While Season 8 of Game of Thrones has been divisive, it's still safe to say that HBO's dark fantasy series will go down as one of the greatest shows in television history. Having won numerous Emmy awards and broken records for the premium cable channel, Game of Thrones has thrilled audiences with its large-scale battle scenes, and shocked them with surprising, often brutal, character deaths. Game of Thrones has millions of fans around the world, and for good reason, and while not everyone has been thrilled about Season 8, many will be sad to see it go.
HBO has some Game of Thrones spinoffs in the works, but some fans of A Song of Ice and Fire may be looking for similar experiences to pass the time while they wait for the new shows and books. As luck would have it, there are many video games that fit the bill, with 15 in particular standing out as titles that would likely appeal to Game of Thrones fans.
Here are 15 games Game of Thrones fans should play after the series finale.
15 Civilization 6
People watch Game of Thrones and become immersed in the A Song of Ice and Fire universe for a variety of reasons. Some people prefer the action, others like the crazy plot twists, and others still are in the fandom because they are fascinated by the political overtones and strategic choices made by the lead characters. A game like Civilization 6 allows players to build their own civilizations from scratch, as well as make alliances to honor or betray, just as the rulers do in Game of Thrones, so it will definitely appeal to those interested in the politics and strategy behind the series' events.
14 Crusader Kings 2
Crusader Kings 2 is a strategy game set in the Middle Ages where players attempt to advance the interests of their dynasty. This is accomplished not just through large-scale battles like those seen in Game of Thrones, but also through things like political marriages. This added wrinkle of political strategy in Crusader Kings 2 makes it a bit more compelling than many similar strategy games on the market, and gives it a distinctive Game of Thrones flavor.
But if the Crusader Kings 2 base game isn't enough like Game of Thrones for fans, then they can download the A Game of Thrones total conversion mod. Standing out as Crusader Kings 2's most popular mod, the A Game of Thrones mod will help players truly get immersed in a virtual version of the A Song of Ice and Fire universe.
13 Dark Souls
Game of Thrones is a dark fantasy series with horrific acts of violence as well as disturbing supernatural threats. The show's dark tone and setting are similar to the aesthetic seen in From Software's Dark Souls series, and so fans of the HBO show should feel right at home in Lordran. Plus, a rumor has been making the rounds that George R.R. Martin is working with From Software on a new video game, so it may be beneficial for Game of Thrones fans to familiarize themselves with From Software's work ahead of time.
12 Dragon Age: Inquisition
Politics are just as important in Game of Thrones as the battles, and Dragon Age: Inquisition has politics in spades. Players have to deal with various leaders and organizations on their adventure, all the while making tough decisions and strategic choices that will earn them new friends and enemies alike. Dragon Age: Inquisition's romance system may also feel a bit like Game of Thrones, as it's one of the few video games that offer full-blown romances in a medieval fantasy-style setting.
11 For Honor
We've mentioned multiple times how Game of Thrones is well-known for its large scale battles, but the show also has its fair share of intimate sword fights. One of the games that best replicates these kinds of up close and personal battles has to be Ubisoft's For Honor, which boasts a medieval setting as well as a faction of knights called the Iron Legion that wouldn't look out of place in Westeros.
10 Game of Thrones: A Telltale Game Series
Telltale Games may be no more, but there once was a time when the studio was consistently producing critically-acclaimed, award-winning work. It was at the height of Telltale's popularity that the studio released its take on Game of Thrones, which focuses on House Forrester, who are loyal to the Starks during the War of the Five Kings. Telltale's Game of Thrones begins with the Red Wedding, and just like the show and books, features plenty of shocking twists to keep fans hooked from start to finish.
9 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
One of the reasons why Game of Thrones has been praised is for its realism in terms of character deaths and events. Unlike many other fantasy stories, the heroes in Game of Thrones aren't guaranteed to survive every scrape, and in fact, most of them end up beheaded or worse. Similarly, Kingdom Come: Deliverance sold well and earned some high marks because of its realistic portrayal of medieval times, allowing players to become truly immersed in the period.
8 Medieval 2: Total War
Since Game of Thrones is all about strategy, both on the battlefield and through political alliances, turn-based strategy games seem like strong bets for fans of the HBO series. Medieval 2: Total War in particular seems like it would appeal to Game of Thrones fans, as it not only has players controlling a medieval military, but it also has them dealing with economic and social factors as well, which is what we see portrayed in the show.
7 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Without J.R.R Tolkien and Lord of the Rings, we wouldn't have George R.R. Martin and Game of Thrones. By Martin's own admission, Game of Thrones takes inspiration from Lord of the Rings, and so it makes sense that the franchises have an overlapping fanbase.
But whereas there aren't many high quality Game of Thrones games, there are quite a few well-received Lord of the Rings titles to choose from. Perhaps the best out of all of those is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, which won numerous Game of the Year awards when it launched back in 2014, partly thanks to its innovative Nemesis system.
6 Mordhau
Most of the games on this list are older, but that doesn't mean there aren't newer titles that can scratch that Game of Thrones itch. One such game is the very recently released Mordhau, which is an online multiplayer game that has earned particular praise for its combat. While Mordhau's melee combat is certainly the highlight of the experience, the game also lets players explore other elements of medieval warfare, like building ballistas, for instance.
5 Mount and Blade
Mount and Blade may not be the most technically impressive game on this list, but it's one of the few that will allow players to truly carve out a Game of Thrones-style medieval story of their very own. Mount and Blade lets players make their own story by throwing them into a medieval open world setting with no need to worry about a linear plot line. Not to mention that there have been plenty of mods released for Mount and Blade to improve the experience, including well-received Game of Thrones mods called A World of Ice and Fire and A Clash of Kings. Hopefully the upcoming Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord has some Game of Thrones-inspired mods as well.
4 Reigns: Game of Thrones
There have been numerous Game of Thrones video games released over the years, but most of them have been poorly received. However, the mobile game Reigns: Game of Thrones, which is also available on PC and Switch, has actually earned strong reviews. In Reigns: Game of Thrones, players have to make tough decisions to determine the fate of the Seven Kingdoms, all the while playing as and interacting with popular characters like Daenerys Targaryen and Arya Stark.
3 Suikoden 2
The Suikoden games are an easy recommendation for Game of Thrones fans, especially Suikoden 2. While Suikoden 2 didn't receive much acclaim upon its original release, the game has since been hailed as one of the best RPGs ever made, with particular praise given to its politically-charged plot that is not unlike Game of Thrones at all.
2 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Without a doubt, the premiere fantasy RPG video game franchise is Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls, with Skyrim arguably the game that offers the most Game of Thrones-like experience. Not only do the snowy mountains of Skyrim invoke images of Winterfell, but the game's plot deals largely with dragons, with the player character being the Dragonborn. Skyrim also features giants, magic, and other supernatural elements mixed with human drama, making it a no-brainer for Game of Thrones fans.
1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Despite featuring dragons and magic, Game of Thrones offers a relatively mature story focused on human drama and political intrigue. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's narrative is similar, plus the game offers an absolutely massive fantasy open world for players to explore. For Game of Thrones fans hungry for more mature fantasy storytelling, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its expansions may be one of their best bets.
The Season 8 finale of Game of Thrones airs on May 19.