In a recent conversation with PC Gamer’s Joshua Wolens, Martin Klima, co-founder of Warhorse Studios, shared his reflections on the inspirations behind their acclaimed title, Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Klima expressed a sense of fatigue with the conventional RPG narrative—where players often find themselves as the ‘chosen one’ tasked with saving the world or engaging in romantic escapades. He pondered whether this formula, still prevalent today, might be out of touch with the evolving tastes of gamers.
“I play a lot of RPGs; it’s a genre I really enjoy,” Klima remarked. “Yet, I find myself increasingly bored and weary of the typical RPGs that center around this grand mission of universe salvation. These straightforward power fantasies can be repetitive.” He referenced Progress Quest, a satirical take on games like EverQuest, highlighting how it distilled the essence of the common RPG experience. “I believe there are many players out there who are equally tired of this formula and are yearning for something fresh and different,” he noted, hinting at the initial spark that eventually led to the creation of Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Reflections on the Current Landscape
Despite the passage of time, Klima feels that little has changed in the gaming landscape. “The games being produced still cater primarily to teenagers,” he observed. “At 16 or 17, these power fantasy games resonate because they fulfill a certain need. However, the gaming audience has matured significantly since then.” He clarified that his critique was not aimed at any specific title, such as Expedition 33, but rather at a broader trend.
When discussing the persistence of the ‘chosen one’ trope, Klima suggested that publishers often prefer to stick with proven formulas. “They excel at recycling the same concepts repeatedly,” he explained, pointing to major studios like Ubisoft as examples. “I’ve played the original Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Watch Dogs, and while they were enjoyable in their initial iterations, the experience can feel stale after the tenth installment.” Although these titles may not fall strictly within the RPG genre, Klima noted that Assassin’s Creed has, at times, tried to emulate the success of games like The Witcher 3.
“From a craftsmanship perspective, Ubisoft’s games are exceptional,” he acknowledged. “The animations are stunning, the models are beautifully crafted, and the overall experience is remarkably polished.” Yet, he expressed a desire for this level of craftsmanship to be applied to more innovative projects. Klima also recognized the financial constraints that come with such experimentation, especially for a company like Ubisoft, which invests heavily in its flagship franchises. “I appreciate the challenges they face, and I don’t have any simple solutions to offer,” he concluded, underscoring the complexities of balancing creativity with commercial viability.
