Game of Thrones är tillbaka, och det gör redan folk galna igen

The Game of Thrones TV series didn’t end; it just sort of imploded into fan betrayal and flaming Starbucks cups. But that hasn’t stopped the IP from dragging its burned-out body back into the spotlight. This time? It’s a free-to-play action RPG called Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, and it’s leaving early access on May 21st for PC and mobile.

You play as a minor noble bastard, adventuring across Westeros while trying to avoid dying in a political knife fight or getting iced by White Walkers. The idea sounds good: open world, familiar locations like King's Landing and the Wall, character classes (Knight, Sellsword, Assassin), co-op play, and cameos from major characters. It's got all the GoT ingredients, minus the subtlety or nuance.

“A truly immersive journey through the TV series' version of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros,” claims Netmarble.

Yeah, cool. But what players are experiencing right now isn’t political intrigue—it’s microtransaction warfare.

Early Access Ends, But the Rage is Just Beginning

Since launching into paid early access in March, Kingsroad has not been well-received, to put it gently. The game’s current Steam rating is a not-so-glorious “Mixed”, and a lot of that has nothing to do with bugs or content. It’s the monetization.

“Greedy”

“A money grab”

“Like a mobile game on steroids.”

Those are actual Steam review quotes. The game’s got a $20 battle pass, $15 monthly subscription, paid fast progression, and an economy that feels designed to make your wallet cry before you even pick a class. It’s the kind of setup that makes Diablo Immortal look humble.

It’s a shame because, visually and structurally, Kingsroad had potential. Open-world Westeros? Co-op raids? Political factions and assassins? That could’ve worked. Instead, it’s been buried under filthy monetization mechanics faster than a Lannister gets stabbed at a wedding.

The Game of Thrones IP: From Cultural Phenomenon to... This

For a while, Game of Thrones was pop culture. It redefined what TV could be. At its peak, Season 6 pulled nearly 10 million live viewers in the US alone. Everyone knew who Tyrion was. People named their kids Daenerys (oops). And it had the largest ensemble cast ever assembled, with most episodes shot across multiple continents.

The production facts are still mind-blowing:

• Filmed in 10 countries, including Northern Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, and Morocco
• Over 12,000 extras used across the series
• 600+ wigs and 4,000+ weapons crafted by hand
• Battle of the Bastards alone took 25 days to film with 500 extras and 70 horses

But then came that final season. You know the one. And just like that, all that cultural goodwill turned to ash. Ironically, this new game is releasing under such heavy monetization fire—feels very Season 8, if you know what I mean.

A History of Game of Thrones Games: A Mixed Bag at Best

This isn’t the first time a studio has taken a stab at Westeros. Let’s take a walk down memory lane.

Game of Thrones (2012) was developed by Cyanide Studio, and while it was undeniably janky in terms of gameplay, it had narrative ambition. The combat wasn’t much to write home about, but the story had heart and a clear respect for the source material, even if it didn’t have HBO-level polish.

Then came Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series (2014), which is arguably the best adaptation to date. It focused on House Forrester, a lesser-known but compelling family, and managed to feel like a genuine extension of the TV universe. Sadly, it got caught in the collapse of Telltale Games before the story could fully play out.

In 2018, Reigns: Game of Thrones offered something totally different. A mobile spin-off with swipe-to-rule mechanics, it was quirky, fast-paced, and weirdly fitting for a franchise all about political decisions and unintended consequences. It was fun while it lasted.

Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming (2019) shifted the franchise into the browser-based strategy genre. Visually, it did its job, and it gave players the fantasy of ruling Westeros. But in practice, it felt shallow and repetitive, more about timers than tactics.

Game of Thrones: Beyond the Wall (2020) was another mobile entry, this time a tactical RPG. It looked good, especially on high-end phones, but like many mobile titles, it leaned hard into monetization. Gameplay was often gated behind paywalls, and progression slowed to a crawl unless you paid up.

None of these games became cultural landmarks, but each one at least tried something unique or interesting within the Game of Thrones universe. Kingsroad, by contrast, feels less like an attempt to tell a new story and more like a calculated effort to squeeze value from the IP’s remains.

Image: Path of Exile (2013)

Free-to-Play RPGs on Steam: How Does Kingsroad Stack Up?

Let’s put this in context. Here’s how other recent free-to-play RPGs have fared on Steam based on user reviews:

Wait for Winds of Winter Instead?

If you’re a diehard GoT fan, Kingsroad might scratch a lore-shaped itch. You’ll get to explore Westeros, hang out with grumpy Jon Snow, and maybe stab some White Walkers with your buddies. Just know that you’ll probably be nudged (hard) toward spending real cash along the way.

For everyone else, this is probably a “watch some YouTube gameplay and move on” type of launch.

Still, it’s kind of poetic. HBO ended GoT by rushing it into a chaotic, expensive mess. Now here’s a game doing almost the same thing—rushing out of early access, bloated with bad design choices, and leaning heavily on nostalgia.

At this point, it’s probably easier to launch a mediocre RPG than for George R. R. Martin to finish The Winds of Winter.

You can grab Game of Thrones: Kingsroad for free on Steam, Epic, Windows Store, iOS, and Android starting May 21. Just don’t expect dragons—you’ll be too busy dodging microtransactions.