At first glance, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Death Stranding could not seem any more different. The former is an epic historical fiction RPG entrenched in traditional open-world game design, while the latter is a cerebral, absurd science-fiction adventure about delivering packages in a post-apocalyptic world. These truths are undeniable, but the two have a bit more in common, both spiritually and mechanically, than one might first assume.

Broadly speaking, both Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Death Stranding are games that are unflinching in their creative vision. They buck many of the trends associated with traditional AAA game design, taking significant risks by implementing mechanics that some might consider “boring,” like brewing potions in real time or slowly walking several in-game miles while lugging heavy virtual cargo. How each title executes these bold creative choices is different, of course, but there’s at least one aspect of Death Stranding that is paralleled by Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, making the newer game surprisingly easy to recommend to fans of Kojima’s most recent opus.

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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Is an Example of Sequel Exposition Done Right

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 does an impressive job of getting players up to speed without boring those who’ve played the first game.

Traversal and Route-Planning Are Similar in Death Stranding and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Moving from Point A to Point B Is Unusually Complex in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Anyone with even a passing familiarity with Death Stranding knows its general premise: moving packages from one location to another, contending with the terrain of what was once the USA. The game is oddly platformer-like in this way, tasking players with wrestling, and eventually overcoming, their environment. The fun of the game derives from overcoming these seemingly mundane challenges, much like the fun of a real-world hike can derive from finding an inconspicuous shortcut or clever path around an obstacle.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, oddly enough, is very similar in how it handles its open-world exploration. In an open-world game like The Witcher 3 or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the act of traveling to new locations is mostly passive, but in KCD2, it requires the player to consider a number of important factors, including Henry’s hunger and energy levels. Additionally, Henry can’t simply force a horse through a thick forest, nor can he jump up a substantial hill to make it to the top; he can’t even swim across a pond. Thus, players need to be thoughtful about the routes that they choose to take, lest they end up hurt or stranded.

It’s worth noting the benefits that this approach to environment design has in both Death Stranding and KCD2. It’s harder to get from point A to point B, yes, but it’s also far more satisfying to travel when a player has to use critical thinking and forethought. Also, vehicles like KCD2‘s horses and Death Stranding‘s motorbike—features that would be givens in other open-world games—are considerably more rewarding and impactful thanks to the harshness of these game worlds.

Death Stranding and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Are Both Perfect for Nature Lovers

Something worth noting about the worlds of Death Stranding and KCD2 is how relatively grounded—and stunning—they are. There are many gorgeous game worlds out there, but many of them strive to be awe-inspiring in a more fantastical way, rather than channeling the realities of the natural world. In Death Stranding, beauty is conveyed through Iceland-inspired, dramatic landscapes, while the pastoral wilderness of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and its predecessor evoke a sense of peace and communion with nature. In both cases, the more conservative design approach synergizes with the aforementioned traversal systems.

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Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an exhilarating Action RPG, set amidst the chaos of a civil war in 15th Century Bohemia.

You are Henry of Skalitz – an ordinary man doing extraordinary things – caught in a gripping tale of revenge, betrayal, and discovery as he embarks on an epic journey, ‘from a humble blacksmith’s forge to the court of Kings’, searching for purpose in this beautiful but brutal medieval world.

From bustling city streets to lush forests, explore this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure filled with action, thrills, and wonder.

RPG

Action-Adventure

Open-World

Systems

Released

February 4, 2025

Developer(s)

Warhorse Studios

Engine

CryEngine

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

X|S Optimized

Yes

Number of Players

1

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

PC Release Date

February 4, 2025

PS5 Release Date

February 4, 2025

Xbox Series X|S Release Date

February 4, 2025

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