Is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Historically Accurate?

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m constantly amazed by the vast array of worlds and narratives in video games. Yet, it’s quite rare to come across titles that immerse you in non-fiction historical settings. However, the Kingdom Come: Deliverance series stands out as a breath of fresh air, offering an authentic and unique gaming experience rooted in real history.

While it’s challenging to create a video game that perfectly mirrors history, especially when setting it in 1403 Bohemia, it’s evident that Warhorse Studios has put effort into Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Given the high aspirations, how closely does the sequel adhere to historical accuracy and where does it deviate for the purpose of creating a more engaging gaming experience? This way, we can discuss the balance between history and fiction in the game.

How Warhorse Studios Changed Their Approach From The First Kingdom Come: Deliverance

The initial Kingdom Come: Deliverance game, which was funded through Kickstarter, gained attention due to its commitment to authentically depicting the region of Bohemia as a key feature.

During the time prior to the debut of the original game, the developers frequently stressed the level of historical accuracy during interviews and public appearances. This meant that when Kingdom Come: Deliverance was eventually released, it faced a very high bar for authenticity.

Indeed, the bar was set quite high, and while the game does an admirable job attempting to depict life during early 15th Century Bohemia, scholars well-versed in that time period began to spot inconsistencies. The debate surrounding Kingdom Come: Deliverance’s historical representation is complex.

Thanks to just how much you have to take into account when displaying a real era in history, it leaves plenty of room for mistakes to be made. Just a few of the historical debates started by the first game include:

Overly simplistic characterization of Hungarian Cumans as cruel invaders.
An inaccurate portrayal of gender roles from the period.
A lack of any ideological diversity, with most of the characters shown to share the same belief system.
An unrealistic level of social mobility for the protagonist, Henry.
Debates surrounding whether non-white people would have been present in rural Bohemia.

During the launch of this game, there were debates about the validity of these claims. The development team presented their viewpoints, while historians offered opposing opinions.

Despite the significant effort put into making the game resemble the era authentically, the high expectations led to an inevitable disappointment. Warhorse’s historical advisors and research team have explained that the game is not intended to be a perfect one-to-one recreation; some compromises were necessary to make the game enjoyable.

Since the initial game’s launch was marred by a significant amount of controversy, adjustments were implemented to manage anticipation more effectively prior to the release of its sequel.

The New Approach To Historical Accuracy In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Essentially, the method for ensuring historical authenticity in the sequel stays quite comparable to the initial installment; the primary shift lies in how this authenticity is emphasized. Prior to the game’s release, members of Warhorse Studios’ historical research team conducted interviews to remind the public that, although the series continues its commitment to replicating history, perfection should not be expected by the audience.

A typical scenario involved adaptability in terms of armor and weaponry. For instance, if an item hadn’t been developed a couple of years earlier, or if a particular style was no longer trendy at the time, they would still incorporate it to cater to the player’s selection.

Rather than constructing an exact replica of history, the objective was modified slightly to offer a feeling of historical engagement. Although certain finer points may not accurately reflect the period, the overall commitment to authenticity will make it seem genuine.

Additionally, an attempt was made to address the topics raised upon the release of the initial version, such as:

1. Depicting a broader range of ideologies
2. Incorporating a larger number of female characters
3. Adopting a historically accurate representation of racial diversity

In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the storyline continues to unfold within the same historical backdrop as the original (set in Bohemia during the year 1403, mere weeks following the conclusion of the first game), but to evaluate its historical authenticity, it’s beneficial to focus on its cast of characters.

Historical Characters

In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, many of the characters and non-player characters (NPCs) you encounter aren’t modeled after real individuals. However, some key figures in the story are inspired by real people from history. Although certain aspects of these historical figures’ lives have been utilized for the game, it’s intriguing to note how specific details have been reimagined, contributing to a less historically precise but potentially more engaging gaming experience.

Plot Spoilers Ahead

Hans Capon (Jan Ptáček Of Pirkštejn)

Without a doubt, Hans Capon stands out as the pivotal historical figure in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, a character loosely based on Jan Ptáček of Pirkštejn. Similar to his real-life counterpart, Hans finds himself under the care of his uncle Hanush following the demise of his father.

It’s worth noting that significant moments in Jan Ptáček’s life occur primarily post the events depicted in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, suggesting a potential increased role for Hans in future installments. Although Jitka of Kunstadt, another historical figure, doesn’t appear in the game, we do witness the preparation for her marriage to Hans, which is a real-life event. However, the portrayal of their union in the game is largely fictionalized to serve the narrative, but it’s generally believed to have been an arranged marriage.

Discussing the artistic liberty taken in storytelling to improve coherence, there’s a common misunderstanding about Hans’ age. Many assume he is 15 due to his codex entry, but they might be mistaken. Although Jan Ptáček of Pirkštejn was indeed 15 in 1403, the creators of Warhorse explicitly aged up Hans to 20 in their game for narrative purposes. This is clearly stated at the bottom of the codex entry.

Jan Zizka

One significant historical figure likely to appear in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is Jan Zizka. Known for his role in the Hussite Uprising, Zizka holds a remarkable place in Czech history. However, only the final years of his life are extensively recorded, leaving much of his story untold and, therefore, most of what we encounter as portrayed in the game is fictional.

One significant deviation from this is that Zizka actually had only one eye, a loss that occurred during his younger years. Contrary to some assumptions, he didn’t lose it in an epic duel with Henry of Skalitz, as regrettably, the character is a work of fiction.

Dry Devil

Shortly following his arrival in Kuttenberg, Henry will find himself responsible for bringing together the Dry Devil’s gang, having formed alliances with Zizka and Kubyenka. Contrary to its unusual moniker, the Dry Devil is indeed a historical figure from Czech history, born as Hynek. Similar to his in-game persona, he was known for his valiant military prowess and knightly robberies.

He is widely recognized for his pivotal part in the Moravian Margraviate Wars, and one remarkable achievement of his was coordinating the defense against an assault by more than 12,000 soldiers. It’s also important to note that a dysentery outbreak among the invading troops might have boosted his odds.

John II Of Liechtenstein

A helpful individual, John from Liechtenstein, assisted Henry, during his stay in Kuttenberg city.

It’s significant to mention that, in much the same way as the character John of Liechtenstein is depicted supporting Wenceslas throughout the game storyline, the historical John of Liechenstein actually did support Wenceslas. Although this isn’t portrayed in the events of the game, it’s worth adding that he later played a crucial role in rescuing Wenceslas from captivity. However, his actions earned him the disfavor of the Austrian Dukes who used their power to seize his properties, eventually leading to his own imprisonment.

Sir Markvart Von Aulitz

In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Henry manages to cultivate a good number of friendships, but he seems equally likely to amass foes as well. Notably, his pursuit of vengeance against Sir Markvart von Aulitz, a rivalry that originated in the initial game and persists into the sequel, stands out.

In reality, just as his character is portrayed within the game, Markvart Von Aulitz, a nobleman, remained loyal to Sigismund. Interestingly, like his digital counterpart, he also met an untimely end due to an arrow wound. However, it’s worth noting that in actual history, Von Aulitz passed away in 1402, a year before the release of both Kingdom Come: Deliverance games. Yet, for the sake of dramatic flair, his in-game demise was strategically placed at the end of the sequel.

Fictional Characters

In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, many of the characters are purely fictional. However, certain figures among this imaginary ensemble are noteworthy due to their ties to the game’s historical backdrop.

Henry

In the fictional world, our main character, Henry, isn’t modeled after any specific individual. Given that he hails from common origins and refrains from participating in public acts of warfare during both games, this fits well within the narrative. Moreover, his popularity as a name during that time period adds authenticity to his character, and interestingly, Skalitz, his hometown, is inspired by a real-life location too.

Katherine

In the sequel to Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Katherine serves as a significant supporting character. Although she’s not modeled after a specific historical figure, her role as a devoted aid to Jan Zizka is inspired by several real individuals from that era.

In various sources, Zizka’s mother could be referred to as either Katherine or Johanna. Interestingly, two different women named Katherine were also married by Zizka at different times. Given the frequent appearance of this name in Zizka’s life, it was considered appropriate for Warhorse to name the significant female character in the game after Katherine.

Musa Of Mali

Although Musa appears late in the game’s storyline, he leaves an impression and becomes a delightful addition to the final act. Despite not being modeled after a particular historical figure, Musa was created to draw inspiration from a blend of both King Mansa Musa and Ibn Battuta.

The first individual was the king of the Mali Empire, who gave Musa his name. The second person was an Arab scholar renowned for traveling extensively and later writing about his travels in a book called “Rihla,” which means “Journey.

Kunzlin And Rosa Ruthard

While the characters of the Ruthard patriarch and his daughter are not modeled directly on specific individuals, they incorporate details from various historical figures. The name Kunzlin given to the father is reminiscent of a nobleman who purchased the Maleshov fortress (which becomes significant for Henry during the game’s mid-section) in 1364.

Rosa’s name is derived from a character in a Kuttenberg legend, either known as Rosa or Rozina, which was later transformed into a play. In this story, Rosa was the daughter of a miserly nobleman, renowned for her wisdom and charm. Due to his over-cautious nature, he kept her imprisoned in the cellar together with his wealth. Tragically, she passed away there, and her spirit is said to haunt subsequent inhabitants of the manor.

2025-03-11 18:07