European Context of Kingdom Come Deliverance II: Czech Witcher or Better?

The second kingdom has arrived for fans of immersive and unique games. What else but Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 could be the top contender for Game of the Year in the packed 2025 lineup? A medieval setting, side quests, deep character customization, and kilometers of journal entries—on the surface, it may seem like just another RPG. However, beyond that, KCD2 impresses with its depth and distinctive gameplay experience. Moreover, it has also reshaped game development history in a regional context within modern Europe. Let’s dive into that next.

Slavic “Petit Four”

First, let’s outline the environment surrounding the game and everything associated with it. In the Western world of high-quality game development, there is a stereotype that games from the Eastern European region are mostly garbage. This attitude can be justified by the truly large number of low-quality projects from our lands. However, large-scale games that incorporate creativity, strategy, and dedicated effort have been breaking this stereotype in the 2020s, making the region more visible and interesting.

Don’t know which games originate from Eastern Europe? If we consider it from the geographical perspective of the English-speaking world, then it’s worth highlighting STALKER 2 (Ukraine), The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 (Poland), and Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Czechia). From the viewpoint of cultural influence, Polish and Czech games are integrated into Central Europe, yet all four games share a common Slavic origin.

The Western Slavic game series The Witcher and KCD are first-class European games—interestingly, both depict medieval Europe: one in a fantasy genre (The Witcher) and the other in historical realism (KCD). Meanwhile, the Eastern Slavic STALKER 2 represents the post-Soviet legacy of Europe in a post-apocalyptic setting, and Cyberpunk 2077 is a mix of pop culture and the quintessential 80s genre that portrays a world of high technology and low living standards. All these games received high ratings from critics and players at launch or through updates. All four stand out for their immersive atmosphere, engaging storytelling, and vast open worlds.

Of course, the region has plenty of weak and uninspiring projects—one good game for every ten bad ones. However, in areas with many high-quality projects, there are even more bad ones; you just don’t notice them because of the scale of your favorite successful games.

Beyond the aforementioned “Big Four”, other notable Slavic games include Ghostrunner, Arma, Euro Truck Simulator, Metro Exodus, Frostpunk 2, the Cossacks series, Dying Light, Mafia, and Mafia II. Soon, this list will be joined by The Blood of Dawnwalker from Rebel Wolves and Forest Reigns from VG Entertainment.

Medieval Europe vs Modern EU

Now, let’s move on to the game and its impact. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a successful example of medieval Europe in video games. Its slow-paced tempo also reflects the lifestyle of modern Europeans. But what’s interesting here? Let me explain how this works—KCD2 is a meditative game, but with action deeply immersed in its world. Here's an example of this contrast.

You gallop on horseback with a sword, take part in historical battles, and witness coups, robberies, and fires—the course of medieval European history in all its glory. But between these action-packed moments, you calmly explore the open world, read historical notes, play dice, talk to women, gather resources, trade, choose between truth or lies, and experiment with different ways to complete quests.

The ancient Greeks had two concepts to characterize time:

• Chronos – sequential and repetitive daily actions, like gathering resources or chatting with peasants.
• Kairos – moments of great change and achievement, like a historic battle or a shift in power.

The unhurried gameplay and the ability to fully immerse yourself in historical exploration or alternative ways to complete tasks—it’s a form of meditation through concentrated, deliberate actions. The slow pace of events is rich with virtual life since the game features well-detailed NPC interactions and reactions. In a way, this reflects the rhythm of life in the EU today.

I draw this parallel for a reason—it practically suggests itself. The game is made by Europeans about old Europe, so the authentic signature and style of the region shine through. It’s similar to New York in Marvel’s Spider-Man, where the heavy, congested traffic mirrors a real urban issue, enhancing immersion for players.

The Future is the Old World

What if GTA VI and Death Stranding 2 fail—let’s fantasize. What if the new GTA and Death Stranding turn out to be good but not great enough to meet the massive expectations and fall short of their predecessors? In that scenario, how would Kingdom Come: Deliverance II position itself in the race for Game of the Year?

Of course, if those games are released this year, they’ll receive their well-deserved awards (not guaranteed). But that wouldn’t stop KCD2 from securing a nomination in its own category. My point is—what if the unhurried pace and European-style storytelling, that I described in the previous section become a trend that pushes Hollywood-style action to the side?

These hypothetical questions aren’t baseless. KCD2 is not just a chill village-walking simulator. Alongside its serene medieval RPG elements, it features a measured dose of action, signature mechanics, a well-structured narrative, and hardcore challenges. This game shows it’s a contender for awards, and people agree, judging by its early reception and ratings.

The Primordial Aggression

Image Credit: United Nations Development Programme

Humanity is inherently linked to war, as reflected in the reality of aggression, cruelty, and conflict everywhere. Today, the hottest battlegrounds of this ancient art are located on the European continent.

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."— The Art of War, Sun Tzu

As frightening as it is to speak about the realities of Eastern Europe today, I will draw a parallel only with video games. The real threat to life teaches people to cherish it and appreciate peace. War rages in the Old World, and its consequences, like ripples from a stone in water, spread far beyond the initial impact.

The history of the Middle Ages, the history of the last century, and the present day all play a significant role in shaping the style and content of games from European and Slavic regions.

KCD2: Game Awards 2025

Image Credit: Kingdom Come: Deliverance ─ 5 Years Anniversary Trailer | Warhorse Studios

Comparing games so bluntly is a dirty trick, but it works well to convey the message quickly and clearly. So, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and The Witcher are two different, standalone great games, yet their roles and impact on the industry are similar, as both are a source of national pride, originate from the Slavic region, and have gained worldwide popularity.

KCD2 has the potential to become the Game of the Year. Whether it wins or not, it will still compete for the title, which speaks volumes about its grandeur at this moment. I’m placing my bet that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will secure one nomination at The Game Awards 2025 and two nominations at The Steam Awards.

Praising the game is necessary to draw attention to its uniqueness and quality because it feels like it was made as a textbook example of a high-quality game with Slavic roots. This is deeply influenced by the cultural and historical factors of the region.