It's official: with the release of its final DLC, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2The story has come to an end, and with it the overarching narrative of it all Kingdom Come: Deliverance fairy tale. 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 where it was largely misunderstood. It boasted unforgiving, clunky game mechanics in its commitment to that realism, which inevitably made 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 change.
With more accessible gameplay, massively upgraded graphics and a much bigger and improved world to explore, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has cemented itself not only as one of the best games of 2025, but as a top-tier RPG in the industry at large. While its commitment to authenticity still belies 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 much more than its predecessors managed.
Unfortunately, just as all things must eventually come to an end, so too does the saga Kingdom Come: Deliverance with the release of the second game's Mysteria Ecclesiae DLC. As confirmed by both Warhorse and the voice of Henry by 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. But at the same time it is a sad day for Kingdom Come: DeliveranceWarhorse remains excited about the future and the opportunities it presents when it comes to the next step. The only question is what the next step will be, although 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 2s last DLC, Warhorse communications manager Tobi Stolz-Zwilling said: “We at Warhorse Studios feel absolutely at home in the RPG genre. We want to establish ourselves as the new kings of RPGs. We think we have our own formula here, and that we define them in a specific way, and our next project will go in the same direction. It will definitely be immersive RPG.” 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 it means for KCDin particular, something is up in the air – or so it seems. Warhorse's acclaimed franchise does not have to die with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2and the reason for that is found in the title of the game, as well as its predecessor. Specifically, “Kingdom Come” appears in the name before a colon in both games of the series, with “Deliverance” after 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.
Many studios have done this and been successful with it. Techland kept “Dying Light” as the franchise banner after the first game though Dying Light 2: Stay Human didn't revolve around Kyle Crane's story. BioWare shifted between protagonists in Dragon Age while preserving the overall identity of the world. Even Bethesda has used subtitles to allow individual entries to stand alone while contributing to a larger legacy. That Warhorse adopts the same structure with “Kingdom Come” strongly suggests that it could serve as the umbrella title for whatever comes next, even if it moves on from Henry entirely.
Themes the future Kingdom Come games can still explore:
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Life under medieval authority and shifting political power
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The tension between faith, superstition and daily survival
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Cultural and regional diversity in historical Europe
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Stories of ordinary people like Henry caught up in big events
This is especially relevant because of what “Kingdom Come” means. In medieval contexts it indicates sovereignty, divine order and a period shaped by the cultural weight of Christianity. Using “Kingdom Come” as the primary branding gives Warhorse more flexibility to switch to a new protagonist or a new region while maintaining similar themes to those found in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. With that, the developer can leave Henry's story closed while maintaining the identity that players associate with them. In short, it's very likely that fans will eventually be treated to another Kingdom Come the game, although it will probably feature an unknown protagonist and story.
- Released
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February 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+/Use of alcohol, blood and grime, sexual content, strong language, intense violence, partial nudity
- Developer
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Warhorse Studios
