Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: A Bold Vision Earns RPG of the Year Honors

Daily Games

·

15/12/2025

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Kingdom Come - Deliverance 2 did not win at The Game Awards - yet many now call it the best RPG of 2025. GamesRadar+ Features Editor Andy Brown is among them. Warhorse Studios refused to follow the industry habit of fast rewards. They kept the game close to real life.

Key Points

The studio kept the pace slow - they rejected calls for instant gratification.
The hard start is deliberate. Progress must feel earned.The sequel is easier to use - yet the core idea stays intact.
Strong, finished ideas still find buyers.

Slower by Design

The game opens with few tools. Players must think and survive - this choice binds the player to the world. Each small gain feels like a real victory.

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Trust in the Idea

Lead designer Prokop Jirsa and communications director Tobias Stolz-Zwilling said the team never doubted the plan. “We had the strength to say, ‘Yes, that is what we want,’” Jirsa recalled. The first game proved that realism sells. The team kept the start harsh so later strength feels deserved.

Easier to Use, Same Game

Warhorse kept the heart of the game but smoothed the edges. Sleep plus weapon care now fit the flow. New players learn the rules without pain.

Proof of a Fresh Idea

Niche systems like directional combat and survival have reached a wide public. Jirsa cites Dark Souls besides Elden Ring as proof that polish turns niche into mainstream. Publisher Plaion gave time and freedom. The rise of Baldur's Gate 3 but also Clair Obscur - Expedition 33 shows hunger for new RPG forms.

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Next Steps for Warhorse

A Kickstarter for an unknown idea has become a praised sequel. The studio keeps its voice and trains its people. Stolz-Zwilling sums up the outlook: “The sky is the limit. I hope we stay exactly as we are.”

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