10 Video Games To Play If You Love Game Of Thrones

Since television became one of humanity’s primary sources of information and entertainment, thousands of shows have appeared on screens around the world. As cable and then streaming services gained popularity over traditional networks, those numbers just kept climbing. Out of all these shows, only a select group become permanently part of the cultural zeitgeist. Game of Thrones is certainly one of those shows.

HBO’s fantasy series based on George R. R. Martin’s books was an international obsession, which is probably part of the reason people freaked about the finale. But if you need a fantasy storytelling fix, there are always plenty of great video games to choose from.

10 Fable II

When it comes to action RPGs set in an open world, Fable II is one of the best. Released in 2008 for Xbox 360, it was received well by both gamers and critics, despite a few nagging bugs. The game told the story of a would-be young hero training to save his homeland from a great evil. That description can be used to describe most RPGs. But Fable II has a highly engaging story that immediately draws you in, and solid enough gameplay to keep you hooked. The mix of guns, melee combat and magic keeps the fights interesting.

9 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Prior to the Netflix series, a lot of people had never heard of The Witcher. But before it was a TV series, it was a video game series, and before that, a book series. But no one is here to read about the books. Of the video game franchise, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is generally regarded as the best of the bunch, though everyone has a personal favorite.

As always, you play as Geralt of Rivia as he fights monsters with his trademarked mix of magic, blades and the occasional bath. You can play Wild Hunt on pretty much any platform at this point, including Xbox One, PS4, PC and, as of October 2019, Nintendo Switch.

8 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

It’s time to take it back to 2003 and one of the greatest Star Wars games ever made, Knights of the Old Republic. While the world of Star Wars looks a bit different from the world of Game of Thrones, there is certainly some common fantasy threads running between them. Knights of the Old Republic is set 4000 years before Emperor Palpatine formed the Galactic Empire. You play as a Jedi who is on a mission to defeat Darth Malak, a Dark Lord of the Sith who is up to the usual nonsense you expect a Dark Lord of the Sith to be up to. Your conduct can earn you either Dark Side or Light Side points, defining which side of the line you fall on.

7 Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor

The similarities between the world J. R. R. Tolkien built and the one George R. R. Martin built are far more apparent than the ones between Star Wars and Game of Thrones. Keeping in mind that the story is not considered to be part of the canon, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor is set after the events of The Hobbit but before what happens in the Lord of the Rings.

You play as Talion, a Ranger who is bonded with the spirit of an Elf Lord. This gives Talion, who was already a formidable fighter, some impressive mystical abilities. Shadow of Mordor is less RPG and more action-adventure, but you still get a nice tour of Middle Earth plus all the orcs you could ever want to slay.

6 World Of Warcraft

Getting into World of Warcraft at this point is a huge undertaking given the scope of the game. Starting up can feel a little daunting. Then again, so can starting to watch Game of Thrones. While it isn’t as popular as it used to be, WoW still has a massive following around the world. The massively multiplayer online role-playing game was released in 2004, the fourth game in the Warcraft franchise. Since then, there have been a total of eight major expansions that continued to grow the world. But if you are looking to start in on WoW, Blizzard released World of Warcraft Classic in 2019, a version of the base game without the expansions.

5 Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn

The year is 2000 and it’s time to fire up your PC to play Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Based on Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition rules, Baldur’s Gate II was a great improvement over the first game.

BioWare took constructive criticisms seriously and used them to help refine the game for Shadows of Amn. It’s set shortly after the events of the first game in the city of Athkalta with the story continuing to focus on Gorion’s Ward who has run afoul of an evil mage. Even 20 years later, Baldur’s Gate II is still widely regarded as one of the best RPGs ever made.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Legend of Zelda franchise remains one of the most venerable gaming institutions around, with Breath of the Wild being the most recent addition to that heritage. The brilliance of the game is how open it truly is. Link wakes up after a hundred-year sleep to defend Hyrule again. There is little instruction or structure to the game, allowing the player to explore the world freely. You can find your own path through Breath of the Wild, your ultimate objective being the defeat of Calamity Ganon. It’s a game built on nonlinear storytelling that rewards experimentation and exploration. Well, as long as you have a Nintendo Switch or Wii U.

3 Final Fantasy VII

If you’re looking for a series that rivals the legacy of The Legend of Zelda, look no further than Final Fantasy. A fan favorite, Final Fantasy VII, in particular, is regarded as one of the greatest games ever made. While it doesn’t look like your typical sword and sorcery game, it has a lot of the same elements just in a more futuristic-looking package.

Plus, the same kind of drama you get out of a Game of Thrones type world is also there. Admittedly, there isn’t really an equivalent to the Cersei/Jaime relationship in Final Fantasy VII, but that’s probably a good thing. That being said, Game of Thrones could use at least 50% more chocobos.

2 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Originally released in 2011 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2011, Skyrim has been remastered and re-released so many times you can pretty much play it on anything. That includes all three DLC packs. Skyrim is an action RPG that allows the player to experience a massive open-world as they grow and advance their character through the game. After the first stage of the main quest is finished, you can ignore it and do whatever you want from then on. It’s the kind of game you get to play your way, which is why it’s considered to be one of the greatest ever made. Plus, there are dragons, and everyone loves dragons.

1 Dark Souls

Deciding to play Dark Souls is like asking Brock Lesnar to stop by your house on his way home to kick your butt for several hours. Frankly, you have a better chance of beating Brock than beating Dark Souls. While all the games in this franchise are great in their own ways, the first one is a perennial fan favorite. While it is one of the best fantasy action RPGs ever made, be warned that this game will kick your butt over and over again. But that non-stop butt-kicking you receive from it just makes the game that much more satisfying to play.