Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is one of the year's best games, and it's just got even better if you've got the stomach for its new 'Hardcore' mode — here's all you need to knowTech15:17, 16 Apr 2025Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is vast and authentic(Image: Warhorse Studios)If there was one thing you couldn't say about Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, it wasn't that it made things easy for the player.Article continues belowThat friction is by design, but whether it was making sure your armour had the right padding underneath, or protagonist Henry was clean enough to be able to talk to townsfolk, it was a fantastic RPG that's easily one of 2025's biggest games so far.‌If you did feel like it could be even tougher, though, developer Warhorse has released a hardcore mode for a game we dubbed "2025's first Game of the Year contender".Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a huge RPG(Image: Warhorse Studios)New with Hardcore mode, players will no longer be visible on the game's map, so you'll need to work out where you are at all times. Thankfully you can ask for directions... unless you pick the "Bashful" perk which makes Henry too shy to ask for help.Article continues belowThe in-game compass is gone, as are fast travel points, and players will even get debuffs at the start of a run.These range from Henry being a sleepwalker, being even more obsessed with food, or having a lower carrying capacity.One, dubbed "Punchable Face", means other people just really want to hit Henry while he explores.‌Henry is one of the best protagonists in a while, but you can play him how you'd like(Image: Warhorse Studios)Essentially, Hardcore mode is here to ruin Henry's day, but there is a positive — there's no permadeath, so you don't have to worry about restarting if Henry meets an untimely end.‌Expect a much more challenging and immersive game if you choose to run Hardcore.In our review, we awarded Kingdom Come: Deliverance 5 out of 5.We said: "I could write about Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 for another few thousand words, but the short version is that it’s one of the best RPGs of the last decade, and maybe even beyond."Article continues below"Its commitment to realism means it certainly asks a lot of players, but it more than returns that with a genuinely gripping narrative and flexible RPG systems that make it unforgettable."For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌