„ZERO. I was literally BROKE.” Kingdom Come director criticized creators’ simple excuse for not wanting to make realistic games

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Daniel Vávra, a well-known Czech game developer and co-creator of the Kingdom Come series, recently started a conversation online. He replied to a claim on X (formerly Twitter) that developers making realistic games have an unfair advantage in terms of funding and resources compared to those creating games with a stylized or cartoon look.

Vávra strongly disagreed with that statement, explaining that the development of Kingdom Come began under very difficult circumstances with absolutely no financial support.

Somebody just told me this “reason” why devs have to make cartoon games:

“most developers don’t have your resources.”

You know how many resources we had when starting the development of KCD?

ZERO. I was literally BROKE.

Vávra explained later in the article that games aren’t using simple or highly stylized graphics to save money. Instead, it’s more about following current trends in the gaming world.

The reason so many games share a similar style is simply because it’s become a trend – a fad, even a cliché. I’m not saying you don’t enjoy it, but I believe we’re capable of more creativity.

The post’s comments section quickly filled with a lively debate. Many independent game developers shared that they chose a cartoon style for their games not because of budget limitations, but as a deliberate artistic decision.

Many players argue that a “cartoonish” style doesn’t automatically mean a game is low quality. They point to the massive success of Fortnite as proof – despite its comic book-like visuals, it’s a hugely popular and well-funded game. Others suggest that not every game needs to strive for extreme realism. The strength of the gaming industry lies in its diversity; a game’s visual style is effective as long as it supports the creator’s overall design.

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2025-12-09 13:32