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Kingdom Come: Deliverance is the best place to start if you want Henry’s story and relationships to build in order. But you do not have to play it before Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: Warhorse says the sequel was made to welcome newcomers, so starting with the newer game is a reasonable choice if that matters more to you than having the full backstory.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance | Following Henry’s story from the beginning | Original chapter; released in 2018 | PC; PS4 and PS5; Xbox platforms | November 2026 |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | Starting with the newer game and its newcomer-friendly approach | Direct sequel; released February 4, 2025 | PC, PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S | November 2026 |
The first game’s PlayStation listing identifies PS4 and PS5 availability, including a PS5 update; the sequel’s launch announcement lists PC, PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S. The platform details above reflect those cited listings and announcements, not every storefront or regional edition. See PlayStation’s listing for the original and PLAION’s sequel launch announcement.
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Quick answer: Play the 2018 original first if you want the complete progression of Henry’s story and the fullest context for returning characters. Start with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II if you would rather begin with the newer game and are comfortable having some of Henry’s history introduced after the fact. The sequel is designed to be approachable, not a replacement for the first game.
Which game should you play first?
Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance first if your priority is the fullest character progression: it introduces Henry, his motivations, and the history behind returning relationships. Start with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II if you would rather begin with the newer entry and are comfortable meeting Henry partway through his story.
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These are consecutive chapters, not two unrelated stories. The sequel continues Henry’s journey and picks up after the first game, so the original gives events and character bonds more history. At the same time, the sequel was intentionally written to work for newcomers, and an editorial guide reports that its dialogue and scenes establish essential earlier events. That makes it accessible, but it does not make the first game’s experience interchangeable with a recap.
The practical choice is therefore about what you value most: chronological story context or starting with the newer game. There is no need to treat the original as a prerequisite for understanding the sequel. For the evidence behind that distinction, see Windows Central’s guide to whether you need to play the first game and PLAION’s description of the sequel.
A useful way to decide is to ask whether you want to know what happens next or how Henry got here. If the second question matters more, begin with the first game. It gives you time with Henry’s early circumstances and relationships before the sequel asks you to meet him again. If you are mainly curious about the newer release, the publisher’s newcomer positioning makes it reasonable to start there rather than treating the original as homework.
There is no need to finish the original merely to unlock the sequel’s basic premise. The trade-off is emotional and contextual: knowing the earlier story gives returning people and events a longer history, while skipping ahead leaves the sequel to supply enough orientation for a new player. The choice is about the kind of introduction you want, not a rule about what you must own or complete.
Does Kingdom Come: Deliverance II continue Henry’s story?
Yes. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a direct sequel in which Henry’s journey continues in fifteenth-century Bohemia. PLAION describes it as a true sequel that picks up where its predecessor left off, while also saying it was developed and written for newcomers as well as returning fans.
The original establishes who Henry is before the sequel’s events. The official PlayStation description introduces him as a blacksmith’s son whose family and village are taken in a civil-war attack, setting up a story of survival, revenge, quests, and consequential choices. The sequel does not start a new protagonist’s unrelated adventure; it carries Henry forward. Its official PlayStation description of the first chapter and PLAION’s sequel announcement support that framing.
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Actor Tom McKay, who portrays Henry, described the sequel as a continuation of Henry’s previous adventures while saying the story was written to be suitable for newcomers. That is a useful summary of the two sides of the decision: it does continue a story already in progress, but the people making it did not intend prior play to be mandatory. Windows Central quotes McKay in its play-order guide.
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For someone deciding whether the titles can be treated as stand-alone games, the distinction is simple. The sequel has its own story setup and is meant to introduce the needed context, yet its narrative position remains after the original. You can start at chapter two; you just will not have experienced chapter one in sequence.
Will I miss important character context if I skip the first game?
You can follow the sequel without playing the original, but some returning-character relationships have more meaning with the first game behind them. A recap and the sequel’s own scenes provide context, according to Windows Central; they do not reproduce the experience of seeing Henry’s connections develop in the original.
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Windows Central specifically notes that the bonds with characters such as Hans Capon and Istvan Toth land more strongly when players know the first game. That is a difference in emotional context rather than a claim that the sequel is incomprehensible without prior play. Actor Tom McKay, who portrays Henry, described the sequel as a continuation whose story is also written to be suitable for newcomers, a statement quoted by Windows Central.
If you choose to skip ahead, treat any recap as orientation: it can help explain the setup, but the available source does not claim that it covers everything. If you later go back to the 2018 game, you will be playing Henry’s first chapter after already knowing where his story continues. That is a valid order, just not the order that delivers the story from its beginning.
This matters most if you enjoy stories through character history rather than only tracking the immediate plot. A returning character can be understandable in a sequel while still carrying less personal significance for a new player. Knowing the earlier relationship gives you a sense of how it developed; a summary can establish who someone is and why they matter, but it cannot give you those hours of prior interaction.
Conversely, if you are comfortable learning the central setup as the sequel presents it, missing that history may be an acceptable compromise. Do not expect a recap to make both games feel identical, and do not assume that skipping the original makes the sequel impossible to understand. The supported answer sits between those extremes: the second game is intended for newcomers, while the first game adds depth to Henry’s returning relationships.
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The original gives you Henry’s starting point and the context for the sequel. Kingdom Come: Deliverance, released in 2018, follows the blacksmith’s son after an attack destroys his family’s and village’s lives; the official description emphasizes survival, revenge, quests, and choices.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, released February 4, 2025, moves Henry’s story onward and is presented by its publisher as an entry that can welcome new players. PLAION’s announcement describes branching choices, melee and ranged combat, and a living open world. Those features establish the sequel’s broad shape, but they do not by themselves prove it is the better first game for every player.
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Think of the original as the fuller narrative starting point and the sequel as the more recent entry with an explicit newcomer-friendly design goal. If your main reason to play is understanding how Henry got here, begin with the original. If you are mainly drawn to the current installment and are willing to accept less accumulated character history, the sequel is a defensible first choice.
The first game’s launch date and the sequel’s date help clarify the order: the original arrived in 2018, and the follow-up launched on February 4, 2025. That gap does not mean a newcomer has to catch up before starting, but it does underline that the sequel was built as the continuation of an established story. PLAION’s announcement also identifies the sequel’s launch platforms as PC, PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S.
If you are choosing based on platform, make the decision around the device you actually use and the listing available in your region. PlayStation’s US listing identifies the original for PS4 and PS5 and notes a PS5 update; the launch information for the sequel names current-generation console platforms alongside PC. Storefront availability, edition names, and pricing can change, so use the relevant current store page for purchase details rather than assuming one platform’s listing applies everywhere.
For the original on PlayStation, there is also a physical Kingdom Come: Deliverance Royal Edition route. PLAION announced a physical SKU for PS5 and Xbox Series X for May 15, 2026, and GameSpot’s physical-edition guide says it includes the base game and DLC and identifies an Amazon listing path. That can be useful if you specifically want a boxed copy, but it is not necessary to play the games in order. Before buying, confirm that the listing is live, that the edition and included content match what you want, and that the region and platform are right. Stock and prices are not fixed by an older guide.
There is no price comparison here because the cited retail guide is dated and store prices vary. Nor is the Royal Edition automatically the right choice for everyone: if you already own the original, or prefer a digital edition, your own store account and platform are better references for current options. The point is simply that a physical starting point exists, not that one edition is universally the best value.
Is the first game too rough to play before the sequel?
The sources support saying that the sequel was designed with refinements in mind, not that every player will find the original too rough or that the sequel is objectively better. Your decision depends on how much you value the original’s story setup relative to the sequel’s reported changes to combat and saving.
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In a developer interview, Warhorse said it wanted to improve combat while preserving its challenge and make saving more accessible without removing tension. The studio also said the sequel retains preparation mechanics such as managing food, health, and stamina. These are the developers’ stated intentions, not an independent evaluation of how either game feels to play. Warhorse summarized its approach this way: “Our philosophy has been to prioritize gameplay over realism – realism should never become a burden.” The full GOG interview with Warhorse Studios provides the context.
A GameSpot hands-on preview from August 2024, before release, reported that the sequel’s combat was being streamlined: parries and blocks were easier, attacks flowed more fluidly, and weapon types had more distinct moves. Because those observations came from a pre-release preview, they should be read as a report on the version seen then—not as a comprehensive, current comparison of every system after launch. GameSpot’s preview is useful for understanding the direction of the changes, but it does not establish how every player will respond.
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For someone deciding on play order, the sensible takeaway is limited but useful: the sequel was intended to refine parts of the experience while retaining its challenge and preparation systems. If older systems are likely to put you off, starting with the sequel may be more appealing. If narrative continuity matters more, that possibility alone is not a strong reason to skip Henry’s first chapter.
It is also worth separating the kinds of changes being discussed. Warhorse’s interview describes a design goal: adjust combat and saving without stripping away challenge, while keeping preparation concerns such as food, health, and stamina. GameSpot’s preview offers observations about combat in a pre-release build. Neither is a broad independent verdict that one game is easier in every respect, and neither supports promising that a particular player will prefer the sequel’s systems.
So, if “rough” means “I would rather play the more recent release,” the sequel may be the more appealing entry point. If it means “I am worried I will not understand the sequel,” the publisher and Windows Central reporting offer a different answer: it was made to work for newcomers, and its story provides context. Those are separate concerns. The first is a preference for reported gameplay refinements; the second is a question of narrative accessibility.
Warhorse’s remark that gameplay should take priority over realism is best read as a statement of the studio’s design philosophy, not proof that the sequel removes demanding or preparation-focused play. The interview says some of those systems remain. Players looking for a completely frictionless action game should not infer that from the quote alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should you choose your play order?
- Choose the original first if you want Henry’s arc in chronological order, prefer to understand the roots of his motivations, or want the history behind returning characters before they reappear.
- Choose the sequel first if the newer game is what interests you most, you want to try the series without committing to its first chapter, or the reported refinements are more appealing than starting with an older entry.
- Set expectations either way. The sequel is meant to work for newcomers, but it continues an existing journey. Playing first gives you more relationship context; starting with the sequel means accepting that some of that history will be new to you or summarized.
If you are genuinely undecided, use your reason for considering the series as the tiebreaker. Interest in the complete story points to Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Interest in the newer game, with a willingness to fill in context as you go, points to Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Neither route needs to be treated as a wrong answer.
Here is a practical decision sequence:
- Put story chronology first? Start with the 2018 original. Its purpose in this order is to establish Henry and the returning relationships before the sequel continues them.
- Want the newer game now? Start with the 2025 sequel. It is explicitly positioned for newcomers, so you do not need to postpone playing it until you finish the first.
- Unsure whether you will enjoy the series? If the sequel’s reported combat changes are the reason you are curious, it is a reasonable trial entry. If the question is whether the original’s story matters, it does add the fuller background, but you can make that choice without treating it as mandatory.
- Buying a physical copy? Check the current platform, region, edition contents, price, and stock. The Royal Edition physical route is a product option, not a condition of the recommended play order.
This keeps the choice grounded in the two things the evidence supports most clearly: continuity and accessibility. Chronological play provides more context; sequel-first play trades some context for a direct start with the newer release. There is no supported reason to turn that personal preference into a universal rule.
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The recommendation weighs the evidence most relevant to the question: the sequel’s direct continuation of Henry’s story; the original’s role in establishing his background and relationships; the publisher’s stated intent to make the sequel approachable to newcomers; and published reporting on the sequel’s recap and combat direction. These sources support a conditional answer, not a universal judgment about which game is better. No firsthand testing or performance comparison is claimed.
PLAION’s sequel announcement supplies the release date, listed platforms, sequel relationship, and newcomer positioning. PlayStation’s listing supports the first game’s PS4 and PS5 availability in its US store context and describes a PS5 update. Windows Central provides the guidance on prior story context and returning relationships. GameSpot’s August 2024 preview is specifically pre-release reporting on combat, while the GOG interview reports Warhorse’s own design intentions. Those distinctions matter: a developer goal and a preview observation are useful context, but neither should be mistaken for a universal review result.
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For a buying decision, the physical Royal Edition is a narrower option rather than a reason to choose one game over the other. PLAION’s physical SKU announcement and GameSpot’s guide support the existence of a PS5 and Xbox Series X physical edition path, with the guide identifying the base game and DLC and an Amazon listing. They do not establish live stock or a current price. Check the actual listing before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to play Kingdom Come: Deliverance before Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?
No. PLAION says the sequel was developed and written for newcomers as well as returning players. The original is still the best first choice if you want Henry’s story and relationships to unfold in order.
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Can I start with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?
Yes. The sequel is intended to welcome newcomers and establishes earlier events through its scenes and dialogue, according to Windows Central. You can begin there, though some returning relationships will have less history behind them.
Does Kingdom Come: Deliverance II continue Henry’s story?
Yes. PLAION describes it as a true sequel that picks up after the original and continues Henry’s journey in fifteenth-century Bohemia.
Will I miss important character context if I skip the first game?
You can follow the sequel, but Windows Central reports that relationships with characters such as Hans Capon and Istvan Toth land more strongly if you know the first game. A recap can orient you, but it does not reproduce the original experience.
Is Kingdom Come: Deliverance too rough to play before the sequel?
That depends on your tolerance for an older game and what you value. Warhorse described intended refinements to combat and saving in the sequel, while retaining preparation mechanics; a pre-release GameSpot preview also reported combat changes. Those sources do not establish that every player will find the original too rough or the sequel better.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance first for Henry’s story in sequence and the richest context for returning characters. Choose Kingdom Come: Deliverance II first if you want the newer, newcomer-oriented entry now; just expect some of the earlier history to have less weight. The original is recommended, not required.
