Released in February, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II It was the advancement of the big games of this 2025 that is already ending. After him would come Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong and many others. But only one will be the GOTY.
Game of the Year has to be an RPG (and I’m not talking about Expedition 33, which already has all the support in the world). An award that for quality, content and narrative, It has to end up in Warhorse Studios’ masterpiece.
Although titles after Deliverance II captured all the attention, It’s time to justify the exploits of Henry of Skalitz: These are your merits for receiving the highest award at The Game Awards 2025.
The story of a life (in the Middle Ages)
The sequel picks up where Kingdom Come: Deliverance left off, with Henry and Sir Hans Capon on their way to Trosky Castle. They must deliver a letter to Otto von Bergow, about his loyalty to King Sigismund. But if it were that simple, the game would end after ten minutes, right?
What follows is a story of betrayal, honor, friendship and more. Henry undertakes his own private hero’s journey, only here heroism is often an empty shell. It’s the 15th century, and heroic feats of fantasy are just that, fodder for novels and fables.
And this is where the game’s realism is already noticeable, as everything happens to Henry. He is not a Geralt of Rivia who does everything right: makes mistakes, breaks the rules and sometimes creates bigger problems than they were originally..
Involving the story in mundane elements manages to elevate the main plotand make the most epic moments (which exist) transcend; until it concludes with an outcome that lives up to what was expected… and what Henry deserves.
Although the plot has very serious and intense parts, Warhorse gave the game a lot of humor. There are situations that could well be in Don Quixote or Lazarillo de Tormesand this forces us to release control over laughter.
It’s something they contribute to. the magnificent voices in Spanish, premiered in this editionand this does wonders for the characters and their vicissitudes. It’s one of the best dubbings ever created; and extensive due to the enormous amount of dialogues, all perfectly written.
Realism as a goal for glory
Deliverance 2 is not a game for everyone. Years of titles like Skyrim and other “medieval” RPGs have accustomed us to simplified mechanics. But Warhorse goes in another direction: to create the absolute simulator of the Middle Ages, with all the consequences.
Here Every decision has its weight, as does every action.. Are you not eating well or haven’t slept? You can get “fried” in the middle of a fight. And speaking of combat: you will have to learn how to handle the sword, draw it, sheathe it, keep it in good condition and much more.
Take care of your equipment, personal hygiene, learn to forge, trade, search for ingredients for your potions, respect the law… The game has so many rules and systems, which can overcome more than one.
Without giving spoilers to the story, we will say that forces Henry to start almost from scratch. It’s the best way to welcome new players; and if you already liked the first title, you will be able to review the game’s countless rules, as well as find out what’s new.
The game was accused of having clunky mechanics. It’s true, but do you know anything? Even this weakness is one of its strengths. Roughness gives greater realism to situationsemphasizes that we are fallible and that things don’t always work out the first time.
We add to this the environment in which the adventure takes place (surrounded by people and situations of all types), and the result is A level of immersion like no game has offered before.
As you progress through the game, at some point everything will “click”: You will master the mechanics intuitively and enjoy an incredible adventure. It’s not magic, it’s your efforts (and Warhorse’s hard work).
Each mechanic then becomes a fun minigame or activity. You can do whatever you want, whenever you wantbut always keeping in mind that your actions and decisions have consequences, which affect the story and development.
And if you want options, you have them all. Henry finds himself embarked on a thousand and one adventures, in which He works as a warrior, spy, blacksmith, soldier, gamer and more. And all the romances! Almost unlimited possibilities, which have been expanded with DLCs.
In Deliverance 2 there is no padding, and Even the smallest mission hides a big story. There are so many things you can do, that you soon find yourself enveloped by the feeling of freedom, of exploring as you please and enjoying everything that Bohemia has to offer.
If Kingdom Come: Deliverance was the canvas on which Warhorse painted his saga, The sequence is the work that should be in a museum. Its rigor explains why development took so long: it is a game as ambitious as it is engaging, and no other RPG comes close to its level of detail.
Pure art of the 15th century
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can boast of having the most thoughtful and best written video scenes in the entire genre; sequences that are not abundant and therefore emphasize the key moments of the story. But what does the visual display look like during the game?
Well, magnificent, of course. From incredible scenery to character modelingeverything has an exceptional level; far above what the first game offered.
With a title of this magnitude, initial bugs are often common. Deliverance II is the exception to this rule: it went on sale with exemplary optimization, in its different visual modes and on all platformswhether on PS5, Xbox Series X/S or PC.
Special mention for the PS5 Pro version. It’s one of the titles that makes the most of Sony’s new consolewhere it offers an unprecedented visual spectacle. You will break the capture button…
Reasons for and against Kingdom Come: Deliverance II being GOTY 2025
Being “the best medieval RPG ever created” is not a mere title: it is a declaration of intent. One that requires making commitments and escaping complacency, without giving anything to the player. Liberation II requires dedication and effort; in return he offers an experience you will remember for a lifetime.
It’s the only possible candidate for Game of the Year in 2025. Henry and Hans deserve that distinction! And to be clear, I will review all your reasons in favorand the reasons why someone (not me, of course) could deny him this award.
Reasons in favor of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 for GOTY 2025
- Its immersive capacity and the freedom it provides
- The large number of systems
- A story that leaves its mark, as well as its protagonists
- The visual display (and its perfect optimization)
- Its magnificent dubbing into Spanish
Reasons against Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 for GOTY 2025
- It’s a game that requires a lot of dedication
- The rawness of certain systems
- It can be overwhelming
- It takes several hours to get up to speed
- Some NPCs are poorly crafted
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is my GOTY of 2025 for being a game as ambitious as it is spectacularthat manages to leave its mark on those who delve into its masterful proposal.