A video game as a tourism driver: Since the release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, young people have increasingly been drawn to historical sites in Czechia. Data shows that the digital medieval hype is leaving real-world traces.
Kutná Hora, the nearby village of Suchdol, or the Trosky castle ruins in the Bohemian Paradise – these places are currently experiencing a veritable influx of visitors. The trigger is the global success of the new video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II from Czech studio Warhorse. Just like the first instalment in the series, the sequel is generating considerable hype – especially among young people. This is evident not only from observations on the ground, but also from data analyses conducted by AI centre O2 Dataclair.ai.
According to a recent evaluation by the AI centre, a significant increase in visitor numbers can be observed in the regions featured as locations in the game. “In spring 2025, all analysed locations recorded a visitor increase of several dozen percent compared to the previous year. This rise cannot be explained by the weather or general tourism trends – the majority of visitors were under 25 years old,” explains Petr Netolický, Product Manager at O2 Dataclair.ai. The analysis is based on aggregated, anonymised movement data from April to June of this year.
Record Figures for Suchdol and Kutná Hora
As early as April – shortly after the release of Kingdom Come II – the number of visitors soared. The increase was particularly dramatic in Suchdol near Kutná Hora: a relatively unknown location, which served as the model for a medieval village in the game, recorded 45 percent more visitors than the previous year. The gaming effect is unmistakable here.
But better-known locations are also benefitting: In Kutná Hora, once a centre of medieval silver mining, the number of domestic visitors rose by almost 30 percent in April – an increase of around 22,000 people. The Trosky castle ruins recorded a 22 percent increase in the same period.
When the Virtual World Comes Alive
The success of the game is not confined to the screen. With the project Kingdom Come: Deliverance Live, the developers are now building a bridge between virtual entertainment and real-life travel experiences. The aim is to bring the game’s locations to life – with themed tours, interactive activities, and events held at the original sites. The initiative is supported by authorities, towns, tourism associations, and cultural institutions.
Further information and event dates are available online at: www.kcdlive.eu.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
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