Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 swept me away with its sprawling Bohemian countryside, and after sinking over 120 hours into its medieval world, I thought I’d seen it all. Then along comes the first story DLC, Brushes With Death, beckoning me back to Henry’s adventure with promises of new quests, characters, and a fresh coat of paint, literally. As a gamer who’s been living and breathing this RPG since its February release, I was hyped to dive into the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death review and see if it could recapture the magic. Spoiler: it’s a mixed bag, but there’s still plenty to love for fans itching for more.
What You will read in this Article
A New Tale in Familiar Lands
Meeting Voita, the Eccentric Painter
Brushes With Death introduces a new questline centered around Voita, a quirky painter whose enigmatic vibe and sharp dialogue instantly hooked me. You can kick off this DLC as early as the end of Act 1, when Henry’s path crosses with Voita’s in a whirlwind of color and mystery. I opted to load an endgame save, fresh off the main campaign’s jaw-dropping finale, to see how this expansion slots into the world post-climax. Big mistake. The stakes in Brushes With Death feel oddly low compared to the base game’s epic conflicts, making it seem like a side dish rather than a main course.
Voita’s story is a slow burn, weaving a tale of artistry, personal struggles, and medieval intrigue. The writing shines, as expected from Warhorse Studios, with dialogue that’s witty and grounded in the game’s historical roots. Voita’s voice actor steals the show, infusing every line with charm and eccentricity. However, the questline’s pacing can feel off, especially if you’re blitzing through it without distractions. At around 12 hours, it’s a meaty addition, but some objectives, like riding across the map to fetch an item or chat with an NPC, feel like filler. If you’re the type who bans fast travel (guilty as charged), these treks can drag.
A Story That Struggles to Stand Alone
The Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death story review hinges on whether this DLC can hold its own against the base game’s unforgettable side quests. Compared to gems like The Mouth of Hell or Fifth Commandment, Brushes With Death doesn’t quite hit the same highs. Those quests thrived on the backdrop of the main campaign’s world-shaking events, giving every decision weight. Here, Voita’s plight is engaging but feels like a standalone episode, lacking the gravitas of Henry’s larger journey. If you’re coming straight from the main story’s emotional rollercoaster, this DLC might feel like a breather you didn’t need.
That said, the narrative isn’t without its charms. Voita’s arc offers nuanced choices that shape the outcome, and I loved unlocking a secret achievement by coaxing extra details out of him through clever dialogue. These moments made me feel like my Henry was more than a sword-swinging brute, he was a smooth-talking medieval detective. Still, the friendship between Henry and Voita develops too quickly, especially if you’re binging the quests back-to-back. Without time to simmer, their bond feels rushed, missing the depth I craved.
Gameplay and New Features
Brushes With Death Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Gameplay
The Brushes With Death Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 gameplay sticks to the core mechanics that made the base game a hit: immersive first-person RPG action, punishing combat, and open-world exploration. The DLC doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. Galloping through Bohemia’s forests, stumbling across random encounters, and soaking in the atmosphere kept me glued to my screen. However, the quest design leans heavily on familiar tasks, ride here, talk to someone, fetch that. If you’re playing with an endgame Henry decked out in top-tier gear, most fights (save for one tough boss) feel like a breeze, which dulls the excitement.
One standout addition is the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death horse racing mechanic, tied to a quest where Henry competes in a high-stakes race. It’s a thrilling change of pace, with tight controls and a real sense of speed as you weave through opponents. I found myself grinning ear-to-ear, urging my steed to outpace the competition. It’s a shame there aren’t more activities like this to break up the standard quest structure.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death New Features
The Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death new features add some flair to the experience, particularly the ability to have Voita paint custom shields for Henry. This customization option is a medieval flex, letting you flaunt unique, period-inspired designs based on your in-game exploits. Unlocking new patterns by completing specific quests (both in the DLC and base game) felt rewarding, like I was carving out Henry’s legacy one brushstroke at a time. It’s a small but satisfying touch that adds personality to the gear-grinding grind.
On the flip side, the DLC’s combat and exploration don’t push the envelope. If you’re hoping for new weapons, skills, or mechanics, you’ll be disappointed. The final boss fight, while challenging, lacks the cinematic buildup it deserves, unfolding in a generic forest clearing rather than a dramatic locale. Compared to the base game’s heart-pounding set pieces, it’s a letdown.
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Is It Worth It?
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 DLC Brushes With Death Worth It
So, is Brushes With Death DLC good for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2? It depends on how you approach it. If you’re starting a fresh playthrough and weaving this DLC into the broader campaign, it’s a solid addition that complements the main story. The writing, voice acting, and Voita’s quirky charm make it a worthwhile detour, especially for fans who can’t get enough of Bohemia’s muddy trails and bustling towns. But as a standalone experience, particularly for endgame players, it feels underwhelming. The low stakes and repetitive quests don’t match the base game’s intensity, and it struggles to justify a return trip on its own.
Technical Hiccups
I’d be remiss not to mention a graphical bug that plagued my playthrough. Playing on a rig with an RTX 4070, Ryzen 7 3700X, 32GB of RAM, and a SATA SSD, I encountered flickering buildings and terrain, especially in towns and castles. It was distracting and broke immersion, something I never experienced in the base game. No combination of settings fixed it, so here’s hoping a patch sorts it out soon. Your mileage may vary, but it dampened my experience.
Comparing to the Base Game
Brushes With Death DLC Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Rating
When stacking Brushes With Death against the base game’s best side quests, it lands in the upper tier for scope and writing but falls short in creativity and variety. The Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death questline is above average, with Voita’s story offering enough intrigue to keep you invested. However, it lacks the memorable moments that made the vanilla game’s quests legendary. There’s no equivalent to the base game’s gut-punch drama or clever twists, and the DLC feels like it’s meant to be savored as part of a larger journey, not a standalone adventure.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death Expansion Details
The Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes With Death expansion details reveal a DLC that’s more about enhancing the existing world than revolutionizing it. The 12-hour runtime is respectable, and the shield-painting feature adds a fun layer of customization. The horse racing quest is a highlight, injecting adrenaline into the mix. But the lack of new gameplay systems or significant combat challenges holds it back from greatness. It’s a love letter to fans, not a must-play expansion.
Tips for Enjoying Brushes With Death
To get the most out of Brushes With Death, I recommend playing it during a new playthrough, ideally after Act 1 but before the main campaign’s climax. This lets Voita’s story breathe and integrate with Henry’s broader arc. Avoid fast travel to soak in the world’s atmosphere, and take your time with dialogue choices to unlock hidden rewards. If you’re returning with an endgame save, temper your expectations, the DLC shines brightest when it’s part of a larger tapestry, not a solo act.
Final Thoughts and Rating This DLC
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 – Brushes With Death is a bittersweet return to one of 2025’s best RPGs. The writing and voice acting are top-notch, and Voita’s eccentric personality makes every interaction a delight. The shield-painting feature and horse racing quest add welcome flair, but the repetitive objectives and low stakes keep it from matching the base game’s brilliance. Technical glitches didn’t help, though they’re likely fixable with a patch. As a content writer and gamer, I wanted to be wowed, but I walked away satisfied rather than stunned.
If you’re knee-deep in a Kingdom Come playthrough, this DLC is a no-brainer for its immersive storytelling and extra hours of adventuring. But if you’ve already conquered the main campaign and are craving a seismic shift, you might want to wait for more DLCs to drop or revisit it in a fresh save. It’s good, not great, a solid side quest masquerading as an expansion.
The Brushes With Death DLC earns its keep with strong writing and a few memorable moments, but it’s not the triumphant encore I hoped for. Here’s to hoping the next DLCs raise the stakes and deliver the medieval magic we know Warhorse can conjure.
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