it might have had a fair fight for the top spot instead of being overshadowed.
What makes this game so special is how reactive the world is. Everything feels alive. NPCs have full routines, they notice your actions, and they respond naturally. Drop an item in a town and they’ll pick it up, check it out, and go about their day. Try to steal something and sell it back to a merchant, and you’ll get caught. Guards see you, merchants report you, and your reputation matters. Crimes have consequences. First, you go to the stocks. Next, it’s a public beating. Then branding. Keep misbehaving and it’s the gallows. No other RPG handles crime and punishment this realistically.
NPCs react to your clothing, your scent, and even your dog. That kind of detail is rare. Combine it with combat, blacksmithing, alchemy, archery, diplomacy, and you get a world that feels alive, complex, and fun. The interactions are often hilarious too. I’ve had moments where a sleeping NPC wakes up because of my dog, or a guard notices me tossing a chicken leg, and the game just keeps rolling naturally.
The game also nails daily life. You bathe Henry, feed him, sharpen his weapons, and then go on adventures. Every system feeds into the world and makes it feel real. The story is huge, the characters are memorable, and every choice has weight.
One of the highlights is the Semine wedding. It’s a reflection of the choices you made and the people you helped. If you explored the world and got involved with characters, the wedding feels like a celebration of your journey. It’s small, but it gives real closure and makes your decisions matter.
The writing is top-notch. Dialogue is smart, historically authentic, and full of wit. Even small conversations matter. Skill checks in dialogue are fun, whether you succeed or fail. The game also handles serious topics like suicide and anti-semitism with care, giving context instead of being shocking for no reason.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is rare. It’s brutal but fun, detailed but accessible, and immersive like no other game I’ve played. It’s a game that deserves the Game of the Year award. If you haven’t experienced it yet, this is the perfect time.
