For Warhorse's 15th birthday, we chatted with its co-founder about the demand for 'grown-up' RPGs, AI, why games are too cheap, and his role in the collapse of communism

Martin Klíma, co-founder of Warhorse Studios, is a man of many passions and accomplishments. Born in the socialist Czechoslovakia of the 1980s, he developed an early fascination with English literature, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien's works. It was the presence of The Lord of the Rings that ultimately led Klíma to learn English, as he desired to read the book he had only heard about.

After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which saw Klíma speak on behalf of the student movement Stuha, he found himself in a new era where his gaming and fantasy interests could flourish once more. The collapse of communism proved to be a turning point in Klíma's career, as his love for role-playing games (RPGs) evolved into a desire to create them himself. Warhorse Studios was born, and the studio soon produced the critically acclaimed Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, an RPG that many would not dare to make.

Klíma's connection to the world of tabletop RPGs began with Dungeons & Dragons, a game that sparked his passion for the genre. He even managed to get his hands on a translation of the game's Basic Set, translating it with his now-wife for their underground publication. As capitalism swept through Czechoslovakia, Klíma's interest in gaming only strengthened, as he realized that this passion could become a viable career.

With the collapse of communism and the emergence of the Czech Republic, Klíma's ambitions in the world of gaming began to take shape. His early experiences with RPGs and his role in overthrowing the communist government had prepared him for the challenges and successes of Warhorse Studios. As he celebrates the studio's 15th anniversary, Klíma reflects on his life's journey, from a student rabblerouser in the old eastern bloc to the co-founder of a groundbreaking game studio.