Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is why handheld gaming PCs are ideal RPG machines

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is nothing short of brilliant so far. I’ve been bearing arms in Warhorse Studios’ gargantuan RPG, wooing fair maidens, and attempting to become a formidable potion brewer. Yet, it isn’t my familiar home of the PlayStation 5 where my boots have stepped across the Kingdom of Bohemia. In fact, this sprawling adventure is a huge testament as to why handheld PCs like the Asus ROG Ally are fast becoming my go-to platform for games of this ilk.

When I’m not keeping taps on new mobile games or new Switch games, I often unwind with an assortment of multiplayer titles in my spare time. Be it hitting the stages of Fortnite Festival or demolishing arenas in underrated FPS games like The Finals, engaging in finely tuned social environments comes with huge positives – but one glaring issue. That’s the ability to pull myself away into single-player experiences, to truly engrain myself in a rich story. Perhaps this is more down to my desire to be around my friends, but since I got my hands on an Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, my love for solo narratives is beginning to rekindle itself.

After seeing that Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Steam Deck compatibility wasn’t completely unplayable, my eyes sparked up in anticipation. My initial hours with the game have consisted of drinking mead, thieving, and getting knocked out by farmers. That’s just part and parcel of the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 experience. Whether I’m draped in blankets on the sofa or playing on a slightly high volume to drown out my partner’s snoring, stepping into Henry of Skalitz’s world somehow feels more engrossing on my handheld’s humble 7-inch display.

Part of it is just how well Warhorse Studios have optimized it. With any of the best portable gaming consoles available these days, expectations have to be kept in check. Even with the best Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 settings, an Asus ROG Ally X or Lenovo Legion GO isn’t going to stack up with a beefy desktop rig. Yet, with some tweaks, I’ve found that a mixture of low-medium settings, and some trusty FSR upscaling, can easily place me above the 45 FPS mark.

I don’t even need to toggle the Ally’s Turbo mode for extra juice, comfortably using the sturdy 15w Performance option. Despite the lack of some fancier post-processing effects, the game’s superlative world design shines, no matter what biome I happen to find myself in.Beyond how well it runs, the reality is that Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an exemplary addition to the RPG genre. Admittedly, it’s often overwhelming with its seemingly endless library of new and returning sub-systems.

I don’t feel alienated, though, finding charm in Warehouse Studio’s reliance on old-school trial and error gameplay. There’s a constant sense of risk vs reward, made all the more impressive by the game’s mostly low stakes storytelling. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 isn’t fantastical in the vein of Arthurian legend, but finds itself focused on simplistic tales of courage, moral quandaries, and the human condition.

There’s plenty of humor to chuckle at, but the game’s meditations on whom we leave behind – rather than what – are refreshingly inspired. Every action has a ripple effect, echoing throughout the land, latching onto everything it comes into contact with. Interactions with other characters can have their outcomes altered purely by hearsay, for better or worse.

Turning up to a conversation soaked in mud and blood, with nothing but a smile is always amusing. I’m wholeheartedly absorbed by the tales ahead of me, and I’ve got the Asus ROG Ally to thank for shepherding me on my way to battle.

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