One of the most powerful licenses that the decade has left us is Game of Thrones. Beyond the series and the literary saga that began during the 1990s, the Song of Ice and Fire by George. R. R. Martins It has crept into millions of homes through memes, comics, figures and endless merchandising. Nevertheless, His time in video games has been quite discreet.
And it will not be for lack of reasons: for years it has been developed and shaped one of the most iconic and recognizable works of fantasy of all time. A winning combination whose ingredients include protagonists with a very strong personality, fantasy beings, exotic locations and cultures, and the eternal majesty of dragons as a counterpoint to plots with a certain degree of medieval crudeness.
But also a work in which the moral messages are set aside to offer the reader -and the viewer- very explicit moments. Because we are not going to deny it to you at this point, one of the greatest claims of Game of Thrones is that not even the main characters themselves are guaranteed to end the day with their heads on their shoulders.
Of course, all of the above makes Game of Thrones be video game meat. And it won’t be for lack of ideas: various studios and publishers have made a range of playable experiences available to fans with which to continue exploring Westeros.
There are many ways to take control of the seven kingdoms, but not all of them are equally fun.
Sometimes based on the ideas of Martins and others focusing on the recognizable faces of HBO itself. Unfortunately, the impact of these playable raids hasn’t matched that of the series itself. Of course, for our part we are going to make it easy for you to choose the route that most interests you in order to run for the Iron Throne… and eliminate the rest of the candidates.
We’ve rounded up all the officially released games and experiences based on the literary saga and the television series and, incidentally, we have ordered them from worst to best. Because there are many ways to take control of the seven kingdoms, but not all of them are equally fun.
Next, all video games based on the song of ice and fire and the HBO series ordered from worst to best.
Game of Thrones Ascent
- Release date: From 2013 to 2019
- Platforms: Facebook, Kongregate, iOS and Android
- Developer: Disruptor Beam
It cannot be said that the strategy in terms of point n click of Disruptor Beam has been a failure: Game of Thrones Ascent It obtained no less than nine million registered users before closing its doors in January 2019, coinciding -coincidence or not- with the launch of Yoozoo Games’ browser proposal.
In addition to having the official license of the HBO series, the basic idea of Game of Thrones Ascent was to immerse players into the delicate socio-political aspects of Westeros with a single goal: prevail among the most important houses through strategic alliances with the main families of the Martins work.
Game of Thrones: Conquest
- Release date: 2017
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Developer: Turbine
Game of Thrones Ascent It was guilty of offering a deep game system in which the visual action is conspicuous by its absence, relegating all the playable weight to the social and management elements. Nevertheless, conquer keeps much of the theme and makes it more attractive and accessible, acclimatizing the general idea to mobile devices while they add slight touches of strategy in the process.
Our purpose is simple: we will have to lead one of the families of the Seven Kingdoms and manage the resources of the lands that are at our disposal. We can even breed dragons. Of course, despite the fact that we will command troops towards war, the truth is that it is quite far from the tactics formula. Something that, by the way, would not sit badly on the whole.
A Game of Thrones: Genesis
- Release date: 2011
- Platforms: PC
- Developer: Cyanide
The first complete game proposal on our list had everything to gain and was on the verge of achieving it. A Game of Thrones: Genesis addresses real-time strategy, although its lack of identity and the fact that it offers too generic an experience It ended up taking its toll on the whole.
Ahead, a story mode and a multiplayer designed for up to seven players. In both we will find presentation and gameplay somewhere between correct and unambitious. To the point where -between game and game- it seems that they haven’t even bothered to hide that the game’s greatest claim consists of a license that, on the other hand, isn’t finished squeezing enough.
Game of Thrones Winter is Coming
- Release date: 2019
- Platforms: Browsers
- Developer: Yoozoo Games
The most recent release around the license of Game of Thrones correctly rethinks and updates the formula of the proposals for Game of Thrones: Conquest Y Game of Thrones: Ascent.
On paper, the premise of offering an experience free-to-play with an emphasis on management, but also it is fair to highlight a jump in comprehensive quality, especially highlighting its artistic sectionmore resounding and grateful through elaborate three-dimensional models.
A) Yes, Game of Thrones Winter is Coming It is more attractive in general terms and the fights earn several extra points in terms of presentation and epicity. However, In practice, we do not stray too far from the concept of strategy in terms of pay to win
game of Thrones
- Release date: 2012
- Platforms: PC, Xbox 360 and PS3
- Developer: Cyanide
Epic fantasy plots are easy to translate into Action RPGs, of course. And when these serve as a background and excuse to distribute swords and slashes at will, all the better.
In game of Thrones We will be able to put ourselves in the shoes of the Red Priest Alester Sarwyck and the skinchanger Mors Westford and visit some of the mythical places of the books and the HBO series, focusing on the context of the first television season.
Two original stories created for the occasion, better than better plus a very particular extra: George RR Martin himself has his own cameo in the game as Maester Martin in Castlewood.
Kings: Game of Thrones
- Release date: 2018
- Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux, Switch, iOS and Android
- Developer: Nerial
Weren’t you satisfied with the last season of Game of Thrones? You need to get your hands on Reigns: Game of Thrones immediately. At first glance, a easy card game in which we start as the King of the Seven Kingdoms. From here, the game mechanics are very simple: we will have to choose between two options before we see our next decision.
However, as in Song of ice and fire, every response and every gesture translates into consequences. Some satisfactory and beneficial to our cause. Others, on the other hand, will lead to rumours, conspiracies, betrayals and wars. We are not going to lie to you: the more Moons pass, the less likely we are to see a new dawn.
Ahead, a whole compendium of cards and situations and a single objective: take advantage of every decision so that, when the inevitable winter arrives, we have a minimum chance of surviving. It’s like living the eighth season in five minute gamesfrom the Iron Throne and in the first person.
Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series
- Release date: Between 2014 and 2015 (Episodic format)
- Platforms: PC, macOS, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, iOS and Android
- Developer: Telltale Games
Perhaps the adventures of Telltale Games lost their freshness over the years, but we must admit the studio put all the meat on the grill when dealing with a weight license: in Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series we will live a completely original plot, interacting with Jon Snow, Cersei, Daenerys and the best-known faces of Westeros.
Decisions, causes and consequences, with more Quick Time Events Of those necessary, yes, but resulting in an experience absolutely faithful to the saga. As a result, six interactive chapters that also run parallel to the series and that take full advantage of Telltale’s characteristic narrative style. Which, by the way, feels like a glove to the whole.
Among the highlights of the proposal we find the involvement of the actors of the television series in the development, also giving a great visual boost to the whole. The bad? The unfortunate closure of Telltale Games left us without that promised second season.
This is all? Not quite
Like The Lord of the rings either starwarsthe series and the books of Song of ice and fire they have inspired the fans themselves, taking the work beyond its original formats. Enough to find the most recognizable armies, personalities, and even locations of Westeros in other great video game sagas through mods.
Among the best exponents of this trend we find Seven Kingdoms: Deliverance, which combines the recognizable universe of Game of Thrones with the medieval rawness of Kingdom Come Deliverance. Or Seven Kingdoms: Total War, because mixing the saga Total War with Game of Thrones It is a success no matter how you look at it.
The HBO series may be over but there are still stories from the Seven Kingdoms to tell. For now, the first spin-off is already in the oven and it seems that the release of The Winds of Winter has quite a few months ahead of it.
Therefore, we better have something to get our hands on while Martins clears up, and, as you will see, there is more than one game, and two, that are worth giving a try.