Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has already had quite a year, and it’s not through yet. With its Brushes With Death and Legacy of the Forge DLCs behind it, it now looks ahead to its third and final expansion, Mysteria Ecclesiae, which has the potential to be the franchise’s most important DLC to date. After actor Tom McKay confirmed he had recorded his final mocap session for Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Mysteria Ecclesiae looks poised to close out Henry’s story arc for good as it takes players to Sedletz Monastery to stop the spread of a deadly illness Warhorse likens to “medieval COVID.”
In other words, from a narrative standpoint, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s Mysteria Ecclesiae DLC already sounds like a big deal. However, there is still plenty it could and arguably should bring to the table in terms of gameplay. If Mysteria Ecclesiae truly does end up being a conclusion to Henry’s journey, it needs to do so with a bang rather than a fizzle, and leave its mark on the Kingom Come: Deliverance franchise as it potentially moves onto the next major game thereafter.
Infection/Disease Mechanics With an Expanded Alchemy System
Considering Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s final DLC will revolve around the spread of a deadly illness, incorporating some infection or disease mechanics into the expansion’s gameplay could really take that premise up a few notches. A system where disease can spread among NPCs, or even Henry, forcing players to manage exposure, quarantines, herb gathering, and making decisions about whom to help or isolate would be effective and memorable, both narratively and mechanically.
With this could come an expanded alchemy system for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and it would follow in the footsteps of Legacy of the Forge well, which focused on another of the game’s unique crafting systems, blacksmithing. The premise also creates an opportunity for unique dilemmas in Mysteria Ecclesiae, like choosing to help one NPC at the cost of another, or merely treating symptoms as opposed to root causes. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 already features a bit of this in its normal gameplay when Henry encounters a sick or injured individual, so it would make sense to be a core part of the loop in Mysteria Ecclesiae as well.
Clue/Investigation System
A clue or investigation system for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an intriguing addition Mysteria Ecclesiae could make as well, considering a major aspect of the expansion’s story seems to be intrigue and conflicting interests. This would be a great opportunity for Henry to become something of an Indiana Jones-type character, as he navigates the Sedletz Monastery and uncovers hidden truths there. Clue acquisition — like old manuscripts, hidden journals, and broken relics — would fit in well with the setting, allowing players to piece together a secret in the monastery.
Offering dialogue choices that matter would be a unique way to set Mysteria Ecclesiae apart from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s other DLCs, which largely played it safe. Players could decide who to trust through lies they might detect and alliances they might forge. Locked rooms, crypts, and hidden passages in monastic architecture that require solving puzzles or manipulating the environment would also make sense, given the setting, really putting Henry in the shoes of someone like Indiana Jones and giving players a fresh way to approach Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
A Visit From Henry's Chosen Love Interest
Something that many players were wanting to see in Legacy of the Forge is for Henry to get a visit from his chosen love interest. There are several romance opportunities in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and with both Katherine and Hans being exclusive, one would think players would see more of them in expansions.
However, since Brushes With Death and Legacy of the Forge can be played in the middle of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s story, it wouldn’t make sense for Henry’s partner to show up at any point, especially since both Katherine and Hans aren’t sealed until the story begins coming to an end. With Mysteria Ecclesiae potentially concluding Henry’s arc, though, it would need to be placed after the events of the base game’s story, thus creating the perfect excuse for his romantic partner to show up one final time.
Tighter Environmental Design and the Game's First Legitimate Dungeon
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 places a strong emphasis on its open world, but that results in most exploration happening in wide open spaces. As such, Mysteria Ecclesiae could respond in kind by featuring tighter environmental design and potentially even the game’s first legitimate dungeon. More verticality, secret balconies, hidden cellars, hidden rooms behind altars, ceilings, and intriguing wall panels would all fit the DLC’s setting well, but an opportunity to delve into mysterious catacombs in classic RPG dungeon-crawling fashion would likely be a memorable experience for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 fans.
Better Story With Branching Outcomes
One of the biggest criticisms about Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s Brushes With Death and Legacy of the Forge DLCs has been their stories. Legacy of the Forge, in particular, had a little more riding on its story, as it claimed to focus on the backstory of Henry’s adoptive father, Martin. While it did do that, its story was still very underwhelming, though not quite as much as Brushes With Death. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s Mysteria Ecclesiae DLC, then, has a chance to make up for that by telling a story worth witnessing, especially with its potential to conclude Henry’s arc for good. One way it could really sell its narrative is by featuring branching choices, as that would not only make each player’s experience unique but also add replay value to the expansion.
New Additions for Legacy of the Forge
Finally, it would be nice to see Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s Mysteria Ecclesia DLC bring with it some new additions for its predecessor. Legacy of the Forge can already be played for an infinite amount of time, but once players reach a certain point, playing it any longer is not really worth the effort. In light of that, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s next DLC could include an update that adds new cosmetic options and items for players to purchase, and with that, higher ranks with the Blacksmiths Guild of Kuttenberg. In doing so, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 could increase its longevity even further, entrenching itself deeper into players’ minds as they proceed to leave it behind until the next entry comes along.