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A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

A functional, basic board game port isn't enough to truly shine off the tabletop.
70%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
stability, replayability
69% User Score Based on 2,174 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCPCAndroidAndroidiPhoneiPhoneWindowsWindowsMac OSMac OSMobile PlatformMobile PlatformiPadiPadPhonePhoneTabletTablet

About

"A Game of Thrones: The Board Game – Digital Edition" is a strategy game based on the novels by George R.R. Martin. Players represent Great Houses, vying for control of Westeros through diplomacy, planning, and military might. The digital adaptation supports up to six players online, or single-player with AI opponents. The game is set in the fictional world of politics, intrigue, and warfare found in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game screenshot
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game screenshot
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game screenshot
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game screenshot
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game screenshot
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game screenshot
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game screenshot

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,175 reviews
gameplay48 positive mentions
stability178 negative mentions

  • Faithful adaptation of the board game with smooth gameplay and a user-friendly interface.
  • Great for playing with friends or against AI, providing a fun and strategic experience.
  • The digital version speeds up gameplay significantly compared to the physical board game.
  • The game is plagued with bugs that can cause crashes and prevent players from finishing matches.
  • Multiplayer is often unplayable due to AFK players and a lack of a turn timer, leading to long wait times.
  • The AI is predictable and lacks challenge, making solo play less engaging.
  • stability
    180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. Many players experience frequent crashes, inability to rejoin games, and game freezes, making it nearly unplayable for some. While a few users report minimal issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is currently too buggy to recommend, especially for online play.

    • “This version plays just like the board game and is mostly bug-free, but seems to be actively correcting the few issues.”
    • “Don't buy this game; it's a bug-ridden mess and it's just not worth waiting in a lobby for 6 people to finally join just to have it crash by turn 5 when things get interesting.”
    • “The game is super fun, but the product glitches in most games, which makes it borderline unplayable.”
    • “This digital version of the game is almost unplayable because it is incredibly buggy, meaning most games you play will not be finished.”
  • gameplay
    178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "A Game of Thrones: The Board Game - Digital Edition" is characterized by its intricate mechanics that blend diplomacy, warfare, and strategy, offering a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in learning the rules. While the user interface is praised for its intuitiveness and the digital format streamlines gameplay, many players report significant bugs that can disrupt the experience, particularly during multiplayer sessions. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of the series and those who enjoy complex board games, though it may not appeal to casual gamers due to its steep learning curve and occasional technical issues.

    • “The game's mechanics are a blend of diplomacy, warfare, and cunning strategy, making each session feel like a true battle for Westeros.”
    • “While its complexity might be daunting for some, those who invest the time to learn its intricacies will be rewarded with a satisfying and immersive gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay is great, the visuals are stunning, the UI is fantastic, and after the three short but very informative tutorials, we were all ready to play.”
    • “Bad mechanics, inflexible implementation, not worth more than bargain bin $3.”
    • “Many of the mechanics look novel, but too many of them get in the way of enjoying the game.”
    • “The gameplay experience was marred by an overwhelming number of bugs.”
  • graphics
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are generally praised for their beautiful design, detailed maps of Westeros, and immersive animations that reflect the source material. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and smooth performance, some report bugs and glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong aspect of the game, though there are calls for improvements and more unique character models.

    • “The game's graphics are beautifully designed, with detailed maps of Westeros and animated character models.”
    • “The art style is based on the books, and the music and sound effects immerse players in the world of 'A Song of Ice and Fire.' The attention to detail in recreating the setting is commendable.”
    • “Great job on the graphics.”
    • “Numerous glitches in notification and other graphical issues.”
    • “Poor graphics (they didn't even make unique models for castles...), animations, bugs, no customization (I mean visual and game modes).”
    • “Graphics could be better.”
  • music
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music and sound effects in the game effectively immerse players in the world of "A Song of Ice and Fire," with many praising the thematic fit and attention to detail. However, some users expressed disappointment over the lack of a more engaging soundtrack, suggesting that the inclusion of Ramin Djawadi's original compositions would enhance the experience. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, there are calls for improvement to make it more dynamic and responsive to gameplay events.

    • “It is very polished, great theme and soundtrack.”
    • “Love the music and sound effects.”
    • “This is everything I wished from a tabletop game adaptation: the game state is visible, the UI is great, what is happening is explicit, the art is cool, the music fits the bill, and everything is quick and snappy.”
    • “One negative might be the music.”
  • story
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story mode offers engaging scenarios inspired by the "Game of Thrones" universe, providing players with specific objectives and challenges that enhance replayability. While single-player missions serve as effective tutorials, some players have reported frustrating bugs and AI issues that detract from the experience. Overall, the adaptation is seen as faithful, but there is a desire for more content and improvements in future expansions.

    • “These set you up in scenarios from the GOT universe and gave you specific objectives to complete; it was such a fun surprise to find this story mode style gameplay.”
    • “The story mode poses some difficult and intriguing challenges.”
    • “The challenges are missions that come from situations in the books, like for example you play as the Lannisters and have to rescue Tyrion from the Eyrie.”
    • “The AI cheats relentlessly, and even on the hardest difficulty, it is so stupid. One of the campaign missions is literally impossible to complete. I have attempted the 'Growing Strong' (the first Tyrell) mission 8 times now, always playing to the last turn, and never once has the 'Muster Units' tactics card been drawn, even though that's the purpose of that mission.”
    • “Supposedly there's a story, but I mean... in a way, every game you play is kind of a story, so I don't know.”
    • “You have a few extra missions (5), but that's it.”
  • replayability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is noted for its variety and the unpredictability of human opponents, making it interesting, especially when exploring different houses. However, limitations such as a 10-turn cap, lack of skirmish options, and some factions being less playable contribute to a generally low replay value. Additionally, external factors like time constraints hinder the ability to fully explore the game's mechanics and strategies.

    • “This variety, combined with the unpredictability of human opponents, adds significant replayability to the experience.”
    • “The mechanics and strategy of the board game leave a lot of room for replayability.”
    • “The game is quite interesting and replayable, especially if you try the different houses.”
    • “The 10-turn limit and lack of configurable skirmish options just gives this game very low replay value.”
    • “I otherwise would recommend it, especially if it had the more densely packed Mother of Dragons expansion, but as it is, it just lacks replay value.”
    • “The mechanics and strategy of the board game leave a lot of room for replayability, but with time constraints and schedules (and the godforsaken COVID-19, the great game night killer!), it is difficult to get it to the table often enough to really play it from all angles.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its smooth performance and user-friendly design, with players expressing a desire for further optimization improvements. The aesthetic appeal is also noted positively, contributing to a generally favorable experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly, and the aesthetic is nice.”
    • “I can't wait to see some more optimization put towards the game.”
    • “It's very user-friendly, and everything runs smoothly on it (unlike Talisman).”
  • monetization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for being overly aggressive, with constant advertisements for other games and a perceived lack of care from developers, as evidenced by long-standing bugs. Many users feel that the game prioritizes profit over player experience, labeling it a "pathetic cash grab."

    • “I would rather never play the board game again than waste my time on this pathetic cash grab any further.”
    • “It's clear the developers really didn't care much as many of the bugs took years to fix, and they're constantly advertising other games down your throat in the menu.”
    • “Fake advertising.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find that the computer version of the game alleviates the tediousness often associated with the physical board game, as it automates many details and streamlines gameplay. While the lack of in-person interaction can diminish the experience, the reduction in setup and playtime is a significant improvement for those who previously found the board game cumbersome. Overall, the digital adaptation is praised for making the game more accessible and less grindy.

    • “This is the main pain point making playing the game very tedious.”
    • “I could never get my hands on the actual board game as I heard it was very tedious to set up and play, so I'm glad this was released. It had been a while I had been waiting for an actual Game of Thrones strategy game on Steam.”
    • “On the computer, it may lack the feeling of everyone being present and witnessing the reactions to the turns' sudden yet inevitable betrayals, but it makes up for it so much in lacking the tediousness by having all the details resolved automatically by the computer.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the game humorous, often encountering friendly and funny individuals during matches. However, there are also instances of less mature players who struggle with losing, which can affect the overall experience.

    • “Really great game, very funny.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive graphics, which effectively enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the mood set by the visual elements, contributing to a captivating environment.

Buy A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

4h Median play time
10h Average play time
2-14h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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