Warhorse Studios Head Critiques RPG Genre for Relying on Outdated 'Chosen One' Formula
Martin Klima from Kingdom Come: Deliverance expressed frustration with the prevalence of traditional RPG tropes such as saving the universe as a prophesied hero, which he believes has become repetitive and oversaturated in the industry. The studio co-founder argued that many contemporary games continue to cater to teenage power fantasies despite the gaming audience aging significantly. Klima suggested that the design philosophy behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance emerged specifically from his desire to create something different from these tired conventions.
Martin Klima attributes Kingdom Come: Deliverance's design philosophy directly to his dissatisfaction with industry standards. He noted that despite the gaming demographic aging considerably, publishers continue greenlighting similar projects because established formulas present lower financial risk. Klima contrasted this creative conservatism with the technical polish major studios achieve, suggesting their resources might generate more meaningful innovation if directed toward genuinely fresh concepts rather than iterative variations on proven templates.
Klima's critique may influence how studios evaluate their creative strategies and risk tolerance. Game developers and publishers could face increased pressure to justify repetitive designs or reconsider investment priorities, potentially opening market space for alternative narratives. Players aged beyond the target teenage demographic might see greater representation in mainstream titles. However, financial pressures and market uncertainty typically constrain experimentation, meaning industry practices may persist despite such criticism from established creative voices.