At first glance,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2andDeath Strandingcould not seem any more different. The former is anepic historical fiction RPGentrenched in traditional open-world game design, while the latter is a cerebral, absurd science-fiction adventure about delivering packages in a post-apocalyptic world. These truths are undeniable, but the two have a bit more in common, both spiritually and mechanically, than one might first assume.
Broadly speaking, bothKingdom Come: Deliverance 2andDeath Strandingare games that are unflinching in their creative vision. They buck many of the trends associated with traditional AAA game design, taking significant risks by implementing mechanics that some might consider “boring,” like brewing potions in real time or slowly walking several in-game miles while lugging heavy virtual cargo. How each title executes these bold creative choices is different, of course, but there’s at least one aspect ofDeath Strandingthat is paralleled byKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, making the newer game surprisingly easy to recommend to fans of Kojima’s most recent opus.
Traversal and Route-Planning Are Similar in Death Stranding and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Moving from Point A to Point B Is Unusually Complex in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Anyone with even a passing familiarity withDeath Strandingknows its general premise: moving packages from one location to another, contending with the terrain of what was once the USA. The game is oddly platformer-like in this way, tasking players with wrestling, and eventually overcoming, their environment. The fun of the game derives from overcoming these seemingly mundane challenges, much like the fun of a real-world hike can derive from finding an inconspicuous shortcut or clever path around an obstacle.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, oddly enough, is very similar in how it handles its open-world exploration. In an open-worldgame likeThe Witcher 3orAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, the act of traveling to new locations is mostly passive, but inKCD2, it requires the player to consider a number of important factors, including Henry’s hunger and energy levels. Additionally, Henry can’t simply force a horse through a thick forest, nor can he jump up a substantial hill to make it to the top; he can’t even swim across a pond. Thus, players need to be thoughtful about the routes that they choose to take, lest they end up hurt or stranded.
Darkness can also play a significant role inplanning a long trip inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, as it’s much harder to travel at night when compared to other games.
It’s worth noting the benefits that this approach toenvironment design has in bothDeath StrandingandKCD2. It’s harder to get from point A to point B, yes, but it’s also far more satisfying to travel when a player has to use critical thinking and forethought. Also, vehicles likeKCD2’s horses andDeath Stranding’s motorbike—features that would be givens in other open-world games—are considerably more rewarding and impactful thanks to the harshness of these game worlds.
Death Stranding and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Are Both Perfect for Nature Lovers
Something worth noting aboutthe worlds ofDeath StrandingandKCD2is how relatively grounded—and stunning—they are. There are many gorgeous game worlds out there, but many of them strive to be awe-inspiring in a more fantastical way, rather than channeling the realities of the natural world. InDeath Stranding, beauty is conveyed through Iceland-inspired, dramatic landscapes, while the pastoral wilderness ofKingdom Come: Deliverance 2and its predecessor evoke a sense of peace and communion with nature. In both cases, the more conservative design approach synergizes with the aforementioned traversal systems.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an exhilarating Action RPG, set amidst the chaos of a civil war in 15th Century Bohemia.You are Henry of Skalitz – an ordinary man doing extraordinary things – caught in a gripping tale of revenge, betrayal, and discovery as he embarks on an epic journey, ‘from a humble blacksmith’s forge to the court of Kings’, searching for purpose in this beautiful but brutal medieval world.From bustling city streets to lush forests, explore this open-world Medieval Europe through an unforgettable adventure filled with action, thrills, and wonder.
