When it comes to authenticity in the gaming industry, few experiences compare to Warhorse Studios. Kingdom Come: Redemption 2. With a world that can be enjoyed as if it were actually played, the RPG is one of a handful of games that offer players a believable, responsive medieval society where the landscapes, architecture, social systems, and even outcomes reflect a living, historically accurate world. To foster that kind of authenticity and make players feel like they're actually experiencing something real, Kingdom Come: Redemption 2 Built in hidden systems that aren't clearly explained or revealed—so much so that the game's testers thought they were dealing with a bug when its stealth mechanics feel a little too real.
Stealth is a perfectly viable way to play Kingdom Come: Redemption 2Especially if players want heavy pockets, good gear, and fast-track their way to survival when the odds are stacked against them. However, medieval RPGs have some of the most realistic stealth systems in gaming, which largely means that players cannot rely on old habits that may have been formed while playing the games. Assassin's Creed, insultedor Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. in Kingdom Come: Redemption 2Stealth can be extremely unforgiving, and in a recent interview with Game Rant, design director Victor Bokan revealed that even the game's testers couldn't keep up at first.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's stealth system is so realistic that testers thought it was a bug
Most games with some form of stealth mechanics design around accessibility. With mechanics like predictable and simplified enemy detection, clear stealth indicators, simple stealth tools and abilities, and soft fail states, these games ensure that stealth is a fun, clear, and accessible playstyle at the cost of realism. the fun of Kingdom Come: Redemption 2The stealth system isn't founded on accessibility, however, and is instead based on authenticity and the satisfaction of learning its mechanics through trial and error and then improving as a result.
During the interview, we asked Bokan if there was anything in the game that players haven't discovered yet. While we expected him to talk about some surprise easter egg or random side quest Kingdom Come: Redemption 2He instead moved on to the game's stealth system in regards to the stealth mechanics that contribute to its living world. Bocan explains:
“We really don't want to explain everything. We don't want to overwhelm you with hundreds and hundreds of tutorials. We're creating an authentic world, where real people live, so they behave like real people. There are a lot of hidden mechanics that aren't meant to be discovered.”
Kingdom Come: Redemption 2 A video game it may be, but Warhorse, in an effort to create an “authentic world”, doesn't always want to feel like one. It offers several tutorials, but not only do they take a very minimalistic approach to guidance, they don't reveal every detail about the game's mechanics – the stealth system among them. It's not necessary to give players tips on how to succeed when taking a stealth approach Kingdom Come: Redemption 2But it doesn't babysit them when it comes to how the world reacts to their presence.
In the vast majority of stealth-based games, players can get away with almost anything. After the guard notices, for example, players can sneak back before filling the detection meter, the guard then ends their search and says something along the lines of “I'm seeing things”. The Assassin's Creed Games, in particular, have been known to feature flexible stealth systems like this, but stealth in Kingdom Come: Redemption 2 Players need to treat the NPCs around them as if they are real people who can see, hear and think for themselves. Actually, in artificial intelligence KCD2 So smart that some of its testers thought they had encountered a bug when the world refused to dismiss them as happens easily in other games. Bocan released:
“When we started with this hidden, invisible design work, even within the team, we had some complaints. There were these technicians who came to us and said, “Hey, the crime system is broken. I committed a crime and no one saw me, but they knew it was me.” So, we said, “Well, what did you do?” And they said, “I was in the shop, and when the shopkeeper turned his back to me to check something, I brought him down, but he could not see me because I approached him from behind. Then I stole everything and ran away, and no one saw me steal. But now, they're saying that I'm a thief and I have to pay some money for that.” And we said, “Well, but you were the only one in the shop, weren't you?” They said, “Yes.” We answered, “So, the shopkeeper walked away from you, and he was magical, unseen, knocked down and everything was stolen. Well, then he thought it was you.” They said, “Yes, but he didn't see me, so it's a bug.” We replied, “No, he's not stupid.”
In other games, players may be able to commit crimes as long as their victim's back is turned. They may knock out or assassinate NPCs in an attempt to leave a mark – but Kingdom Come: Redemption 2The crime system does not allow this. First, it is very difficult to get away with murder KCD2So it is best avoided if players don't want to spend the rest of their time in the game racing. Second, as some examiners have discovered, Kingdom Come: Redemption 2's NPCs are reactive to the player's presence, not just their actions. As a result, if a player is only seen around before or after committing a crime, they will often be accused as guilty and expected to receive a punishment appropriate to the crime.
“These small, invisible touches are something that aren't obvious to players, but they bring a sense of how the world works,” Bokan said. “And the people there are not stupid, but real people who have some brains and understand the world around them.” That philosophy is really the key to understanding why Kingdom Come: Redemption 2Co's stealth system left even its own testers second-guessing what they were experiencing.
Warhorse didn't set out to make Stealth comfortable or familiar, and it certainly didn't want to behave like a system players could play casually. Instead, it asks players to think about presence, context and suspense as a real person would. When guards and shops make deductions based on circumstances rather than clean detection rules, it can feel unfair to players coming from more forgiving stealth games. But that discomfort is really the whole point. Kingdom Come: Redemption 2 Intelligence and consequence are treated as part of the world, and once clicked, it becomes clear that what appears to be a bug was actually a game refusing to pretend its people are stupid.
- issued
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February 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Use of alcohol, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language, intense violence, partial nudity
- developer(s)
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Warhorse Studios
