Kingdom Come Deliverance II: Brushes With Death Review

February was the month for RPG games, with great RPG titles such as Avowed and Monster Hunter Wilds. And then not too long ago, we got Clair Obscurus 33, a masterful game, so one can say 2025 has been really good for RPGs. Now, among that list, one standout game is, of course, Kingdom Come Deliverance II.

For those few who don't know the game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the ultimate immersive RPG. It delivers a historically accurate, deeply realistic experience with expanded mechanics, brutal combat, and a living, breathing world. Building on its predecessor's strengths, it refined gameplay while retaining its signature complexity. Now, the masterpiece has just released its first DLC.

Now, to set the stage, in Kingdom Come Deliverance II: Brushes With Death, you encounter Voyta, an enigmatic painter who seems to be more than a little weird. As you complete a series of quests for him, you'll uncover more and help him achieve his goals. 

In the DLC's series of side-quests, which take about 6-12 hours to complete, depending on how you play things out, you will find many of the same things found in normal Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. This is to say, the DLC doesn't offer too many new or flashy things. That is to say, unlike, say, Mouth of Hell, this side-quest line probably won't be too memorable. 

That being said, the DLC does lean into the wackiness of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II a lot. And a lot of its whimsical side pops up and shines here. That should come as no surprise as you find your main quest giver and star of the show- Voyta, tied to a tree, surrounded by wolves and… wait for it… a talking skull.

You progress the story with quite a few fetch quests, some more memorable than others, as well as some interesting ones. As side-quests go, this one is up there in terms of quality, but it still is a side-quest. So you do not have any new systems going in with you to freshen up gameplay, if you were hoping for that.

One thing the DLC does give you is a new shield customisation feature, allowing Henry to make his own heraldry. From the noble lion to the nobler rocket cat, you can pretty much select from a good, large list of things. For its part, the game does a masterful job of using the appropriate name and rules for heraldry in this part. You also unlock new ones as you progress your game, so that's always something to look forward to.

Kingdom Come Deliverance II: Brushes With Death is extremely linear, and follows around one main character in Voyta; don't expect too much out of it. However, the game does a nice job of letting you deal with Voyta's demands and requests in multiple ways, allowing for numerous playstyles if you are into that.

If this DLC were a part of the base game, it'd definitely be one of the best, but still not too memorable as some of the ones we already have. As for the free update it comes with, it's a welcome one. You get a few new activities and small quests in the Trosky region, with Horse Racing, Horse Archery, forging horseshoes, and lots of horses overall.

Among other changes, combat is much, much more deadly now, mainly in the Kuttemburg region. Enemies are generally stronger, with better weapons and armor, and it is very noticeable. This is a very good chance, as previously, this didn't really feel like the case with the Kuttemburg region.

As for the DLC itself, it is a great addition to the game, if a bit lacking in the new additions department. You still have a few new pieces of equipment to work with, and there's always the addition of painted shields, though. And really, at 6 dollars, this DLC is really your money's worth.

Compared to the DLCs in the previous game, it ranks higher than most of them, with more content, a far more engaging and immersive story, and greater beats overall, except for maybe A Woman's Lot. It also stands up to DLCs of other good RPGs.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: Brushes With Death may not bring too many new things to the table, but it delivers a charming, whimsical side adventure that leans into the game's quirky strengths. While the lack of major new mechanics keeps it from feeling essential, the engaging (if bizarre) questline makes it a worthwhile addition, especially for the price. 

Brushes With Death may not reach the heights of A Woman's Lot from the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but for fans hungry for more of KCD2's immersive world, this DLC is a solid, if unspectacular, bite-sized adventure.