Deliverance 2, Warhorse’s Best Path Forward Is Clear

It’s official: with the launch of its final DLC, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s story has come to an end, and with it, the overarching narrative of the entire Kingdom Come: Deliverance saga. When the first game in the series was released in 2018, it brought a level of realism to the RPG space that few games had ever dared to explore, to the point that it was largely misunderstood. It boasted unforgiving, clunky gameplay mechanics in its commitment to that realism, inevitably making it more of a cult classic than a global phenomenon. Then Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 took up the mantle in early 2025, and perceptions of the series began to shift.

With more accessible gameplay, massively upgraded visuals, and a much larger and improved world to explore, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has solidified itself, not just as one of the best games of 2025, but a top-tier RPG in the industry at large. While its commitment to authenticity still works against its universal appeal, what it has done to make the iconic world and systems of Warhorse Studios’ Kingdom Come: Deliverance more friendly to newcomers and casuals has broadened its reach far more than its predecessor managed.

Unfortunately, just as all things must eventually come to an end, so too does the saga of Kingdom Come: Deliverance with the release of the second game’s Mysteria Ecclesiae DLC. As confirmed by both Warhorse and the voice of Henry of Skalitz himself, Tom McKay, Henry’s story that began with the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance is now a closed book that may never be opened again. However, while it is a sad day for Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Warhorse remains excited about the future and the possibilities it presents when it comes to the next step. The only question is what that next step will be, though the developer’s best path forward already seems clear.

The Kingdom Come Franchise Doesn’t Have to Die With KCD2

During a preview event for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s final DLC, Warhorse communications director Tobi Stolz-Zwilling said, “We, at Warhorse Studios, absolutely feel at home in the RPG genre. We want to establish ourselves as the new kings of RPG. We believe that we have our own formula here, and that we define them in a specific way, and our next project will go the same direction. It will definitely be immersive RPGs.” So, with that, Warhorse’s next foot forward will most certainly be in the same “immersive RPG” arena as Kingdom Come: Deliverance has been.

But what that means for KCD, in particular, is somewhat up in the air — or so it seems. Warhorse’s acclaimed franchise doesn’t need to die with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and the reasoning for that is in the game’s title, as well as its predecessor’s. Specifically, “Kingdom Come” in the name occurs before a colon in both of the series’ games, with “Deliverance” following that colon. Sometimes, games do this to signal that the main IP is meant to outlive any single protagonist or storyline. In other words, the subtitle identifies the specific chapter, while the part before the colon identifies the franchise itself.

Plenty of studios have done this and been successful with it. Techland kept “Dying Light” as the franchise banner after the first game even though Dying Light 2: Stay Human didn’t revolve around Kyle Crane’s story. BioWare shifted between protagonists in Dragon Age while preserving the overarching identity of the world. Even Bethesda has used subtitles to let individual entries stand alone while contributing to a larger legacy. Warhorse adopting that same structure with “Kingdom Come” strongly suggests it can function as the umbrella title for whatever comes next, even if it moves on from Henry entirely.

Themes future Kingdom Come games can still explore:

• Life under medieval authority and shifting political power
• The tension between faith, superstition, and daily survival
• Cultural and regional diversity across historical Europe
• Stories of ordinary people like Henry caught up in major events

This is especially relevant because of what “Kingdom Come” implies. In medieval contexts, it indicates sovereignty, divine order, and a period shaped by the cultural weight of Christianity. Using “Kingdom Come” as the primary brand gives Warhorse more flexibility to shift to a new protagonist or a new region while maintaining similar themes as those present in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. With that, the developer can leave Henry’s story closed while preserving the identity players associate with them. In short, it’s highly probable fans will eventually be treated to another Kingdom Come game, though it will presumably feature an unfamiliar protagonist and story.

Released

February 4, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity

Developer(s)

Warhorse Studios