So far, Warhorse Studios has bettered its original 2018 medieval RPG in almost every way, providing an intriguing rendition of medieval Bohemia to explore, and near endless ways to do so.

Having now walked eight straight hours in peasant-turned-knight Henry of Skalitz’s shoes as part of 2's extended prologue, I can comfortably say I wouldn’t have survived long in 15th century Bohemia. The lack of hygiene, need to thoroughly brew my own remedies, and the constant fear of running into bandits means every day would be a constant struggle. In short, living in this period was a tough balance of managing hunger, tiredness, and other such ailments – all of which I know to be true thanks to just how much medieval authenticity developer Warhorse Studios has been careful to pour into its highly anticipated sequel. Surprisingly enough, engaging in systems so meticulous hasn’t yet started to become grating; in fact the opposite is true. So far, this bigger, larger Bohemia is an absorbing (if slightly intimidating) RPG world to inhabit.

Admittedly, despite playing up to the point of the game allowed for preview, I honestly feel like I’ve barely gotten started – in a good way. Whereas jumped me around at various points of the game, the first three hours are mostly linear, getting returning players and newcomers alike caught up to speed on who exactly Henry of Skalitz is as a person, and more importantly the status of his relationship with his lord, Sir Hans Capon; and after that, there's the explanation on the nature of combat, exploration, and inventory management. What quickly becomes apparent is that, despite their background and class differences, the two have the most wholesome of bromances, regularly ribbing each other as well as getting in and out of scrapes, giving Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 a real buddy movie vibe from the outset.

It's after stripping down to their pants, getting hunted in the wilderness, and being forced to carry on their envoy mission dressed as peasants where Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's training wheels come off, forcing Henry to dig himself out of the mud (literally) in what turns out to be a rather hilarious and effective way of hitting the reset button. Ever since, I’ve been afforded the ability to adventure out all on my own, taking refuge in a nearby village just out of the main city of Trosky’s walls and eating up all kinds of side missions – of which there are many to sink my teeth into.

Whether I’m hunting down the whereabouts of my missing dog, or honing my swordsmanship skills from a local trainer, what quickly becomes apparent is just how well realised these lands are, and the variety of opportunities they provide. It was when trotting down a nearby creek during an investigation that I came across a thug robbing a poor gent of his clothes, giving me the chance to negotiate him into doing the right thing or battering him using my bludgeon. This being the start of the game means that these decisions tend to favour the bludgeoning approach, as I lacked the necessary Charisma and/or Speech proficiencies, but the systemic teases are already here for how I’ll be able to react to similar scenarios in future.

There really is no word to describe just how large a world Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 drops you into following those initial few hours. The final game will consist of two maps making this already a giant leap of ambition above the original 2018 game in terms of scale. What’s really impressive so far, though, is that I’m yet to venture into the first main city, because I’m so pre-occupied speaking to locals, playing games of dice, and improving my gear in the more rural, undeniably beautiful outskirts of what Bohemia has to offer. Some of these objectives and instances are a bit of a pain to get to seeing as a horse is a luxury I’m yet to afford, but it’s forgivable given that there’s always another instance of opportunity to bump into.

I’m also taken aback by just how much of what I’m doing isn’t dictated by combat. The directional-based system where you can counter weapon swipes by targeting multiple angles returns, and is once again simultaneously engaging yet awkward. However, other than when I ran into random ne'er-do-wells, I spent just as much time snooping through the local outhouse in search of answers, tracking down fisherman, or stealing a lute from a barmaid’s pub wall so as to appease a gang of merry poets. Such instances of opportunity I find regularly pull me away from the rails of the main narrative in ways that give Bohemia a true sense of life and goings-on. Alongside the likes of ’s Night City and ’s Boston, Trosky’s surroundings feel wonderfully alive, and have made me more excited to delve into this sequel’s more built-up areas.

It’s weird to be writing a preview for a game that I feel I’ve already seen so much of while still feeling like I’ve barely gotten started. Warhorse Studios has clearly made the most of this seven-year development cycle, packing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 with as much authenticity and detail as possible, but also a myriad of instances in which to show these improvements off. No doubt the absence of the regular jank and glitches present in the first game is so far aiding in this immersion, making me keen to see what else 15th century Bohemia has to offer – as well as how Henry of Skalitz’s story is set to be tied off.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is set to launch on , , and |S February 4, 2025 – after the release date was brought forward by one week ( ) – but the signs are already here for a potential early 2025 GOTY contender.