14 DAY TRIAL // Let’s say you watched the entire season of House of the Dragon and want more. Sure, you can go back to Game of Thrones on HBO. There are the books by R.R. Martin and the additional material linked to them. There’s fanfic. The board game inspired by the universe is very good, although it takes a lot of time to play, and you need a group of seven for the full experience.
There are other tabletop experiences inspired by the show or the book. But for a gamer, there’s no big title built on the universe of A Song of Ice and Fire to play, no way to virtually immerse oneself in the universe, no interactive way to engage with the main characters or simply witness some of its most shocking moments.
Launch a quick Internet search and you will find a few mobile games, none that capture the depth of the original Game of Thrones or tackles the complexity of the more recent House of the Dragon. There are plenty of ads for the one called Winter Is Coming, which seems designed to ask players for as many microtransactions as possible. And mobile platforms don’t have the power to actually do justice to the R.R. Martin-created universe.
There’s a Reigns spin-off from 2018, also offered on the PC and Nintendo Switch, which at least tries to connect its mechanics to the setting. The older Game of Thrones narrative experience from Telltale was decent but never got a second season, while the 10 years old titles from Focus Home Interactive failed to attract decent audiences and were mediocre, both in terms of narrative and core mechanics.
The best gaming experiences based on A Song of Ice and Fire available right now are mods, created by the fans for the fans. Players can install Crusader Kings II and then get the superb A Game of Thrones total conversion. It takes time to learn all the mechanics, but it does capture the essence of that universe, complete with dynastic interactions, plot, and warfare. There’s a decent choice of scenarios to engage with and the developers have sought to cram as much flavor as possible into the experience.
Titles like Mount & Blade: Warband, Total War, Civilization, and even Minecraft also have mods centered built around Game of Thrones. But there’s currently no announced video game that has the official license and seeks to rival them in terms of mechanics or immersion. And I really think at least one should exist.
Let’s think about some of the video games that a Game of Thrones license could power. A lot depends on the choice of developer and publisher, but I believe companies big and small would jump at the opportunity.
Imagine a deep social and politically focused title from the people at Paradox, giving players control of a Great House as it seeks to capture the throne and vanquish all challengers. Sure, the mod that excelled on CK II could become even better on the newer Crusader Kings 3.
But a fully endorsed game with bespoke mechanics could deliver something truly special. Warfare could be more limited, while the White Walkers introduce a clear threat for the endgame. It will be a challenge to find a balanced way to feature dragons or Faceless Men, but any mechanics centered on them would be unique.
A more narrative-focused developer could offer an adventure experience that follows one character or a small group as they try to navigate the danger and intrigue of the setting. The many battles featured or suggested by the TV series, or the books are well suited for a traditional tactics-focused game, with resource management and political systems added to enhance the immersion.
Projects don’t need to be constrained by the Seven Kingdoms as a setting. A city management title with unique flavor and mechanics can put gamers in charge of one of the Free Cities. A management and survival combination could focus on the tough life of a trader trying to get rich by going to Asshai or Qarth.
The team at Shiro Games has recently done good work in bringing Dune to the video game space with Spice Wars. The Denis Villeneuve movie was a hit and their title, despite a focus on strategy rather than narrative, immerses players in the world created by Frank Herbert. Maybe they could also get a shot at the Game of Thrones universe.
Imagine a game that doesn’t directly focus on the narrative of the books but creates unique profiles and mechanics for each of the major houses. Then get all of them to compete over control of an important landmark, using military assets, diplomacy, backstabbing, trade, and more.
Imagine the people who recently launched Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood, and Teef trying their hand at a frantic action game that gives players control over Arya as she cuts through White Walkers on her way to the Night King. Don’t make it cannon but make it fun, and fans of the franchise will surely enjoy it.
It is impossible to know how good these games would be if no one can try and actually make them. R. R. Martin has already worked on Elden Ring, creating the universe for the most recent soulslike experience developed by From Software.
He has also played classic video games, citing time spent with Homeworld, Master of Orion, and Railroad Tycoon. So, he can understand the potential inherent in creating a solid video game slate based on his work. It’s time for the author and his representatives to select a panel that has experience with the modern games industry and start auditioning developers and publishers.
Sure, we’ll probably get some stinkers, titles that care more about broad appeal than immersion in A Song of Ice and Fire, but so was the final season of the TV show. Still, if a collection of fans can create such a great mod for Crusader Kings II, dedicated teams can surely deliver experiences that will satisfy fans and maybe even get R.R. Martin back into gaming (although maybe delay releases until he finishes Winds of Winter).