Starship Troopers Extermination is a game I absolutely love and hate at the same time. The concept is fantastic. 16 players vs waves of the bug menace. References to the movie all over the place. Classes galore. A galactic front game mode for guilds/clans. Wide selection of modes with complex objectives. It also has the super fun mechanic of bug bodies being stackable. Meaning the more that die next to the wall, the higher up the alive bugs can climb up. A super fun feature to see in action. I've seen bunkers absolutely COVERED in bug bodies. Glorious. However, just a few months after its 1.0 release from early access, it isn't look great.

With a weekly peak of 356 players on steam, down from an all time peak of 16,065 on steam (and the 1.0 release had a peak of 2,430 players about 4 months ago), it casts a cloud of doubt on the future of the game.

Now it should be noted, as I'm sure many will point out, steam is not the only release platform. On PC it has Steam, Epic Games, and a direct purchase. Along with this, it is cross play with both PS5 and Xbox releases. Cross play I think is something that is doing a lot of heavy lifting with this game at the moment to minimize queue times. I shudder to think of where we would be without it. I wouldn't be surprised if between all the platforms and consoles, it probably peaks at 1500-2500 players.

So what went wrong? Why does this game struggle?

The Biggest Issues

1. The most obvious one, helldivers. While helldivers is more about small group gameplay, Starship offers large groups of 16 players and base building as its primary mechanic. However, the themes/backdrop of both games is very similar. There is a very noticeable crossing of audiences among both games. When Helldivers released, the extermination's population dropped by 50% on steam. However, the devs were able to rebound I believe thanks to a sale to draw more players back in.
2. Performance - Even after all its early access, the game still has performance issues at times. Especially when a lot of bugs spawn. I'd say out of every 10-15 hours of game time, I'll crash at least once. Most of the time I get huge FPS drops from just the sheer amount of things going on my screen. So that can create frustration among players
3. QoL - The game lacks QoL in a few areas. The biggest one that impacts me on the regular is the inability to change your class once chosen. You can't change your loadout while in game and you can't change your class once you've spawned. This means if through the course of the match you learn your team is struggling with a specific role/area, you're shit out of luck. Especially since you don't often have a full match at the start. So you may fill one of the missing classes with the hope that incoming players will fill the rest. But then they don't or they go the class you went.
4. Target Audience - This is a multi-facet one. However, the overarching theme is who the game sets as its target audience. Extermination, in its current form, best appeals to guilds/clans/players who want to organize. Those who will hop into discord, find groups, etc. Not only this, but focusing on people/groups who can field 10 players at least. This target audience is not large. The average person is not going to want to get home from work/school/whatever, then deal with trying to find a group of 10+ players to play with. That takes a bit of time and effort. Compared to say Helldivers 2 of just 4. They'll get home, click the "quick match button", then get thrown into the fray. In short, the game is just insanely difficult at Easy and Normal difficulties for the random average player in todays ecosystem. The game asks too much of them and I go into this further below.
5. "Death is part of the game" - I think if at least one person extracts it will label the match "Victory" if you did the objective. Now this is in line with the source material from a theme standpoint. Most of the troopers dying. Barely anyone getting out alive. But I think the average player...well they just don't like dying. It probably produces a bad feeling in their minds and a sense of failure. Even if the match was successful. And sometimes the game just throws you into a situation where you're guaranteed to die.

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Group Appeal Primary

So their appeal is very niche in this space, sadly. Why does this game primarily appeal to this group focused audience audience? Overall its hard. And why its hard, is what I've observed.

1. Bug Designs - The game introduces some bugs that are hard to deal with. Keep in mind this is a first person game where you're getting a TON of bugs in your face that do a lot of damage. While this in itself isn't a huge issue, there are some bugs that can make fighting an annoyance. There's one bug that is about the size of half a human. It will roll up into a ball and throw itself into the air at you like a grenade. Once it lands, it will then explode. On its own, sure its easy to spot. But when you're fighting hordes of bugs, bodies everywhere, smoke particle effects all of your screen, your screen shaking like crazy, fire everywhere; spotting it can be very hard. There is a distinct sound that players when they fly. However with all the explosions and gunfire, this can be hard to hear. So many times you will be sitting there fighting then just explode and die. Sometimes the game bugs out and doesn't even play the sound. I've been in a few games where people start yelling in chat because they think someone is TKing them when it was the grenade bug. There's two bugs that also sit back at long ranges and lob artillery at the player. Again, players have a lot of trouble dealing with this when they're distracted by whats in front of them. And one of the throws down a large flame effect on the ground around you. Further adding to the "I can't see" effect. Nevermind how quickly it kills you. These 3 bugs are arguably the ones that people struggle most with and I'd say account for a majority of losses I see in random matches.
2. Building - A core part of many of the modes is building a base. You have to protect an objective and you build a base while protecting it. This involves placing down walls, auto turrets, manual turrets, shock traps, bunkers, spot lights, ammo boxes, etc. Have you ever seen 16 people all trying to build a base at once? Its a dumpster fire in every sense of the word. People just placing things randomly. People not realizing what the objective is and leaving it exposed (there's two buildings. One is an HQ that drops first that does NOT need to be defended, and another building that drops that DOES need to be defended. People regularly mix these two up). People sometimes start fighting over what is "right" and will unbuild things that have been placed. Then the person who placed it will rebuild it. Rinse and repeat until one relents. Its been a long time since I've seen a base that looked like it was built with some sense in a pug match.
3. Classes - You have 6 classes and I'd say at least 4 of them are vital to the success of the match. However, the issue is that when playing with random players. Well, they don't always care about playing what is 'needed'. You'll find classes missing from the game, or more than half of the match playing one class. People also need to do their jobs with these classes. And again, you will find people not doing their jobs. Medics not healing or reviving. Engineers not building, repairing. Demo's not maintaining bug piles or taking out HVTs. Etc etc. When you combine this with the lack of ability to change loadout or class once in game; it hamstrings the communities ability to compensate mid match.
4. Objective Based - People get caught in blinders. You can't be solely focused on the bugs in front of you. You have to realize that there's an objective. You have an objective to protect. Someone to escort. A resource to return. And so many times players in random matches will just be blind to everything except "kill kill kill". Resulting in a failure.

Those are the 4 biggest issues I see being faced. And its important to keep in mind, this will typically be in a game of 16 players. So it isn't just 1-4 players you're trying to get organized. Its 16.

I don't mind things being difficult. But right now, I think Normal and Easy are way too difficult as this is where most of the casual, pug, quick match players will go. And chances are they're not having a fun experience, helping leading to the drain in players we see now.

I think at the very least if the dial down on inferno, grenadier, and bombadier bug spawn rates; it would probably result in a much more enjoyable experience. Leave hard+ difficulties hard for the clans. But there needs to be some "space" for the majority audience to go to to play your game.

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Is there hope?

I'd like to think so. I think the developers will try to support the game for at a minimum a year post release. Year 2 will probably give us a good idea if they think its a viable investment going forward. But this game offers an experience that is quite unlike anything on the market at the moment. At the very least, a coop pve experience with 16 other people in a sci-fi setting.

Their roadmap indicates they're still investing into the project. Trying to address many of the things I've brought up here. I just hope that by the time the fixes come for these issues, its not too late. And they wont struggle to reacquire all those players they lost.

Game Title: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Developer: Warhorse Studios

Publisher: Deep Silver

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 89 average - 96% recommended - 69 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

"Immersive Sim, love letter to odd situations, cranky combat simulator., KCD2 is all those things and somehow comes together."

AltChar - Dina Husejnagić - 95 / 100

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is hands down a must-play for anyone who’s into Medieval open-world gameplay. All of it combines into a package that justifies the 59.99€ price tag, or 79.99€ if you’re going for the Gold Edition. Honestly, this is a serious Game of the Year contender.

Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 100 / 100

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a full-fledged role-playing game that knows what it's doing, is confident, has great cinematic quality, and tells a magnificient story. It's an absolute masterpiece.

CBR - Mark O'Callaghan - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a phenomenal RPG that players will love spending countless hours on. Bohemia is prosperous and thriving, with a lot of natural interactions that can lead players on quests that feel like an adventure.

CGMagazine - Justin Wood - 5 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 had a lot of promise, with its gripping story and beautiful landscapes, at least until the technical issues started showing up and completely ruined the experience.

Cerealkillerz - Nick Erlenhof - German - 8.5 / 10

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 delivers a unique medieval setting with more freedom and realism than any game before it. Henry's story continues, remains exciting and also looks really great. If you are a fan of the first instalment or have the time, desire and also a little frustration tolerance, then you should have a lot of fun in Kuttenberg and the surrounding areas for a long time

Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 7 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an incredibly ambitious RPG venture that soars when all its moving system parts and systems work as they're meant to. As promised by Warhorse Studios themselves, protagonist Henry can be just about whatever you want him to be, whether that's a wise diplomat, a mischievous thief or a drunk who finds himself regularly in barfights and down in the dirt. This is bolstered by meaningful skill specialisations, a strong bond between Henry and Hans and a story with exciting twists and turns. However, immersion is broken often with disappointing bugs, odd narrative choices that don't bear weight and the fact female characters don't get to do much of anything. A good game that could've been amazing had it been given a little longer to cook, Warhorse's follow-up is a fun time despite all its obstacles but isn't quite ready to be crowned victor just yet.

Destructoid - Steven Mills - 9.5 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 gives you that lively and immersive world full of choices and then implores you to make the wrong ones, and it’s a hell of an experience because of it.

Dexerto - Liam Mackay - 5 / 5

It’s obvious a lot of love has been poured into every facet of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. If you found combat in the first game too difficult or the survival mechanics tedious, then the sequel’s streamlined gameplay might not be enough to change your mind.

However, if you were a fan of the first game, there’s so much to enjoy here. It’s clearly the game Warhorse wanted to make back in 2018, and it’s been improved in so many small ways. Bigger and better, it’s a must-play.

Aside from some clunkiness and the odd tedious mission, it’s hard to find another game that so expertly combines realism and fun, with tough but satisfying combat, a morally ambiguous but grand story, and a faithfully recreated medieval world brimming with stuff to do. It’s the sequel fans wanted, and I feel quite hungry for more.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 4.5 / 5

The big selling point of Kingdom Come Deliverance II is also its biggest potential drawback. You’ve got to be genuinely interested in the history that it depicts to find it immersive. I do wonder whether some people will come in expecting a Skyrim-like or a first-person Witcher experience and end up disappointed with this. It’s not that kind of game. It’s far more grounded and gritty, but if reading Tolstoy or Yoshikawa appeals to you, then Kingdom Come Deliverance II is very much for you.

Digitec Magazine - Philipp Rüegg - German - 4 / 5

Such a detailed and expansive world, which captures the flair of the Middle Ages so beautifully, does not exist anywhere else. There are magnificent castles, huge army camps and tranquil villages where I would love to settle down.

DualShockers - Callum Marshall - 10 / 10

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an unapologetically unique RPG that takes everything that was great about the original and takes it to the Nth degree. It's a cinematic, historically charged epic with a sublime open world to explore, a depth of systems to master, a wealth of meticulously designed quests to complete, and a sandbox survival format that makes simply existing in this world a satisfying and rewarding experience.

Eurogamer - Katharine Castle - 3 / 5

This gorgeous medieval RPG continues to be just as divisive, prickly and abrasive as its predecessor.

EvelonGames - Joel Isern Rodríguez - Kaym - Spanish - 9.5 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a true gem of the RPG genre. Warhorse Studios has managed to improve every aspect of the first game without losing its essence. Its demanding learning curve might deter some players, but those who immerse themselves in its world will find one of the most rewarding and immersive experiences of the year.

With a challenging combat system, an engaging story, impeccable atmosphere, and a reactive world where every decision matters, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II stands as a masterpiece of medieval RPGs. Undoubtedly, one of the year’s standout games and a must-play for any fan of the genre.

Everyeye.it - Alessandro Bruni - Italian - 8.7 / 10

The organic nature of the proposal, its unique character and the excellent relationship between quantity and quality make Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 a precious experience, which clearly reaffirms the talent of the Prague studio.

Fextralife - 9 / 10

With stellar storytelling, top notch voice acting, and much more polish than its predecessor, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a "return to form" for the RPG genre, and will likely be one of the best titles this year. Warhorse has proven they can elevate their formula to even greater heights, and I cannot wait to see what they do next. A day 1 buy for any RPG fan, especially those that enjoy true "role playing".

GRYOnline.pl - Dariusz Matusiak - Polish - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 isn't a game that should attract every kind of player, but even though you might have avoided the first part for whatever reason, you definitely should give the sequel a chance. It is a much more spectacular, bigger in every way mega-game that stands out from its peers.

Game Rant - Josh Cotts - 10 / 10

With Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Warhorse Studios delivers one of the first great games of 2025.

GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 9.5 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is one of the finest games I've played in years, with a gripping story and refined gameplay. It's still early in the year, but this is definitely on course to be 2025's Game of the Year.

GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a triumphant sequel, improving upon its predecessor with an open-world RPG that delights in its complexity and emphasis on player choice.

Gameblog - Geralt de Reeves - French - 8 / 10

If you loved the formula of the first opus, you will certainly not sulk your pleasure on this one. For beginners, however, you will have to show a little self-denial at the beginning to then fully appreciate the great strengths of this "historical" open-world RPG, which is truly unique in its category, even if a little too familiar compared to its big brother.

Gameliner - Anita van Beugen - Dutch - 5 / 5

Warhorse Studios delivers a fantastic medieval RPG with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, a potential Game of the Year nominee, featuring a dynamic world rich in activities, improved mechanics, an engaging story with character depth and plot twists, enhanced graphics and performance, and a refined combat system that makes it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Gamepressure - Jakub Paluszek - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 really improves almost every aspect of its already very good predecessor. Looking at the whole thing more calmly, we of course see the flaws, but it's hard to ignore the enormous amount of effort, passion, and heart put into this project.

Gamer Escape - Grant Dotter - 10 / 10

This is one of those games I absolutely think everyone should experience. Do play the original first if you haven’t, because that was also an amazing experience, and it’s entirely worth the 200-300 hours you might end up spending to play both. I don’t regret one minute of it and I don’t think you will either. Even certain upcoming AAA-budget titles that I am still eagerly awaiting are going to have to pull out all the stops to match what I just experienced.

Gamer Guides - Tom Hopkins - 95 / 100

As a complete package, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is mind-blowing. The first game was an interesting foundation, but the long-awaited sequel stands easily alongside the best RPGs of the last decade. It tells an exciting yet emotional story, and the world is a joy to explore, but it’s the level of immersion that’s created by all of its interconnected systems that’s unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

Gamer.no - Øystein Furevik - Unknown - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a masterpiece, and one of the most impressive role playing games ever made.

GamesRadar+ - Alan Wen - 4 / 5

"What there's no getting away from is that progression is purposely slow."

GamingBolt - Matthew Carmosino - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a polished open-world RPG that outdoes its AAA competition at every turn. Some of the realism can bog down the gameplay, but the intricate dialogue choices and perk tree compel me to forgive some of the returning irritants. And the story, just wow. I can't say enough great things about the characterizations, dialogue, story twists, activities, and cinematography packed into KCD2's main quest; it's simply the best in the genre.

GamingTrend - David Burdette - 95 / 100

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a special RPG that ranks with the Skyrims and Witchers of its genre. Despite a high learning curve, I found myself lost in its clutches for hours on end, immersed in the world of 1400s Bohemia. An absolutely gorgeous setting that's satisfying to explore, combined with rewarding progression and an outstanding narrative makes KCD2 a lock for awards season.

Generación Xbox - Adrián Fuentes - Spanish - 91 / 100

With this second installment, we have a game that is even more well-rounded than the previous one, where it follows the formula of everything it did well in the past, and applies it to its sequel, offering us a game that grabs you from the first minutes.

Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the most frustratingly enjoyable game I have played in a while. It is exhausting while at the same time unconventionally brilliant. It requires a heavy constitution to sit through, but the payoffs result in a playground of infinite possibilities.

HCL.hr - Zoran Žalac - Unknown - 90 / 100

While it's far from a perfect game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has a certain charm and ambition that's rarely seen in other games.

IGN - Leana Hafer - 9 / 10

Armed with excellent melee combat and an exceptional story, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is one part sequel and one part coronation, bringing a lot of the original's ideas to fruition.

IGN Deutschland - Eike Cramer - German - 8 / 10

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an epic, beautiful and authentic medieval adventure full of fun, love, cruelty and war. Warhorse Studios tell a dramatic and twist-filled tale of friendship, loyalty, betrayal and politics that fills at least 65 hours of playtime. The depiction of late medieval statehood is just as captivating as the small sidequests and stories with their strong and authentic characters from sheperds to sword masters. In addition, there is a picturesque world, with probably the most impressive medieval city depiction I've ever seen in a video game. But not everything is perfect. The game design is annoying with forced stealth on top of a frustrating save system. That's especially true for some of the longer story missions. On top of this, the combat mechanics are extremely inaccessible and, with their mercilessness, put far too many obstacles in the way of the players, especially at the beginning. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is nevertheless an utterly unique, ambitious and, in large parts, very good adventure. But it's also a video game that misses important points a little too often in the gameplay details and does not respect the player's time in certain places.

IGN Italy - Stefano Castagnola - Italian - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the perfect sequel to an already great opening chapter: bigger and better in almost every way, it refines and improves the previous formula by adding some new weapons and gameplay mechanics, while staying faithful to what made its predecessor stand out as a unique and quite charming game. And also, it features an even more involved story with a richer, more vibrant cast of memorable characters.

INVEN - Kyuman Kim - Korean - 9.5 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has all the potential to be one of this year’s standout titles. It improves on its predecessor in every way, bringing 15th-century Europe to life with deep historical accuracy and rich cinematic storytelling. If you can embrace the first-person perspective, an unforgettable experience awaits.

Impulsegamer - Scott De Lacy - 5 / 5

Complex real world dynamics, incredible graphics and brilliant story make this one of the best games ever made. An absolute winner and must play for 2025!

Insider Gaming - Grant Taylor-Hill - Buy

This monumental medieval adventure will have you living a double life - but in this one, you're a brave adventurer exploring the most faithful recreation of a real place I've ever seen.

Just Play it - Mounir Bensaci - Arabic - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 delivered an immersive experience through its realistic world, captivating characters, and epic combat style. The medieval-inspired music and meticulous attention to detail transformed the game into an unforgettable adventure, making it a perfect experience for fans of the RPG genre.

KonsoliFIN - Joonatan Itkonen - Finnish - 4 / 5

Featuring one of the most immersive game worlds ever created, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a hugely entertaining adventure yarn that rivals the film epics of Ridley Scott. Some of the game mechanics are downright terrible, but its story and characters are so enthralling that any complaints eventually fall by the wayside. It's only February, yet this is already a strong contender for one of the best games of the year.

MKAU Gaming - Yasmin Noble - 8 / 10

Every element of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II melds together into an intense, thoughtful adventure unlike anything I've ever experienced in gaming. Politics, intrigue, and action. The ultimate recipe for a solid story-based RPG, something Kingdom Come: Deliverance II seeks to provide and achieves.

Multiplayer First - James Lara - 9.5 / 10

Warhorse Studios has delivered a worthy sequel and set a new benchmark for what medieval RPGs can achieve. It’s clear that they’re not just creating a game—they’re crafting an experience that invites players to lose themselves in a rich, detailed world that never feels like anything less than a living, breathing testament to the past. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 kicks off the year as a top contender for Game of the Year, and regardless of its ultimate victory, its impact on the RPG genre will be felt for years to come.

Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 8.5 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a gargantuan RPG that's bigger and better than the first game with stronger doses of realism, immersion and intricate mechanics to create something decidedly unique and engaging - but not for everybody.

One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an exceptional experience for RPG enthusiasts, offering a fully immersive adventure where the sky's the limit in the choices you make. Despite the steep learning curve, the game eases you into its massive world during the first dozen hours, providing a smooth entry.

Warhorse has crafted a masterpiece with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, delivering a fully optimized title ready to play from day one. Whether you choose to play it at home or on a portable device like the Steam Deck, it offers a fantastic adventure to kick off 2025 with a bang.

Oyungezer Online - Onur Kaya - Turkish - 9 / 10

Eurojank, but the very best kind; a grand adventure polished to shine, earning your affection without pandering to the player.

PC Gamer - Joshua Wolens - 90 / 100

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a big, bold, unutterably weird thing, and it's a new RPG classic.

PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 95 / 100

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an impeccable sequel that exudes quality and has a huge impact on the RPG genre.

Pizza Fria - Matheus Jenevain - Portuguese - 10 / 10

We have a really cool plot with charismatic and captivating characters, a lively and super detailed world, lots of fun mechanics, a lot of things to do and discover, skills to improve and they even made it easier to get our schnapps to save the game. Look how wonderful!

Press Start - James Berich - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II effortlessly builds upon the original game to offer a true open world in every sense of the concept. While some obtuse systems and unforgiving design choices may put some players off, Deliverance II feels like a game that better achieves all the potential that the original game had. It's engaging, exciting, and a lot more inviting. And for that, it's a truly successful sequel.

Push Square - Khayl Adam - 10 / 10

Fortune favours the brave, the family motto of the noble Capon line and the creed of developer Warhorse Studios. In daring to deliver its singular vision for a game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 transports even the most grizzled genre veterans back to a time of truly immersive video game experiences. Challenging, uncompromising, and thoroughly engrossing, it's in a league almost entirely of its own.

Quest Daily - Nathanael Peacock - 8 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a modern-day epic in the grand scheme of gaming. It has its ups and downs, and fair share of bugs to be ironed out post launch. But in a game this size, with so many endless side-quests and stories to get caught up in, it's easy to overlook the burned edges on a banquet like this.

RageQuit.GR - Kostas Kallianiotis - 93%

A cinematic masterpiece and a landmark game among European historical RPGs.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored

Warhorse's historical open world RPG makes Elder Scrolls feel shallow, but its deft feudal portrayal is checked by the routine boy's fable at its core.

SECTOR.sk - Oto Schultz - Slovak - 9 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is what any great sequel aspires to be. Evolving from petty countryside trifles into a full-blown historical drama filled with political intrigues of important figures in the powerful regions of Kuttenberg and Trosecko. Overhauled game systems, improved UI, streamlined mechanics, enhanced graphics and better technology provide overall much grander and polished experience but keep the same spirit of the original game.

Shacknews - Sam Chandler - 9 / 10

When it comes down to it, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a brilliant and astounding experience by a developer that has shown itself to be a leader in the open-world genre. Henry makes for such a pleasant protagonist that you can’t help but love him, and the journey you go on across medieval Bohemia is equal parts complex and deeply absorbing. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 shines bright among its peers, even with its dints and dents.

Spaziogames - Italian - 8 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an experience tailored for those who appreciate the slow passage of time, uncompromising realism, and the profound impact of every decision. It plunges you into a gritty, unforgiving Middle Ages-harsh, unfiltered, and devoid of shortcuts or concessions.

SteamDeckHQ - Noah Kupetsky - 4.5 / 5

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is quite possibly one of the best non-linear RPGs I have ever played. No game has ever made me feel like anything could actually happen based on my choices to the degree this game has. The story and side content are both varied and enticing, making me want to stop and just go experience all the side quests I could. The combat and progression mechanics are also solid, and I even loved the more realistic mini-games like smithing or alchemy, which give a nice break from the fighting and running around.

There are some minor issues here and there, like getting stuck on terrain and the pre-rendered cutscenes taking out a little of the immersion, but these are small in the grand scheme. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a fantastic game through and through, and it would be a shame not to have this one in your library.

The Games Machine - Alessandro Alosi - Italian - 9 / 10

KCD2 is a huge medieval RPG that carries all the strengths and a handful of rough edges of its predecessor, integrating them into an incredibly realistic world and epic narrative. It expands, refines and enriches the legacy of the first chapter in an excellent way in practically every way, so for those who appreciated KCD it is a must-buy.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9.5 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 vastly improves everything from its predecessor. The combat is smoother, the story is much better, and the scope is grander than ever. It has some minor glitches, but none of them are game-breaking. Despite its size, it is one of the smoothest games in recent years and will go down in history books as an RPG masterpiece.

TheGamer - Sam Hallahan - 5 / 5

In an age where games are fighting harder than ever just to succeed, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 should not be one to pass you by, as a return to form for the RPG genre. It’s not just a game about history - it’s a game that feels like it’s making history.

TheSixthAxis - Gareth Chadwick - 8 / 10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 continues to fulfil the uncompromising vision of the first game. It weaves together a world of lords, knights, peasants and bandits in medieval Europe, with poor Henry of Skalitz caught somewhere in the middle just trying to cope. It's grand in scale whilst being full of fine details and it sometimes gets in its own way a little bit, but if this is your kind of game it'll be one that you don't want to end because there's nothing else quite like it.

Tom's Hardware Italia - Andrea Maiellano - Italian - 9 / 10

Summarizing why Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a masterpiece in just a few lines is incredibly difficult. Warhorse Studios has not only improved every aspect of its predecessor but has also demonstrated that, with the right resources, it is capable of achieving greatness. The new chapter in Henry’s journey is a product of exceptional quality, with a commendable technical foundation, hardcore mechanics, and an abundance of thoughtfully introduced content. Is it a perfect game? Absolutely not—it’s still riddled with rough edges. However, these flaws pale in comparison to its sheer grandeur. In short, it’s a strong contender for Game of the Year, and based on its merits, we’ve decided to award it our highest honor.

VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a brilliant RPG that's uncompromisingly itself. Difficult, mucky, and bloody, it's an excellent realization of the promise of the first game and a coming-out party for Warhorse into gaming's top tier.

WellPlayed - Nathan Hennessy - 9 / 10

This is more Kingdom Come: Deliverance, just a bit bigger and better. Warhorse's second tour into medieval Bohemia should be on your 2025 travel itinerary if you can survive it.

XGN.nl - Roland Janssen - Dutch - 9 / 10

Whether it's fighting, exploring or binge-drinking, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 improves on its predecessor in nearly every way. Some technical issues hold it back from perfection, but it's definitely worthwhile to step into the armor of Henry of Skalitz for this brilliant RPG.

Xbox Achievements - Dan Webb - 82%

It's no secret that I was not exactly a fan of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance. I thought it was bloated, buggy, and more importantly, bo...

XboxEra - Aarsal Masoodi - 8 / 10

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 can be slow and lethargic, sometimes to a fault. It's a game that's more concerned with a villager's plight than a kingdom's saving. And yet it's in those very moments, the conversations in the back of a cart, the early morning horse rides in the brisk, cold air; that the magic, charm, and humanity of it all shines brightest.

Game Information

Game Title: Sid Meier's Civilization VII

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Feb 11, 2025)
• PlayStation 4 (Feb 11, 2025)
• Xbox Series X/S (Feb 11, 2025)
• Xbox One (Feb 11, 2025)
• Nintendo Switch (Feb 11, 2025)
• PC (Feb 11, 2025)

Trailers:

• Civilization 7 - Official Cinematic Trailer
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII - Official Gameplay Showcase
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII - Narrator Reveal Trailer

Developer: Firaxis Games

Publisher: 2K Games

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 82 average - 86% recommended - 38 reviews

Critic Reviews

Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 82 / 100

Sid Meier's Civilization VII blends and modifies features from its predecessor. Although it is a bit barren in terms of innovations, it is a good game in terms of the strategic depth it brings to the series. I can say that it is positioned as an alternative to its predecessor, not a sequel.

Checkpoint Gaming - Elliot Attard - 9 / 10

It can't be denied how impressive Civilization VII is as a complete package. This is a franchise that finds a way to continually satisfy, even when compared to its already glowing legacy. Amongst a sea of strategy games, Civilization VII stands tall as a title that understands its identity, shows incredible attention to detail, and lives up to lofty expectations. Future expansions will undoubtedly fill certain notable absences, but even before then, we still have a formidable release that's deservingly ready to eat away at your free time.

Destructoid - Steven Mills - 9 / 10

I’m glad Firaxis is still finding ways to improve a genre it has mastered over the years, and as a result, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 has the series in its best shape yet.

Digital Trends - Tomas Franzese - 4 / 5

Sid Meier's Civilization VII succeeds at making one of the most storied strategy game franchises still feel fresh.

Eurogamer - Sin Vega - 2 / 5

A competent entry with some poorly executed ideas and a striking lack of personality.

Everyeye.it - Italian - 8.7 / 10

Recent attempts to undermine the reign of Civilization have been unsuccessful, and this new chapter proves that, despite the evolutions, the essence of the series is more alive than ever: Civilization has changed, Civilization is back.

GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 85%

"Civilization VII" is motivating, challenging and huge - and that is precisely why it is an early strategy hit of the still young year of 2025. At the same time, we hope that Firaxis will iron out a few rough edges in the coming months to make the gaming experience even more rounded.

GINX TV - Willis Walker - 9 / 10

Civilization VII is a bold, feature-rich reinvention of the series, packed with personality and stunning detail. While some issues remain, Firaxis has delivered a landmark strategy game that’s impossible to put down—once it gets its hooks in, you’ll be chasing just one more turn.

GRYOnline.pl - Adam Zechenter - Polish - 6 / 10

Civilization 7 is a very pretty and very chaoitc game. Brave but not thought out. It introduces changes that aren’t inherently bad, and they build an interesting foundation for a probably great game in the future. Unfortunately now we got an early access production for a premium access price.

Game Rant - Max Borman - 9 / 10

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 takes the franchise's core formula, overhauls many of its features, and delivers another stellar strategy experience.

GamePro - Kevin Itzinger - German - 83 / 100

Civilization 7 has some great ideas, but still needs some fine-tuning in terms of balancing and AI.

GameSpot - Jason Rodriguez - 8 / 10

Sid Meier's Civilization VII remains as fun and engaging as ever, but too many drastic changes lead to glaring issues.

Gameblog - Camille Allard - French - 9 / 10

With Civilization 7, Firaxis manages to modernize the franchise beautifully while respecting its heritage. The evolution of the ages, the more strategic diplomacy and the new military system bring a real healthy renewal to the saga.

Gamepressure - Przemysław Dygas - 5.5 / 10

Right now, Civilization 7 is an incomplete and reduced version of the game, which is plagued by many issues. However, you can feel that under all this mess, a good game might be hiding.

Gamer.no - Andreas Bjørnbekk - Unknown - 8 / 10

Civilization VII brings the series the revitalization it needs, with gorgeous new visuals, innovative city building and a new way to lead armies.

Gamersky - Chinese - 9.2 / 10

Sid Meier's Civilization VII stands as a testament to the enduring strength of its franchise, much like a civilization that continues to thrive through the ages. Rather than resting on its laurels, it has evolved, constantly integrating innovation and the best elements from its predecessors to further solidify its place in gaming history. Its ability to embrace change while maintaining its core essence proves that this legendary series is still capable of standing the test of time. Civilization VII reaffirms that the series remains as relevant and compelling as ever.

GamesRadar+ - Andrew Brown - 4 / 5

I personally think the system does wonders for the usual tedium of late-stage campaigns – while other features, like pairing Leaders with evolving civs, should be a staple going forward. Civilization 7 already feels like the best entry point yet, and with Firaxis' habit of saving the real polish for expansions...

HCL.hr - Lovro Maroševac - Unknown - 74 / 100

Civilization 7 feels like a new beginning for a beloved series. Although it simplifies a lot of its mechanics, which may not be of liking to old players, it still has that unique and fun addictive gameplay loop.

IGN - Leana Hafer - 7 / 10

Civilization 7's improved warfare and added bits of narrative flair give me reasons to keep clicking one more turn late into the night, but the desire to streamline and simplify this legendary 4X series feels like it has also gone a bit too far, particularly when it comes to the interface.

IGN Deutschland - Markus Fiedler - German - 6 / 10

Even if it has great looks: the interior of the latest instalment of the Civilization series is not very inspiring. Some good ideas are counterbalanced by a lot of bad ones. The biggest problem: it no longer feels like a Civilization-Game! Here, the developers have definitely made too many radical changes.

IGN Italy - Andrea Giongiani - Italian - 9 / 10

A courageous chapter in the Civilization saga. The new "Eras" mechanic breathes new life into a trusted formula. The best 4X turn-based strategy game of this generation.

IGN Spain - Esteban Canle - Spanish - 8 / 10

Thanks to its (not so) few changes from previous instalments, Civilization VII provides more freedom to think and strategize so that we can build a different way of playing each time. With a wide range of options and more profound decision-making, Fireaxis offers one of the best games in the franchise.

INVEN - Seungjin Kang - Korean - 8 / 10

Civilization VII refines its strategic depth through era transitions and civilization changes, though the most thrilling moments feel more spaced out. Despite these shifts, the game retains its signature "just one more turn" appeal—undeniably Civilization.

PC Gamer - Robert Zak - 76 / 100

Still a compelling sprint through human history, Civilization 7 sheds a little too much weight to match its excellent predecessors.

Paste Magazine - Dia Lacina - Unscored

With Civilization VII, Firaxis’s developers have not only made a gorgeous, beautifully scored game about historical weirdos (seriously, just wait until you’re getting yelled at by Niccolo Machiavelli’s 3D model), they’ve made one that truly feels accessible and invigorating for the franchise and genre.

Press Start - James Wood - 8 / 10

Civilization VII is a newcomers ideal Civ game. Packed full of streamlined systems and approachable design choices, VII gives players access to a fun, gorgeously realised sandbox in which history is (mostly) theirs to decide. While some of its smoothed edges hinder player-driven storytelling, the effort to onboard new players and refresh the game for veterans is ambitious and stacked with potential.

SECTOR.sk - Branislav Koh�t - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Despite the fact that the Civilization series has been around for a while, it still manages to bring something new that at least slightly enriches and changes the gameplay. Here we have another quality piece of work that is worth playing.

SIFTER - Gianni Di Giovanni - Worth your time

CIVILIZATION VII feels comfortable for veterans of the series, with plenty of quality-of-life improvements that'll make you think, ‘hmm that’s an interesting change’ or ‘Why didn’t they swap this over earlier?’ With a series as long running as Civ, it’s inevitable that regular sequential updates would become burdened with unnecessary systems that didn’t actually make the game better, systems that were still there because that’s just the way it always was. By casting off some of the baggage the game is much better for it, with plenty of room to grow, and nothing too extreme as to upset longtime players, but when you look back you realise how far it's come.

Shacknews - Bill Lavoy - 9 / 10

Any time I’m talking, writing, or thinking about the game, I want to play it. I’ve been writing this for hours, and those are precious hours where I could be growing my Ming empire and slapping the other leaders around. Civ 7 is an absolute banger.

Siliconera - Cody Perez - 8 / 10

Civilization VII comes close to easily being the best in the series yet. The gorgeous visuals, smooth gameplay features, and more easily understandable mechanics make this welcoming to newcomers and veterans alike. But the frustrating Ages system overcomplicates and holds back an otherwise exceptional strategy experience.

Spaziogames - Daniele Spelta - Italian - Unscored

Civilization VII – just like every chapter in the series – is a game that should be appreciated over time, especially in a case like this, where the radical desire to take a step towards the future is evident.

Stevivor - David Smith - 8 / 10

Civ 7 isn’t just good, it’s the real deal. It’s a sequel that thinks like one of the matches it contains – a lot of small but significant strategic decisions that, when added up, create a winner. It feels different enough from previous iterations to justify the 7 in the title, and it thoughtfully builds on what came before. Civilization 7 is one of 2025’s first must-play titles.

The Games Machine - Nicolò Paschetto - Italian - 9.5 / 10

Firaxis Games confirms Sid Meier's legacy and puts Civilization VII on top of the 4X genre. They somehow manage to introduce revolutionary new high-level systems and fine-tune a huge amount of details to make the game experience smoother than ever. All hail the King!

TheGamer - Harry Alston - 4.5 / 5

This game will devour your hours, chew up your days and spit you out in a hungry, sleep-deprived blob. I can’t wait to play its multiplayer mode after so long in a single-player that isn’t quite fully fleshed out yet.

Tom's Guide - Matthew Murray - 3 / 5

Civilization VII is just as habit-forming as its predecessors, and sports the same excellent core design alongside some outstanding new ideas. But these struggle to make themselves known among clunky changes that simplify its trademark complex gameplay for the worse.

Tom's Hardware Italia - Lorenzo Quadrini - Italian - 8.5 / 10

I’ve been conflicted for a long time about the rating for this seventh installment in the series. In the end, I opted for the highest score, despite the fact that—as you may have gathered—Civilization VII is a good game, but not the best in the series. It’s clearly a transitional product, and on this point, I’m very pleased with the developers’ courage and their alignment with the need to shake things up. At the same time, the impact of certain design choices, such as the reset across the three eras, as well as the absence of some key elements from Civilization VI (religion being the most notable), make the current run of Civilization VII feel less focused on strategy and slightly more arcade-like—if you’ll allow me the term. That said, it will still be an opportunity to introduce the game to an even wider audience, without diminishing or devaluing the great quality of the series.

VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5

Civilization VII is bold enough to add big changes to its formula, without getting rid of everything that has made the series iconic. Say goodbye to your free time, as from PC to handheld, every waking moment will be consumed by One More Turn.

XboxEra - Goldhawk - 8.6 / 10

The core elements of the game are there, they work and it’s fun to play. The incentives and dynamism that the new approach to Civilization switching with the legacy paths will keep the game fresh both across games and within them. Abandoning games after about 80 turns was a big issue for me in the last few titles. I’ve not had the notion to do that yet.

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