Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is here—explore the Czech locations behind the game

Set against the backdrop of 15th-century Bohemia, fans can visit a number of its scenic sites via self-guided trails and games timed for the game's launch.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 04.02.2025 15:22:00 (updated on 05.02.2025) Reading time: 3 minutes

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the Czech-developed medieval epic, is set to launch Tuesday afternoon. But it’s already a global bestseller, dominating Steam charts for 23 consecutive weeks in Czechia and leading sales in Austria and Germany.

Set against the backdrop of 15th-century Bohemia, the game promises expanded gameplay, new weapons, and richer storytelling that builds on the success of its 2018 predecessor—a surprise hit that has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

The central character is once again Henry of Skalitz, the son of a blacksmith whose life is upended when his village is attacked by Cuman mercenaries under the orders of King Sigismund.

Whether you’re a gamer or not, here’s what you should know about this Czech gaming phenomenon.

Take a guided 'Kingdom Come' tour

Since its debut, Kingdom Come: Deliverance has grown into a cultural phenomenon, spawning everything from comic books to a novelty illuminated bank card, the first of its kind globally. Following the original game’s success, the Central Bohemia Tourism Board created a self-guided KCD hiking trail.

“It’s a funny story, but we helped to raise tourism in the region the region [the game] takes place in. A bunch of German, French, and English tourists traveled to the countryside south of Prague to see where the game takes place,” Tobias Stolz, spokesperson for Warhorse Studio, said in an interview with Radio Prague.

The trail begins in Rataje nad Sázavou, the heart of the game’s story, and takes in Pirkštejn Castle and the Church of St. Matthew. It then winds along forest paths and riverside trails to Ledečko and the ruins of Talmberk Castle, once home to Lord Diviš, who sheltered the game’s protagonist.

The journey ends in Sázava, home to the historic Sázava Monastery, with remnants of medieval architecture that echo the game’s setting.

Kutná Hora (known in German as Kuttenberg) is the backdrop for the sequel. The medieval silver-mining city, famed for its "bone church," is already preparing for gaming tourists. It will release two specially designed routes—one self-guided with QR codes and the other guided by a historian—that will take fans through real-world locations featured in the game.

The game’s world has also grown to encompass Bohemian Paradise, a protected landscape of craggy rock formations, deep pine forests, and majestic castles, including medieval fortification Trosky Castle, a pro-Catholic stronghold of the Hussite Wars.

Stunning attention to detail

The game's attention to detail—authentic medieval towns, historically accurate clothing, and even period-correct recipes—has contributed to its success. This meticulous attention to historical accuracy extends beyond the game’s narrative and visuals to its physical props.

According to the Czech Press Agency, Czech company Drakkaria, known for crafting historical replicas for productions like Vikings, The Witcher, and Gladiator 2, dedicated over six months of daily work to produce swords and other medieval items for the game.

Using techniques inspired by medieval blacksmiths, the experienced craftsmen manually created the Invictus sword. In addition to swords, Drakkaria crafted forged keychains, pendants, leather pouches, wooden shields, and tolars, enhancing the game’s immersive experience.

“Many Czech swordsmiths are already very well-established abroad. They travel around Europe and sell their goods, and foreign customers have a very good experience of Czech production. They ask outright, 'Is this a sword from the Czech Republic?’. Czech swords, therefore, have a top-notch reputation in the eyes of people from abroad,” Miroslav Dobrý of Drakkaria told ČTK.

The game’s claims to historical accuracy, however, haven’t been without controversy. The original RPG faced criticism for its lack of diversity, with developer Warhorse Studios arguing that it accurately reflected the demographics of Bohemia in 1403.

The sequel, however, aims to address this, with PC Gamer noting it’s “set to address one of the more controversial elements of the first game – its lack of diversity.”

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 goes on sale at 5 p.m. Central European Time. It will be available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation for an estimated CZK 1,799. The game will be offered in English but will also have Czech dubbing.

Warhorse Studios says it expects the new version to surpass the sales of the original, one of the best-selling Czech video games of all time. For gamers worldwide, it offers a refreshing break from fantasy tropes, proving that history can be as thrilling as fiction.

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