Few RPGs land as hard with “immersion” as Kingdom Come Deliverance II did, so when I heard Warhorse Studios was doubling down on Henry’s blacksmithing roots in the upcoming “Heritage of the Forge” DLC, I had to pay attention. This isn’t just another sword quest or side activity-it’s a whole expansion around what makes Henry, well, Henry. But does a mini-game about hammers and anvils really move the needle for players, or is it a clever way to stretch out the content roadmap?
What grabbed me about this announcement was the focus on Henry’s origins. Too often in RPGs, protagonists conveniently become expert fighters or nobles. In contrast, Kingdom Come Deliverance has always prided itself on placing an ordinary guy in the pressure cooker of history. “Heritage of the Forge” looks like it’ll bring us back to basics by making blacksmithing and reputation-building central pillars of the experience. That’s a big deal for fans who’ve wanted more than just another battle arena or fetch quest.
The story beats promise character depth-Henry goes to Kuttenberg to rebuild a forge where his father once worked. Anybody who’s finished the first game knows Henry’s relationship with his father is core to the story, so framing a whole expansion around that legacy is a smart move from Warhorse. They risked letting Henry become just another “chosen one” RPG protagonist, so I’m happy to see this pivot toward what makes him unique in the genre space.
The real test will be how substantial the blacksmithing mechanics actually feel. We’ve all played RPGs that tack on crafting “systems” that amount to little more than pressing a button a few times. Warhorse claims you’ll have to work your way up—taking on orders from a variety of townsfolk, improving your skills, and increasing your renown to unlock fancier equipment. If these requests from clients are truly diverse and not just palette swaps, that could keep things fresh.
Then there’s the mention of a whopping 136 million home customization combinations. On paper, that’s wild—but let’s be honest: a lot of those are probably minute variations rather than meaningfully different builds. I’m cautiously optimistic here. If the way you build your home actually affects gameplay (like tradeoffs between practical upgrades and pure aesthetics), there’s potential for replayability and personal expression, not just an RPG version of a home decorating app.
As someone who’s seen plenty of “roadmaps” fizzle or devolve into filler, I’m wondering if Heritage of the Forge nails the landing or if it’s just the appetiser before bigger things (or another content trickle). Warhorse is promising three DLCs for Kingdom Come Deliverance II. The first one, “Brushes with Death,” played it pretty safe. Heritage of the Forge, though, looks like it’s targeting the core fan fantasy—letting you live out the blacksmith life, not just swing swords.
We’ve seen this DLC model work for games like The Witcher 3, where side expansions explored the world in unexpected, meaningful ways. If done right, a focus on the day-to-day life of Henry—rather than amping up the epic stakes—could be exactly what sets Kingdom Come Deliverance II apart in a market overloaded with power fantasies.
If Warhorse follows through, you’re getting more than just a few fetch quests. The character-driven focus gives long-time players a reason to return, not just to grind, but to truly inhabit Henry’s shoes. The DLC’s September 9 drop date (across PS5, Xbox Series, and PC) means fans won’t have long to wait to see if this content delivers substance or just a shiny mini-game. As always, wait for hands-on impressions if you’re worried about style over substance.
Kingdom Come Deliverance II’s “Heritage of the Forge” DLC doubles down on blacksmithing and meaningful choices. If Warhorse gets it right, this could be a standout expansion that brings Henry’s story and the RPG’s immersion to a new level—provided it avoids the trap of shallow, repetitive mini-games.
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