Well, here we are. Almost a year since Kingdom Come: Deliverance II graced our screens, we have the third and final major story DLC – Mysteria Ecclesiae. We’ve had journeys involving an enigmatic painter, followed by the re-establishment of Henry’s family heritage forge, both of which were great additions. This time, Henry of Skalitz is drafted into the service of a physician for the purpose of entering the grandiose Sedletz Monastery.
Does this final expansion round out the second installment’s odyssey on a high prayer, or succumb to the sin of disappointment?
Mysteries, And Jealousies
We pick up Mysteria Ecclesiae in Kuttenberg, whereby we’re introduced to Albrich – a renowned physician seeking entry to Sedletz Monastery to court favour with the Abbot, in hopes of accessing deposed king Wenseclas. Of course, we’re simply to be an escort and bodyguard, because those simple jobs always remain oh-so-easy and straightforward. Don’t they?
The third DLC differs from the others, in that it’s a completely self-contained zone/map, in which you’re stripped of most of your gear, and you cannot access the open world upon starting until finishing the DLC. In one way, that gives Warhorse more carte-blanche to fill out this rather stunning biblical building with all manner of details and intricate designs. In another, it may ruffle some feathers that the freedom of immersion KC:D 2 is built on is sacrificed in the process.
Personally, it didn’t bother me one iota. A self-contained 5-6 hour story is welcome in a gargantuan 100+ hour experience. It also means the developers can fine-tune the difficulty and experience, particularly given that by this stage, my Henry was basically a master of all trades. As expected, upon entering the Monastery and getting acquainted with some familiar and new faces, a rather shocking series of events occur that lead to a complete lockdown and poor Henry being tasked with solving the mystery.
Amen To That
Unlike the majority of the main game and the subsequent expansions, Mysteria Ecclesiae is entirely comprised of stealth and investigation. There were only two fights in the entire DLC (that I had, anyway), which felt like a welcome change of pace. It also feels fitting given we’re investigating on hallowed ground. For much of the runtime, you’ll need to evade the guards, lest they return you back to the infirmary, which I quite liked to maintain some tension without the need for constant battles.
Instead, the emphasis is on the core mystery – what’s causing an infection outbreak akin to the black plague? As you might expect, quests are layered and intricate, with a few paths to completion and differing outcomes depending on your choices. Though, in truth, the consequences were less impactful and far-reaching compared to the base game, which did feel like somewhat of a shame. However, I did manage to have a sick NPC die on me before I got to them in one quest, despite them being in the location I started the quest… well done me.
The investigation itself takes a couple of fun turns, with a satisfying conclusion that rounds out the whole ordeal. Is it the perfect ending point for such an epic adventure? Maybe not, but this is the two-thirds point of the overall story, so some of the climactic drama has to be kept in reserve. It does, however, feel more fleshed out and story-orientated compared to both previous DLCs.
Thou Art In Heaven
How much Mysteria Ecclesiae hits home for you will depend on what you enjoy most about KC:D 2. If you’re open to seeing a new zone, with a compelling main storyline and multiple objectives to complete in stealth, you’ll really like this. If, however, you’re more of a fan of its big, open sandbox and combat system, you’ll likely come away feeling disappointed. Visually, the Monastery is absolutely beautiful and Mysteria Ecclesiae continues to demonstrate the magic Warhorse Studios can conjure when it comes to historical recreations.
At least for me, the final expansion felt like a high point from the roadmap of content we’ve had since the game released. There are some nostalgic and heart-warming nods to previous quests and characters that are lovingly placed here for curious players to uncover, one of which genuinely stopped me in my tracks with admiration.
If this is the last we see of Henry before his next big adventure in KC:D 3, then I’m quite content. It’s not the absolute peak of Warhorse Studios’ prowess, but it’s a well-crafted, self-contained chunk of content that gives Henry a nice send off before the impending chaos of the third entry.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: Mysteria Ecclesiae is available now on PlayStation 5 (review platform), PC and Xbox Series X|S.
Developer: Warhorse Studios
Publisher: Deep Silver
Disclaimer: In order to complete this review, we were provided with a promotional copy of the game. For our full review policy, please go here.
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