Game of Thrones is one of those epic fantasy sagas that come along only once in a long while, like The Lord of the Rings. The fan community becomes so invested in the series that they read the stories, write their own, play the tie-in video games associated with the world, and still many people want more.
While these video games are not directly related to the wonderful fantasy show, they do feature similar themes, worlds, and styles. When you're fixing for a little bit of swords and sorcery, look no further than these five games.
The wait in-between seasons will be so much easier!
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition is the first game in the series to actually let the player sit on their own throne in their own castle. If that doesn't scream Game of Thrones, then we don't know what will. Honestly, this is as close as you're going to get.
Along with running their own empire, players will find themselves embroiled in some true political turmoil, an evil some would consider to be unstoppable, and even dragons. Sound familiar?
Of course, Dragon Age is truly known for its characters, of which there are many to be met throughout the world of Inquisition. Thedas is the type of world you can get lost in for hours on end, just like Westeros.
Crusader Kings 2
Besides being fully capable of turning the entire game world into a recreation of Game of Thrones through the use of fully fleshed out game modifications, the vanilla base game is already loaded with enough content to refill the books ten times over. Basically, this entire franchise is about politics and world domination, much like the world of George R. R. Martin.
Crusader Kings 2 is considered a grand strategy game, which means the player takes on the role of an entire nation, pushing them forward into the future through political domination, strength in numbers, and even a little blackmail and intrigue through spy networks.
While there are no monsters or fantasy elements featured in the base game -- though mods can implement such features -- you can expect grand battles and to implement strategies that affect a nation as a whole. Of course, the combat isn't detailed, but it is highly satisfying.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim is probably the best option for those obsessed with Game of Thrones. The world is massive, loaded to near overflowing with fantasy, and even includes a couple of swords for good measure.
This RPG is known for its mods, of which there are literally thousands out there on the market completely free to download and play. You can probably find a mod that includes characters, weapons, dragons, and story elements from the world of Westeros.
In terms of gameplay, Skyrim is a wide open game that allows you to explore, fight, and complete just about every quest you come across within your own time frame. The idea of freedom is central to the plot and features of the game.
Mount and Blade: Warband
Mount and Blade: Warband is probably one of the most open-ended fantasy games I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. While the title is certainly not traditional fantasy -- such as magic, monsters, and dragons -- it does feature swords, shields, armored horses, and epic combat that you have total control over.
Games of Thrones is a savage world, and Warband manages to capture the feeling perfectly. Gore, poverty, and death are perfect examples of both worlds, plus the open-ended story certainly doesn't hurt.
The modding community really backs the game up completely. There are quite a few overhauls for the game, including one that recreates the world Martin crafted in his novels. You can get a true feeling a being a soldier or a land owner within Westeros for once.
Telltale's Game of Thrones
This is an obvious entry, but one that begs to be mentioned due to its name alone. If you miss the Game of Thrones television series, what better way to experience the fantasy world than through a story-driven adventure game set in the same franchise?
The title is an episodic series with 6 total episodes telling an overall story of House Forrester, the rulers of Ironrath. There are five playable characters within the game, each one telling their side of the story after their family lost the War of the Five Kings.
You really cannot get closer to canon than in Telltale's game. It offers an interesting narrative that is peripherally tied to the show's events, and you'll get to see some of your favorite characters from the show make appearances in the game -- just enough to keep you happy until they're back on your TV screen.
In the end, not a single game can truly recreate the entire world of Game of Thrones, unless, of course, it is an officially licensed game set within the world, like Telltale's endeavor. Even then, though, you are somewhat removed from the tale, as those adventure games tend to leave the player as a watcher more often than not.
These five games are filled with action, adventure, fantasy, and epic tales of nations coming and going -- exactly like the world Martin has written about in his lengthy (seriously, they are so very long) novels.
Published: Jul 6, 2016 12:57 pm