Brushes with Death is the first of three paid expansions for Warhorse Studios’ Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and at £4.99 it is comfortably the most modest in both scope and ambition. The thesis is straightforward: this is the base game’s best qualities distilled into a ten-quest side story, charming and well written but never essential. For players already exploring fifteenth-century Bohemia, it slots in naturally. For those returning solely for new content, it may feel thin.
DLC Snapshot
| DLC Name | Brushes with Death |
| Base Game | Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
| Release Date | 15 May 2025 |
| Price | £4.99/$5.99 standalone; included in Expansion Pass (~£24.99/$29.99) and Royal Edition |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S |
| Length | ~5-12 hours depending on playstyle (GamesRadar, Gamepressure) |
| Requirements | Base game required. Must complete main quest ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ (Trosky region). Quests 5-10 require reaching Kuttenberg (Main Quest 14). |
What’s New
The headline addition is Master Voyta, an eccentric painter who enlists Henry’s help across a ten-quest narrative spanning both the Trosky and Kuttenberg regions. Voyta’s artistic ambitions drive the questline through a mix of fetch tasks, investigation, and character-driven set pieces that lean into the base game’s strongest suit: dialogue.
The mechanical addition is a shield customisation system offering over a hundred symbol and colour combinations. It is a cosmetic layer rather than a systems expansion, pleasant to experiment with but unlikely to change how anyone approaches combat. New weapons and equipment round out the package, though none fundamentally alter progression.
What distinguishes Brushes with Death from the later expansions, Legacy of the Forge and Mysteria Ecclesiae, is its restraint. Where those DLCs introduce new systems (blacksmithing, stealth investigation), this one works entirely within existing mechanics. No new regions are added. The quests use familiar locations with new points of interest layered on top. The result is a DLC that feels like a polished side questline rather than an expansion in the traditional sense.
How It Plays
The moment-to-moment gameplay is indistinguishable from the base game. Henry travels between Voyta’s workshop locations (first near Trosky Castle, later by the Kuttenberg fountain), completes objectives, and returns. The quest variety is reasonable, mixing conversation-heavy scenes with light combat and exploration, but the underlying structure is largely fetch-based.
The shield painting itself is functional and satisfying as a creative diversion. Choose a base colour, layer symbols, and apply the result to Henry’s equipment. It adds personality to the visual experience without touching the combat or progression loops. For those expecting the DLC to push the base game’s systems in new directions, the answer is honest: it does not. The strength is in writing quality, not mechanical novelty.
Story and Characters
Voyta is the DLC’s clear asset. His eccentricity and artistic obsession provide a tonal counterpoint to the base game’s political weight, and the ten-quest arc balances genuine humour with period detail. The relationship between Henry and Voyta develops with warmth, and several quest moments land with unexpected emotional resonance.
The narrative stakes are deliberately lower than the main campaign. There is no civil war backdrop, no life-or-death urgency. That restraint works in the DLC’s favour tonally but counts against it as a standalone proposition. Returning players who have already seen the credits may find the absence of dramatic weight disappointing. First-time players experiencing this mid-playthrough will find it a welcome change of pace, a quiet chapter between louder ones.
Value
At £4.99, the price-to-content ratio is fair if unspectacular. Five to twelve hours of content for under five pounds represents reasonable value, particularly for players already mid-playthrough. The issue is less about price and more about substance: the DLC adds flavour rather than depth.
Compared to Legacy of the Forge (£11.49, ~15-20 hours, full crafting system) and Mysteria Ecclesiae (£11.49, ~6-15 hours, stealth investigation), Brushes with Death is the lightest of the three. The Metacritic aggregate of 72 reflects that positioning: decent, not essential. For those buying the Expansion Pass or Royal Edition, it is a pleasant bonus. As a standalone purchase for returning players, temper expectations accordingly.
Final Word
Brushes with Death is a side story that knows its scale. At £4.99, Warhorse delivers a ten-quest arc carried almost entirely by the strength of its writing and the charm of its central character. It does not push the base game’s systems forward, and returning players expecting substantial new content will find it closer to a long sidequest than a true expansion. The image that captures it best: Henry standing in Voyta’s makeshift workshop, painting heraldry onto a shield whilst the civil war rages somewhere off-screen. For those already in Bohemia, it is a welcome detour. For those considering the best PS5 games of 2025, start with the base game.
FAQ
Q. Is Brushes with Death worth it?
A. Yes, at £4.99 it offers fair value for players already mid-playthrough. The ten-quest arc is well written and Voyta is a memorable companion. However, it adds no new gameplay systems or regions, so returning players seeking substantial new content may find it too slight. Best experienced during a first playthrough rather than as a standalone return.
Q. How long is Brushes with Death?
A. The main quests take approximately five hours. Thorough exploration and side content extend that to around twelve hours, according to GamesRadar and Gamepressure. Playtime varies significantly depending on how much time is spent with the shield customisation system and exploring quest locations.
Q. Do you need to finish KCD2 to play Brushes with Death?
A. No. The DLC can be accessed mid-game after completing the main quest ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ in the Trosky region. Quests five through ten require reaching Kuttenberg, which opens after Main Quest 14. Multiple reviewers recommend playing it during a first playthrough for the most natural experience.
Q. What does Brushes with Death add?
A. A ten-quest story arc following Master Voyta, an eccentric painter, across both the Trosky and Kuttenberg regions. The primary new feature is a shield customisation system with over a hundred symbol and colour combinations. New weapons and equipment are included, but no new map regions or gameplay systems are added.
Q. Is Brushes with Death included in the season pass?
A. Yes. It is included in the Expansion Pass (£24.99/$29.99), the Gold Edition, and the Royal Edition. The Expansion Pass bundles all three KCD2 DLCs: Brushes with Death, Legacy of the Forge, and Mysteria Ecclesiae.
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