Ahead of its launch, I had a feeling Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Legacy of the Forge DLC would scratch that Stardew Valley cozy farm life sim itch, and that was even confirmed by Warhorse as well. Playing it, however, I can clearly see just how well that comparison holds up. As Henry walks past an old forge in Kuttenberg, he is reminded of a time when he walked by the same forge with his adoptive father, Martin, who mentioned he had spent some of his best years at that forge. From there, the story for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Legacy of the Forge DLC takes the game into the coziest territory it has ever been in.
Of course, it's not just Stardew Valley that Legacy of the Forge compares to, as it observes a number of cozy traditions in its gameplay. However, with how influential Stardew Valley has been, not just in the cozy genre but in the industry as a whole, it makes sense to put Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Legacy of the Forge DLC right next to it, especially considering it literally came from the horse's mouth when Warhorse said, "It's like Stardew Valley, but slower." I, for one, am thankful for the similarities, as they see two of my all-time favorite games combined to give me the medieval Stardew Valley I knew I needed.
KCD2: Legacy of the Forge's Stardew-Like Design Choices Shine Brightest
Building Bonds and Guild Connections
Since Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's most dedicated players have likely gone into Legacy of the Forge with their pockets overflowing with groschen, the DLC had to offer a new form of currency for them to obtain in order to keep things interesting. With that comes Legacy of the Forge's Prestige system, which essentially acts as a gatekeeper to its forge-building content and the expansion's primary mode of progression. However, that currency is only earned as players complete Guild Activities, some of which become available as they grow their relationships with the members of the Blacksmiths Guild.
While it's not quite the social, relationship-building gameplay of Stardew Valley, I have thoroughly enjoyed the way Legacy of the Forge goes about shelling out Guild Activities. Initially, only a handful of those quests were available, but as I've become more acquainted with the members of the guild (some of whom were initially skeptical of me), I've been allotted more diverse Guild Activities to complete for Prestige.
Gardens, Stables, and the Forge That Grows With You
The real Stardew Valley gameplay loop of Legacy of the Forge lies in the forge itself. As players earn more Prestige, they can unlock and improve the forge and the surrounding area for even more cozy gameplay. While I can't plant and harvest my own vegetables and alchemy ingredients, once I unlocked the stable and garden, I was treated to some fresh ingredients to use in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's alchemy. On top of that, I have a stable where I can keep my horse and even brush it to care for it.
If that weren't enough, I can customize the appearance of my forge with a wide variety of different cosmetic options to choose from, and my own personal quarters for Henry are included in that. It's a bit more involved than Stardew Valley's home customization, but it still feels similar. There's also a Sales Chest where I can store items to be automatically sold over time, just like the shipping bin in Stardew Valley. And the best part about all of this is that it takes place in medieval Bohemia, right in the heart of one of the most realistic and authentic RPGs ever made.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- February 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- CryEngine
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
