The free-to-play Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has just recently been released, and its middling reviews once again bring up the question of whether we'll ever see a truly incredible video game set in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire universe. Netmarble's adaptation was released on PC and mobile platforms on May 21 after its Steam early access began in March, and while mobile gaming is an understandably attractive market, it typically doesn't bode well for an action-adventure RPG like Kingsroad.

The elevator pitch for Kingsroad sounds exactly like a game poised for success. You play as an illegitimate child of House Tyre in the North, thrust into noble responsibility by the death of your siblings. The open-world game lets you explore many now-familiar locales in Westeros as you navigate Game of Thrones' famously complex political scene and prepare for winter's arrival with the Night's Watch. Game of Thrones: Kingsroad's demo built up some excitement, but it would seem the full game hasn't delivered on its compelling premise.

Game Of Thrones: Kingsroad Hasn't Impressed Players

Only 62% Positive Reviews On Steam

At the time of writing, the Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Steam page shows a Mixed rating from players, with just 62% positive from more than 1,500 reviews. Many of the reviews rated most helpful are scathing. "Perhaps the most aggressively unethically monetized game I have ever seen," says one. "It's like microtransactions layered upon micratransactions, buried behind endless false currencies to nickel and dime you over everything."

Monetization is a common theme among those dissatisfied with Kingsroad. Some Steam s call it pay-to-win, and suggest its monetization is approaching the manipulation seen in that of gacha games. Some reviews point specifically to the fast travel system, which is free if you walk to a purpose-built signpost, but you're able to warp from anywhere if you pay a .

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad's predatory monetization isn't the only facet getting flak, though. One review calls it "unreal engine marketplace asset slop," warning others to "avoid like the plague." Another claims "combat is pretty poor with unresponsive controls," and many note that horseback riding oddly has your steed sliding oddly around corners.

There are plenty of Kingsroad defenders too, urging those perusing the reviews to keep in mind it's free-to-play and the monetization should be expected. The positive reviews seem to agree that Game of Thrones: Kingsroad's story is generally engaging, and some note that the combat is actually fairly interesting, even if it's clearly designed to cater to the mobile port. Despite some people enjoying their time with Kingsroad, it's hard to say it's the great Game of Thrones RPG we've been waiting for.

Is Game Of Thrones Too Difficult To Adapt To A Video Game?

Most Attempts Have Been Lackluster

Kingsroad is just the latest in a long line of disappointing Game of Thrones adaptations. The common denominator is, unfortunately, mobile platforms. There's nothing inherently wrong with mobile gaming, but what tends to be fun on an iPhone is a completely different experience than what players are generally looking for on their PC. I'm here to bravely tell you that Zynga's Game of Thrones: Slots Casino is not the great A Song of Ice and Fire game we've been waiting for.

Perhaps the best video game adaptation so far is Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series, released episodically between 2014 and 2015. It was generally well-received, and commercially successful, but its collected episodes do only sit at a tepid 64 on Metacritic. A second season was in development, and could have potentially ironed out its predecessor's wrinkles, but Telltale, as a development house, was closed in 2018 before it could be released.

Telltale has been partially revived under LCG Entertainment, and is currently working on The Wolf Among Us 2, even though rumors suggest it has been quietly canceled.

What people really want is a better version of Game of Thrones, the 2012 game from Cyanide, which has an even worse Metacritic score of 52 (most reviewed on Xbox 360). Much like Kingsroad, the 2012 action RPG is praised for its story, but that's about it – its combat is atrocious, and it looks dated even by seventh console generation standards.

Perhaps this is indicative of the core issue in adapting A Song of Ice and Fire; George R.R. Martin's vast, deep world can easily an interesting narrative, but that breadth also demands extensive gameplay systems. If it's not a purely narrative experience like Telltale's attempt, a Game of Thrones game almost requires an open world – people want to explore Westeros, and you'd have to build an absolutely massive game to fill it. The grandeur and spectacle of HBO's Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon have become a baseline expectation for the franchise.

Will We Ever Get A Great GoT Game?

I Hope So

It's perplexing that Game of Thrones hasn't produced a hit video game, especially considering the cultural powerhouse it used to be. Without relitigating the disappointment of the HBO show's last two seasons, it's hard to envision a major publisher backing a game adaption considering how far its cultural standing has fallen. If a major open-world Game of Thrones adaptation wasn't being developed in 2014, why would anyone start now?

The sad part is, there's a very easy comparison to see how incredible a well-made GoT game would be: Elden Ring's backstory was written by George R.R. Martin, and it's among the best games of all time. I don't necessarily want FromSoftware to adapt A Song of Ice and Fire – it's far too character-driven for FromSoft's strengths – but it is emblematic of how GRRM's work lends itself to bold interactive experiences.

Kingsroad is so close to being on the right track, but clearly fell short, due in no small part to being primarily a mobile game. I want to play as a Westerosi bastard suddenly thrust into potentially world-altering responsibility; I want to immerse myself in the political turmoil of the Seven Kingdoms; I want to battle knights from rival houses and the occasional White Walker. But I don't want to deal with predatory monetization and questionable gameplay.

Game of Thrones is practically begging for a great video game adaptation, but for what is likely a variety of reasons, one has yet to manifest. Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is just the latest gaming venture from the franchise, but its reviews have put a major damper on A Song of Ice and Fire ever leading to a truly compelling game.

Sources: Game of Thrones: Kingsroad/Steam, Metacritic (1, 2)