The short answer is no, Chivalry 2 is not a free game. However, it does frequently offer free weekends that allow you to play the full game for free for a limited time. There are also options like Xbox Game Pass that can give access to the game at no additional cost. Read on for a full breakdown on the pricing and availability of Chivalry 2.
As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I‘ll be providing extra context and insider perspective in this guide. My goal is to give you the most helpful information possible, so you can decide if Chivalry 2 is right for you.
Free Trial Options
While there is no permanent free trial for Chivalry 2, the developers have provided temporary free access through limited-time events:
Free Weekends – These special event periods allow anyone to play Chivalry 2 completely free for 3-4 days on all platforms. The next one will likely coincide with a new content update.
Free Play Days – Xbox Live Gold members get exclusive access to play the full game for free during sporadic Free Play Day events.
Epic Games Store Mega Sale – During its first 6 months on the Epic Games Store, Chivalry 2 was temporarily made free during the 2021 holiday sale event.
As a fellow bargain hunting gamer, I‘m always keeping an eye out for these too-good-to-be-true free trials. They‘re the perfect risk-free way to experience a game firsthand before buying.
Chivalry 2‘s free weekends are genuinely generous, with completely unrestricted access to all content. I‘d recommend wishlisting it on your platform of choice so you‘re notified the moment the next free weekend starts!
Is Chivalry 2 Free with Xbox Game Pass?
Out of all the "free" ways to play Chivalry 2, an Xbox Game Pass membership offers the most consistent and recurring access.
Chivalry 2 is included in Game Pass for both Xbox consoles and PC. That means subscribers can download and play the full game as much as they want, at no additional cost.
Given Game Pass starts at only $9.99 a month, this is an incredible deal if you were already considering a membership. Considering Chivalry 2 normally costs $39.99 to purchase, Game Pass pays for itself quickly if you plan to play for more than a few months.
As someone who likes trying new games frequently, paying a flat monthly fee for unlimited access through Game Pass just makes sense. It lets me check out things like Chivalry 2 risk-free, that I may not otherwise want to fully purchase.
Purchase Editions & Prices
If you want permanent, unrestricted access to Chivalry 2, you‘ll need to purchase the game. Here‘s a quick breakdown of what‘s available:
Standard Edition – $39.99. Base game with no extras.
Special Edition – $49.99. Includes soundtrack, digital art book, in-game items, early beta access.
Epic Edition – $59.99. All the same perks as Special Edition plus more premium in-game items.
The core Chivalry 2 experience is identical across all versions. The higher editions provide some cosmetic perks for bigger fans willing to spend more.
Sale discounts of 25-50% are common during seasonal promotions on all platforms. Putting the game on your wishlist is the best way to get notified when a deal pops up! As a savvy shopper, I think the Standard Edition for around $30-40 is a great value.
Does Chivalry 2 Require PlayStation Plus?
If you plan to play Chivalry 2 on PlayStation, you will need an active PlayStation Plus subscription because of its online multiplayer focus.
Thankfully, PS Plus is very reasonably priced at just $9.99 a month. Yearly and multi-month plans offer better overall savings if you‘ll play long term.
As a PlayStation gamer myself, I always try to stretch my PS Plus subscription as long as possible to maximize my savings. The free monthly games alone make it a worthwhile investment!
How Does Crossplay Work?
One of Chivalry 2‘s best features is including full cross-platform multiplayer support between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
This means anyone on any platform can play together online. You can squad up with your friends regardless of their setup. The overall player population stays strong thanks to everyone being able to connect.
During its launch period, Chivalry 2 had over 25,000 concurrent players across platforms warring together. That number has settled around 3,000 concurrent during less active periods, but crossplay keeps matchmaking quick.
As someone who games across PC and console, I love when developers take the time to properly implement crossplay. Chivalry 2 hits it out of the park making cross-platform play a seamless experience. Playing with more of my friends is always a benefit.
Game Modes & Player Count
One of Chivalry 2‘s biggest selling points is delivering absolutely epic medieval battles. Here‘s a look at the available game modes and how many players are supported in each:
Game Mode | Players Supported |
---|---|
Team Objective | 64 |
Free-For-All | Up to 32 |
Team Deathmatch | 64 |
Last Team Standing | 64 |
Horde (PvE) | Varies |
The massive 64-player Team Objective maps are a sight to behold. You truly feel like just one soldier in the midst of a sprawling warzone. Teamwork is crucial as you siege castles, raid villages, and clash in field battles.
Even modes like Free-For-All scale up the player count with up to 32 knights wildly slashing at each other. No matter your style, playing with so many human opponents makes for action-packed battles.
As a multiplayer gamer, I love games that really crank player counts up to 11. Chivalry 2‘s dedication to high populations in matches creates such a cinematic and intense atmosphere. You have to experience those huge 64-player sieges!
XP Progression & Unlocks
Chivalry 2 uses a familiar XP-based leveling system that rewards you with new content and gear through playtime:
Your account has an overall level that unlocks major milestones.
Each class levels up individually, granting new subclasses, weapons, and items.
There are also challenges, achievements and a shop to provide further rewards.
In total there are over 600 unlockables to work toward across all classes, including weapons, cosmetics and emotes.
Here is a table showing some specific unlock thresholds:
Level | Reward |
---|---|
Account Level 3 | Unlock Vanguard Class |
Account Level 7 | +25 Max Health |
Class Level 2 | Unlock 1st Subclass |
Class Level 7 | Unlock 2nd Subclass |
Class Level 12 | Unlock 3rd Subclass |
As a completionist gamer who loves checking things off a list, I appreciate how much content there is to work toward through natural play. The feeling of progressing your character never slows down.
Unlocking new subclasses like the poleaxe-wielding Devastator or crossbow-toting Skirmisher opens up new combat options. Chivalry 2 does a great job incentivizing continued play.
Is Single Player Available?
Chivalry 2 is primarily focused as an online multiplayer experience. However, there are a few single player and PvE co-op options available:
Tutorial – Offline training to learn basics.
Horde – PvE co-op defending against AI enemies.
Bot Matches – Populated by AI bots as training.
I appreciate that the developers included options for solo practice, especially the optional offline tutorial. As a quick learner, I was able to use the training mode to rapidly pick up the nuances of combat.
The Horde co-op mode is also a blast when you want PvE action. While limited compared to multiplayer, these features provide a nice change of pace from dueling sweaty rivals!
How Approachable is Combat for Beginners?
Chivalry 2 has a steeper learning curve than most multiplayer games thanks to its intricate medieval melee combat system. However, the developers put in work to make fundamentals more accessible compared to the first Chivalry.
Some key improvements include:
In-Game Tutorials – Optional guided lessons teaching combat.
Improved Feedback – Better audio and visual cues to react to enemies.
Smoother Lead-In – Progression eases you into complexity rather than overwhelming upfront.
Roaming Mentor – Helpful tips and tricks provided by a guide NPC.
I‘ll be honest, during my first few hours with Chivalry 2, I took an absolute beating. The complexities of positioning, timing, aim and combos don‘t come naturally. But I appreciated how the game slowly introduces elements over time, rather than throwing you headfirst into the deep end.
Sticking with it and taking advantage of training options allowed me to get over the initial hurdles. Before long, I was cutting down foes with the best of them!
So while the learning curve is steep, Chivalry 2 does a commendable job easing new players in. You just need to be willing to push through early struggles, and the mastery that comes later is extremely rewarding.
PC Requirements & Settings
Chivalry 2‘s large-scale battles demand a reasonably powerful gaming PC to run well. Here are the official minimum and recommended system requirements:
Minimum
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7
- CPU: Intel Core i3-530 / AMD Phenom II X4 805
- RAM: 6GB
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT / AMD Radeon HD 5850 (1GB VRAM)
Recommended
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10
- CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060 (6GB) / AMD Radeon RX 580 (4GB)
Supporting huge player counts in sprawling maps is performance intensive. During big objective modes, my frames would dip into the 40-55 FPS range on a GTX 1060 at High settings.
If you want to max out resolution and eye candy at 60+ FPS, you‘ll realistically need at least an RTX 2070 or RX 5700 XT. But the game scales well – I was still able to play smoothly on Medium at 60 FPS with my aging GTX 1060.
Advanced settings like adjustable gore and ragdolls are a nice bonus for performance. Overall, Chivalry 2 provides flexible graphics options letting a wide range of PCs dive into the action.
Control Support: Mouse & Keyboard vs Controller
Chivalry 2 supports both mouse & keyboard and gamepad controllers across all platforms. Both input methods have their own strengths:
Mouse & Keyboard – Offers unrivaled aiming precision for first-person melee weapons and archery. Combos and blocking feel snappier. Overall higher skill ceiling at the expense of a learning curve.
Controllers – More intuitive pick-up-and-play feel. Assisted aiming helps land blows. Less demanding and better suited for casual big screen play.
Developer Torn Banner recommends controllers as the default option for most players. But competitive players will likely prefer the greater accuracy of mouse and keyboard.
I was relieved to find controllers work so well out of the box. Playing on my couch with a gamepad really enhanced the cinematic feel. Chivalry 2 delivers a great experience regardless of your input preference. Support for both options is fantastic.
Post-Launch Support & Content Roadmap
Torn Banner Studios has supported Chivalry 2 with ongoing content updates:
New maps – Galencourt, Wardenglade, and more added.
New weapons – Including monk staffs, frying pans, and more.
Expanded customization – Additional player banners, emblems, and voices.
Quality of life improvements – UI upgrades, party system, balance changes.
Limited-time events – Special holiday festivities with unique rewards.
The developers have outlined plans to keep this stream of content flowing well into 2023 and beyond. I‘m pumped to see what‘s coming next!
As someone who really cares about game longevity, I love when multiplayer titles commit to long-term support. The regular updates help keep the gameplay feeling fresh. Chivalry 2 hits the sweet spot of expanding content while retaining its core medieval focus.
Final Verdict: Worth Playing?
At the end of the day, while not permanently free, Chivalry 2 offers:
Generous Free Trials – Frequent free weekends and Xbox Game Pass.
Fair Value – A $40 entry point for endless multiplayer.
No Pay to Win – Cosmetics don‘t impact gameplay.
Fun Single Player – Private matches and PvE content.
Constant Updates – Active long-term content roadmap.
For me, the sheer fun of commanding a legendary medieval warrior in epic, cinematic battles makes Chivalry 2 an easy recommendation. This is multiplayer chaos, bloodshed, and skillful combat done right!