Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 remains the open world western RPG to beat, boasting some of the most immersive and complex mechanics and systems of gameplay we've encountered, in addition to top-tier performances and environmental storytelling.
We raved about it in our initial review, and developer Warhorse Studios has spent the rest of 2025 expanding on the game's foundations, releasing three premium DLC offerings and a swathe of free updates, including a fiendishly addictive Hardcore mode (for greater medieval immersion).
The tale of protagonist Henry of Skalitz stands out as one of the more thoughtful gaming epics we've undertaken. Equal parts tragic, ridiculous, and triumphant, the game towers head and shoulders above the usual genre fare.
Not since Fallout 3 or Skyrim have we become so fixated on a single game world, and it's all the more impressive, considering there are no dragons or Super Mutants to be found here; instead, hyper-specific Czech politicking and a slavish attention to historical detail.
The quality bar Warhorse has set with the RPG is on par with titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3, but it makes those legendary games seem mechanically shallow in comparison.
While the relentlessly first-person experience may not be for everyone, it offers an unparalleled simulation in which even relatively mundane crafting systems like smithing and alchemy are fleshed out to an absurd degree and are surprisingly riveting.
This extends to the excellent combat, which is still satisfying well past the 100-hour mark. Melee combat is robust, and players' understanding and mastery of its many intricacies are well rewarded. Seeking out trainers, unlocking and then learning to utilise new skills and combos in battle never got old for us.
It's plain to see that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was a labour of love for the developers; from stunning real-world locales to period-accurate medieval artwork, every aspect is bursting with detail.
The game world is massive and constantly in motion, with its colourful inhabitants always on the move. Its many and varied environments are rich with detail, and realistic weather and scripted random encounters add to the experience and sense of adventure.
Warhorse's sound design deserves special mention, too; wince-inducing sword strikes and hilarious NPC chatter abound, and the vocal and motion capture performances of central characters like Hans Capon and Jan Zizka are second-to-none.
There's just so much to see and do in Bohemia, and the narrative is so reactive that even repeat playthroughs of this behemoth are worthwhile; the choices you make along the way are surprisingly consequential. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is undoubtedly one of the most confident and impressive RPGs released in years.