Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Brushes with Death DLC review - A standout story

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s first Expansion Pass DLC is more of the main game, and that’s no bad thing. KCD2 at launch was an early GOTY contender, offering a genuinely engaging story and expansive open world that felt like the most refreshing big RPG since The Witcher 3. The first DLC available as part of the Expansion Pass, Brushes with Death, might not offer anything radically different to the main game, but it manages to be one of the most interesting and memorable questlines in the package.

This story follows a painter called Voyta who you can meet outside of Trosky after saving Hans from the gallows — though his story stretches into the Kuttenberg region too. Voyta, like many of the characters in this game, has got himself into some trouble, and once you help him you’ll be able to start a fairly meaty questline. Voyta himself is an interesting character with some clear troubles — when you first meet him, he’ll be chatting away with a nearby human skull, decorated with some ornate, painterly details.

To cut right to the heart of the situation – with some mild spoilers – Voyta seems to be suffering from schizophrenia. He shares with you that he hears voices speaking to him, and while Henry assumes this to be metaphorical at first, the two later believe that Voyta is being spoken to by either God or the Devil. This causes people around Voyta to misunderstand him – or vice versa – which regularly gets him into trouble.

Much like the portrayal of Musa of Mali in the main game – a person of color that the Bohemian Henry is initially confused by – the narrative’s handling of Voyta’s condition is surprisingly gentle and understanding, while not shying away from the preconceived notions of the era. It manages to conclude on an optimistic note that doesn’t undercut the more serious subject matter.

Completing the Brushes with Death questline provides you with some unique armor and weapon pieces to add to your collection – though they might not be better than what you already have available – in addition to Voyta’s painting services. He can paint a variety of patterns and colors onto a shield of your choosing, and it’s a far more expansive selection than the four designs available with the Shields of Seasons Passing DLC that was available at launch.

In addition to Voyta’s story, you can return to the Nomad Camp in the Trosky region to take part in new horseback challenges. There are a brand new series of races and archery events to take part in. Bibarek and Mikolai are arguing about who their monument should be dedicated to, and if you complete Bibarek’s mounted archery courses, in addition to Mikolai’s races, you’ll be able to earn some unique horse tack. It’s not as meaty as Voyta’s tortured tale, but absolutely worth heading over to the Nomad Camp for.

You will likely be able to clear through the new quests in about six hours, but Voyta’s story in particular will stay with you for much longer. Brushes with Death is, on the whole, a breezy experience, but a wonderful way to return to the game. If you’ve already bought the Expansion Pass, this is absolutely worth returning to the game for, but if you haven’t bought it yet, you might want to hold out for the next two DLC packs that release later this year.

Brushes with Death isn’t the best part of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, but it’s a firm reminder of why we should still be talking about the game when we decide on the best of 2025.