Kingdom Come: Deliverance II - Mysteria Ecclesiae review — Jesus Christ be praised for more KCD2

It's no secret that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a Game of the Year contender, but there are still a few secrets hiding at Sedletz Monastery. Mysteria Ecclesiae is the final piece of DLC for KCD2, and it’s clear Warhorse wanted to send the game off with something big. With an estimated 12+ hours of gameplay, they aren't kidding. Now that I've surveyed the church grounds, spurned the advances of medieval COVID, and more, I find Mysteria Ecclesiae to be exactly what I want from KCD2 content, and the almost-perfect coda to an already-magnificent adventure.

I’ll be going into the DLC content in this review, but you may have questions regarding Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. If you want to know more, my review can be found at the bookmark below. I praised KCD2 in it, stating, “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.”

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II review — A knight in shining armor

I’ll never forget my first interaction on Kickstarter. A little game made by Warhorse Studios called Kingdom Come: Deliverance – a medieval RPG – needed support. Given my affinity for not only RPGs but the historical nature of the game, I backed it instantly, and the rest is history. Now, almost

GamingTrendDavid Burdette

Our story begins with Henry being propositioned by Peter of Pisek. A royal physician known as Albich is heading to a monastery for political reasons concerning the former King Wenceslas, and isn't accepting Peter's insistence on protection. Good thing Henry is an obliging main character, because it's off we go to Kuttenberg to meet Albich. After resolving a quick matter, he finally consents to Henry's company, and a quick cutscene brings us to Sedletz Monastery.

It's here that the meat and potatoes of Mysteria Ecclesiae occurs. The Abbot doesn't want to help Albich, but he does want Albich’s expertise regarding a strange illness that has struck several people inside the monastery walls. With three in the infirmary, it’ll be up to Albich and Henry to not only stop this disease from spreading, but hopefully find the cause.

Mysteria Ecclesiae follows in the footsteps of the other DLC in that it focuses on specific aspects of KCD2. Where Legacy of the Forge gave you your own place and business, and Brushes with Death had shield coat of arms crafting, this one leans into its own lane. Three S’s come to mind: stealth, smarts, and story. Although both of the previous DLCs still had questlines, none come close to touching the depth in Mysteria Ecclasiae, which brings not only a new location but a ton of new dialogue alongside the missions.

This story is completely self-contained, and accessible once you make it to the Kuttenberg region. The choice to section it off is a good one, allowing it to occur in its own space and have a flair all to itself. Walking around the monastery is nice; as well as the more pacifist characters within. There are guards, but even once you get to the lockdown that happens when things get hairy, they’ll simply escort you back to the infirmary if you’re caught skulking around.

Speaking of skulking, you’ll spend a lot of time in the shadows. I found myself wearing my darkest colored burglar outfits, and trying to find the best areas to tiptoe through to avoid contact. While you rarely are able to sleep or wait due to the time-sensitive nature of the story, when night arrives, it’s your best friend. It makes sneaking almost too easy – the guards bring out their torches which make them a breeze to spot, and the monastery grounds become simple to maneuver. The level of challenge to this chapter of KCD2 still exists, but it wasn’t tough to memorize the routes of security.

Smarts has you doing a lot of talking, and this will open up not only dialogue, but give you plenty of leeway with different high-profile NPCs. Taking the time to chat opens doors, literally. KCD2’s conversations are some of my favorite parts of the game, and Mysteria Ecclesiae has a lot of great ones. For instance, catching a couple of monks in the cellar playing dice was an absolute hoot – you’ll find some hilarious dialogue between them and Henry.

I’ve touched on the story, but this tale of medieval COVID is quite good. Warhorse didn’t stop at an outbreak narrative; they wove a conspiracy into the plot. Each piece helps you make more sense of what’s going on, and why all of this is happening. It’s a satisfying questline with different outcomes based on what you do, not something you always get in a DLC. All of the characters are masterfully crafted, which shouldn’t be a surprise given KCD2’s incredible roster. I especially enjoyed Albich’s performance, a shrewd physician who wants nothing more than to make the world a better place.

If you prefer to fight your way through everything, this expansion may not wet your whistle. Although there are a few battles – and the end has a fantastic one – it’s largely devoid of confrontation unless you go trying to take on the entire monastery. After all, you’re here to heal people. For someone like me who got the most enjoyment out of these three S’s in the full KCD2 experience, this is perfect, but if you’re more about being a valiant and violent knight, your time might be better served elsewhere.

While Mysteria Ecclesiae is a phenomenal addition to KCD2, it doesn’t feel like a sendoff. Warhorse is touting this as the “final” DLC, so I’m a tad surprised it doesn’t give any nuance to Henry’s story. I appreciate the focus on this location and the characters within, but it’d be nice to see extra attention to our main protagonist. It’s a nitpick as his story is well wrapped up in the main quests, but if this is the last we see of Henry, I’d have wanted more.