Game of Thrones: Kingsroad

Developer: Netmarble Neo

Release: May 21st 2025

Platforms:

Single-player Multi-player Action Adventure RPG Free To Play

Immersive

Narrative-rich

Monetization

Buggy

Engaging

" Immersive action-adventure RPG with rich Game of Thrones lore but aggressive monetization "

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is a free-to-play open-world RPG set in the beloved Westeros universe, eliciting mixed reactions from players. Fans of the franchise appreciate the rich narrative and faithful world-building, with many praising the story as surprisingly well-crafted and engaging, comparable to AAA titles. The combat system, while initially perceived as casual hack-and-slash, reveals tactical depth rewarding strategic play and character progression.

However, the game is heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization strategy, including microtransactions, pay-to-win elements, and energy systems that gate progression. Technical issues such as bugs, optimization problems, and clunky controls detract from the experience. Despite these flaws, some players find the grind and gameplay enjoyable, especially fans of the GoT lore willing to overlook paywalls and bugs. Community support and ongoing updates provide hope for improvements, but the game’s mobile-port nature and monetization model remain contentious points among users.

Highlights

Players especially praise the immersive Game of Thrones setting and a storyline that respects the source material without relying on fanservice. The game’s open world and detailed locations like Winterfell enhance immersion.

The combat, though simpler than some RPGs, is appreciated for its tactical layers and character build variety. Voice acting and cutscenes receive positive mentions for quality, contributing to a strong narrative experience. Fans enjoy the grind and progression mechanics, finding satisfaction in overcoming challenges through strategic play.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the predatory monetization with pay-to-win mechanics, excessive microtransactions, and slow progression without spending money. Many players find the energy system and gating by momentum frustrating.

Technical issues such as bugs, crashes, enemy hitbox problems, and poor optimization are frequent complaints. Controls and movement, especially horse riding, are described as clunky or awkward. The UI and mobile port design break immersion for some users. Several players regret spending money due to these issues.

Pros

• Rich and immersive Game of Thrones narrative with strong world-building.
• Tactical combat system rewarding strategic play and character progression.
• High-quality voice acting and cutscenes enhance storytelling.
• Open world featuring iconic locations like Winterfell for exploration.
• Satisfying character growth and build variety to customize playstyle.
• Community support and active developer engagement improve experience.
• Free-to-play model allows gradual progression without mandatory spending.

Cons

• Aggressive monetization with pay-to-win elements frustrates many players.
• Energy system and momentum gating create tedious progression bottlenecks.
• Numerous bugs and crashes disrupt gameplay and immersion.
• Clunky controls and awkward horse movement reduce enjoyment.
• Poor optimization causes performance issues and graphical pop-ins.
• Mobile port UI breaks immersion and feels out of place on PC.
• Some enemy mechanics and hitboxes feel unfair or buggy.

Rating Criteria

Story

Difficulty

Graphics

Duration

Stability

Worth the Price

About This Game

A story-driven action-adventure RPG, bringing the world of Westeros to life with remarkable detail and never-before seen scale.

WESTEROS HOLDS MANY SECRETS. DEFEND YOUR LEGACY.

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■ Experience Westeros like never before

Explore the seven kingdoms that make up Westeros in the vast open world of Game of Thrones: Kingsroad. Discover vivid landscapes, massive cities, backwater towns, untamed wilderness, and the people that inhabit them.

Roam about iconic regions and locations. Take in everything from the splendor of King’s Landing to the frigid unease of Castle Black, located at the foot of the 700 feet tall Wall that stretches along the northern border of the Kingdom of the North, protecting the realm from horrors that lurk beyond.

■ Original Journey and New Storylines that Deepen the Lore

Forge your own legacy as an illegitimate child from a small noble house in the North, House Tyre. Thrust into action by the death of your brothers and the looming threat of winter, you must embark on a mission to restore your house to its former glory.

Solidify your political position, navigate the complex power struggles between the noble houses of Westeros, and seek out what allies you can, all while aiding the Night’s Watch in their preparations for the final confrontation with the White Walkers and their army of the dead that awaits just beyond the Wall.

■ Dynamic and immersive visceral ARPG combat

Featuring fully manual controls, dodging, parrying, and emphasizing impactful and exhilarating swordfights, the game’s combat is designed to immerse players in intense and meaningful battles, allowing them to experience the thrill of combat as if they were part of the Game of Thrones world.

Combat requires careful control and strategy as players dodge and counter opponents’ attacks, analyze their patterns, chain attacks and use unique skills to create strategic, skill-driven gameplay.

■ Choose your playstyle through distinct classes

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad features three distinct classes, inspired by the iconic archetypes established in the original series: Knight, Sellsword, and Assassin.

Each class comes with its own unique strengths and weaknesses, combat mechanics, and skills - enhancing the depth of each combat encounter and providing players with the options they need to play the combat style they prefer.