Warhorse Studios' medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been considered “too hard” by some of its audience, but not necessarily due to traditional difficulty design as much as its uncompromising approach to realism and authenticity. Like most games, the more time the players invest in it, the more skilled they and Henry become, KCD2s protagonist, become. As a result, the game gets easier over time, although that has more to do with the player's experience than any XP or gear-based progression system. The problem is, though Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is so demanding from the start that some players simply don't want to put in the effort required to pass that challenge threshold. But without it, the integrity of the game would be compromised.
It's a reality that developer Warhorse is fully aware of, as it didn't set out to create a game that would be appreciated for its simplicity, but appreciated and admired for its authenticity. In that sense, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is confident in itself and what it wants to be, regardless of any criticism that lobs itself forward for being too difficult from a certain point of view. In a recent interview with GameRant, design director Viktor Bocan confirmed that sentiment when he bluntly admitted that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is simply not for everyone.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's design director knows it's not for everyone
When starting a new game Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2players are faced with the slow, grueling process of what essentially feels like learning to play again. That's because the medieval RPG game doesn't play like anything else out there, so any old habits that players bring with them are forced to change, and if they don't, those players may feel like stopping playing altogether.
Running into battle too quickly or spamming the attack button can have negative effects Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2because Henry is as ordinary as they come, having no special powers or secret weapons that can get him out of danger. Ultimately, this comes down to the game's philosophy of what makes a good RPG, which, according to Bocan, is an unprecedented amount of freedom. The catch, however, is that freedom to that degree requires the main character to be a blank canvas. Ultimately, that means making Henry as normal as possible, which inadvertently makes for a more challenging experience than players might realize.
But rather than apologize for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2Bocan's unconventional gameplay and what has proven to be a high skill curve among some players, Bocan doubled down on his design during our interview with him, making a statement that has become increasingly rare at a time when player discontent seems to be at an all-time high. The design manager said:
“It always amuses me when I read in forums or on social media that the fight is very hard and someone else immediately comes and says: “You have to train. If the battle is hard, you need to gain some levels. Here are some people on the map that you can find and train with, and then you'll get better.” And then they say, “What? I work out in my real life. This is a game. I want to have fun. I don't want to practice in the game. I don't need to learn anything in the game.'
Whether he realizes it or not, Bocan pointed to one of the most glaring complexities of the modern gaming industry and the players who invest in it. The truth is, players often approach games with an expectation that challenge should be bent toward convenience, that all friction should be optional, and that fun is an objective quality. But games that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 resisting the entire point rather than an obstacle to be smoothed over.
Basically, it asks players to meet it where it is, not where they wish it were, because changing that relationship would fundamentally change what the experience is meant to express. At a certain point, catering to every preference stops being accessibility and starts to become erosion. A game that knows what it's willing to lose to be honest may frustrate some of its audience, but it also preserves the very identity that gives it meaning in the first place.
Games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 resisting the entire point rather than an obstacle to be smoothed over.
Bocan would go on to call the idea that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is too hard a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the game. In short, it's really just too hard for those who are unwilling to embrace the idea that freedom always comes at the cost of hard work. IN Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2which looks like taking the blank canvas that Henry is and learning a thing or two, even if he gets a few scrapes and bruises along the way. Bocan continued:
“In our game, you need to learn. You have to train yourself, as a player, and you have to train your character. Henry has to learn as well, so you really need to train with some swordsmen and raise his skills and your skills. It's something that's an important part of the game for us, because we really wanted to give you this character who can't do anything at the beginning, and you need to get this feedback but I like this and teach him for the money.” game. I want to be a swordsman. I don't want to pay money and then train as a swordsman.” But this is a fundamental misunderstanding. We created a game where you can be whoever you want, but you have to give something to get something.”
All of this boils down to a simple truth about Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: at the end of the day, it's a game built on reciprocity. It gives players a huge amount of freedom, but it expects something in return, whether that's patience, humility, or a willingness to learn within its systems rather than trying to circumvent them with amazing heroics. For some, that exchange can feel incredibly rewarding, as progress is made through understanding rather than shortcuts. For others, it may feel like an unnecessary burden. Warhorse has made peace with that divide, and in doing so has drawn a clear line between a game that wants to please everyone and one that is determined to be itself.
- Released
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February 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+/Use of alcohol, blood and grime, sexual content, strong language, intense violence, partial nudity
- Developer
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Warhorse Studios
