Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series

Game of Thrones Episode 2 may be Telltale's best showing yet, capturing the world of A Song of Ice and Fire near perfectly.

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"Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series" is an episodic game set in the world of HBO's hit show, where players control the Forrester family, loyal to the Starks of Winterfell. With decisions that impact the story, players will interact with characters from the TV show and visit familiar locations such as King's Landing and The Wall. The game is developed by the creators of The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us. Players will experience the tension of playing the Game of Thrones, where the stakes are high and there are consequences for every decision.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,376 reviews

story1,358 positive mentions

stability76 negative mentions

Engaging story that fits well within the Game of Thrones universe.
Strong character development and emotional depth, making players care about the outcomes.
High-quality voice acting from the original cast of the TV series.

Choices often feel meaningless, leading to a sense of frustration and lack of agency.
The game ends on a cliffhanger with no resolution, leaving players unsatisfied.
Technical issues such as bugs and poor graphics detract from the overall experience.

story
4,255 mentions
32 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in "Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series" is generally praised for its gripping narrative and emotional depth, effectively capturing the essence of the Game of Thrones universe. However, many players express frustration over the limited impact of their choices, as the overarching plot remains largely predetermined, leading to a feeling of helplessness and a lack of agency in shaping the story. While the character development and voice acting are well-received, the game is often criticized for its linearity and unresolved plot threads, leaving players yearning for a more satisfying conclusion.
- “The story is captivating and on par with the main story with its intrigues and complex inter-character relationships.”
- “The story is absolutely great and feels like you're reading a very intense book.”
- “The story is engaging and gives a deeper look into got lore.”
- “The story is lukewarm; it's a quick cash grab that doesn't hold up at all.”
- “Your choices don't matter because whatever choice you make won't change the main story in any meaningful way.”
- “The story is filled with plot holes, and the characters frequently pull random 180s; their actions have no motivation; and nothing good ever happens – the lone theme is 'if you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.'”
graphics
655 mentions
27 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing them as outdated and subpar compared to other titles in the genre. While some appreciate the unique watercolor art style and find it fitting for the narrative, others feel it detracts from the overall experience due to poor textures, glitches, and clunky animations. Overall, the visuals are often described as lacking polish, which can break immersion, but the strong storytelling and voice acting help to mitigate these shortcomings for some players.
- “Its so well produced, great storyline and graphics.”
- “The art style is still Telltale to the core; if you know what that means, you won't have any problems in the graphics department.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, and the characters are well constructed in a style that fits Game of Thrones.”
- “The graphics, however, were poor for what I would have expected of something of this standard, and there are parts of the exploration process that felt unnecessary and pulled me out of the experience.”
- “Graphics have this weird smudgy watercolor art style that only serves as a way to desperately hide unbelievably ugly backgrounds.”
- “The graphics are pretty bad for 2015, and a lot of the faces and animations are horrible, especially after seeing Tales from the Borderlands.”
gameplay
440 mentions
18 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Telltale's Game of Thrones is largely consistent with the studio's established formula, characterized by minimal interactivity, primarily consisting of quick-time events and dialogue choices that often feel inconsequential. While the narrative and character development are praised, many players express frustration with the lack of meaningful gameplay mechanics and the repetitive nature of the interactions, leading to a perception that the game is more of an interactive movie than a traditional game. Overall, those seeking deep gameplay mechanics or significant player agency may find this title lacking, while fans of story-driven experiences may still enjoy the journey.
- “Highly recommend to everyone who enjoys relaxing gameplay and a great story.”
- “It also builds to an excellent finale - the last chapter has many different gameplay possibilities, in approach as well as your decisions in the previous chapter.”
- “Engaging gameplay, choices matter in their own sense and it really has the Game of Thrones feel.”
- “So with no (or not enough) tension or consequences and bad gameplay, I can't recommend this game.”
- “Bad and frustrating gameplay and interface design that gives you the illusion of choice and makes a lot of your choices and in-game actions seem inconsequential and pointless to the story development because of predetermined major events that you cannot change.”
- “The gameplay is pretty light on - you don't play Telltale games for puzzles or strong gameplay elements, you play for the story because let's face it, the game is pretty much an interactive movie.”
music
240 mentions
27 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in Telltale's Game of Thrones is generally well-received, with many fans appreciating the familiar themes from the HBO series and the emotional depth it adds to the gameplay. While some players find the original tracks unremarkable and repetitive, the overall soundtrack effectively enhances the atmosphere and storytelling, making it a highlight for fans of the franchise. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of variety and the occasional forgettable sound design, which detracts from the immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack is amazing, the characters are real (and all too likeable in some cases) and the character switches feel fairly seamless.”
- “The music mixes some new tracks with some Game of Thrones soundtrack staples, but it all works very well.”
- “The music, story, characters, and action were great.”
- “One of the main criticisms of the game is its graphics and music, which some players may find underwhelming.”
- “The music is so bland - uninspired mournful-sorrowful tunes that need some kind of stronger melody or motif behind them, otherwise it's just cello improvisation which is not a good thing.”
- “The game can appear very lifeless due to an oddly bare soundscape - music is unremarkable (in stark contrast to the TV show) and many scenes seem to lack sound effects.”
emotional
197 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players describing it as a heart-wrenching and intense experience that mirrors the emotional depth of the Game of Thrones series. While some critiques mention a lack of investment in certain characters and a feeling of futility in choices, the overall consensus highlights the game's capacity to create genuine emotional connections, leading to moments of joy, sorrow, and frustration. Players often report crying during pivotal scenes, indicating the game's effectiveness in delivering an emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply with fans of the franchise.
- “Once you get past the occasional boof on the game's part, you get an excellent and heart-wrenching story.”
- “This game is as emotional as the TV series.”
- “The most emotional game I've ever played.”
- “This game is full of boring characters, boring story, and boring gameplay.”
- “Boring story, zero pay-off, zero investment in the story or characters.”
- “Boring story.”
atmosphere
85 mentions
55 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its faithful recreation of the Game of Thrones universe, capturing the show's tension, cynicism, and emotional depth through strong voice acting and a rich narrative. While the graphics may not be as sharp as other Telltale titles, the unique art style and immersive sound design contribute to a compelling experience that resonates with fans of the series. However, some players noted that the game's interactive elements can sometimes detract from the overall atmosphere, leading to moments where the intensity drops unexpectedly.
- “Great characters, great voice acting, great atmosphere and setting.”
- “If you love Game of Thrones, then this game certainly manages to recreate the atmosphere and sometimes edge-of-the-seat tension but also – the heart-breaking moments of the show.”
- “The atmosphere and the choices you have to make are so exciting and entertaining that I can only recommend buying it!”
- “While this story element succeeded at showing the different events in the world, the cut times were somewhat questionable at points, making an intense atmosphere drop into a happy or calm one and then back.”
- “Some of the bugs and glitches in the background, from noclip characters to floating objects, downright broke the atmosphere of the game.”
- “I can only play it in little chunks before the overall negative atmosphere just overwhelms.”
stability
77 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, crashes, and poor optimization affecting gameplay. Many players experience significant graphical issues, audio desynchronization, and freezing, which detract from the overall experience. Despite some positive aspects, the consensus is that the game is overly buggy and in need of substantial patches to improve its stability.
- “From what I have seen of this game, which is about an hour and 30 minutes of gameplay, it exceeded my expectations. I grew to love my characters and hate their enemies, and it was nearly bug-free at launch. Good games usually don't launch this perfectly built.”
- “This game is the worst game ever, crashes on start quite often, and I doubt that you'll be able to make it through a story without at least a few fairly serious audio/animation glitches.”
- “The game plays rather badly, with constant freezes and stuttering (as tested on a variety of computers with varying specs and settings, no change, still shit).”
- “The pc port is a buggy mess.”
replayability
66 mentions
23 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The reviews for replayability in this game are highly polarized, with many players expressing frustration over the limited impact of choices on the story, leading to a perception of low or zero replay value. However, some users appreciate the potential for different outcomes and the desire to explore alternative decisions, suggesting that there is a degree of replayability, albeit constrained by unskippable cutscenes and a linear narrative. Overall, while a few players find the game enjoyable enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, the consensus leans towards a lack of significant replay value.
- “Yes, there's some railroading, but there are so many different scenes that give this game replay value.”
- “This game has great replay value as you really can go back into episode one and make a completely different story.”
- “The drama was on par with the TV series and the conversations really felt like walking through a minefield, with the added stress of making tough decisions in a short amount of time. It really adds replay value to the game.”
- “In my opinion, that makes having to make decisions pointless and makes the replay value of this game 0.”
- “The story is generic as hell and the game could not have less replay value.”
- “Very little fun to be had and essentially no replayability.”
humor
49 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the well-developed characters and their comedic facial animations, while others feel the overall tone is too grim compared to previous titles like "Tales from the Borderlands." Many found moments of unintentional humor, particularly in character interactions and dialogue, but some criticized the lack of consistent comedic relief, leading to a more nihilistic experience. Overall, while there are funny moments, the game often leans towards a serious narrative that can overshadow its comedic elements.
- “A lot of the main characters are well-developed with nice senses of humor.”
- “The game is easy to play (in true Telltale Games style), nice dolly-like graphics, humor I appreciated.”
- “You'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll cry because you're laughing.”
optimization
38 mentions
26 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
37 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with players reporting significant performance issues such as frame drops, stuttering, and laggy menus, even on high-end systems. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly in windowed mode or on specific setups, the overall experience is marred by technical glitches and a lack of polish, leading to frustration among players. Despite the presence of quality voice acting, the game's performance problems detract from the enjoyment and immersion.
- “So, I guess they did a good job not having an unoptimized and unplayable garbage.”
- “The story is rich, driving and compelling, the combat is diverse enough to be fun and the performance is smooth throughout.”
- “Graphics and performance-wise, the game runs smoothly on my GTX 560 Ti.”
- “Still there were performance problems on an actual system that runs smoothly with current CryEngine, Unreal Engine, and Unity games.”
- “I can play Witcher 3 and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided with ultra settings and 60fps, but for this game I'm still suffering from frame drops, stuttering, and can't even hold a stable 60fps. Oh my god!”
- “The lower-than-usual production value hits you in the face the moment you open the game: the menu is extremely laggy, even on my GeForce GTX 970. The game itself is less choppy but still poorly optimized, and visual glitches are everywhere.”
character development
27 mentions
48 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and emotional engagement, particularly in the context of a story-driven experience akin to "Game of Thrones." However, many players criticize the lack of meaningful progression for characters, noting that choices often feel inconsequential and fail to impact the narrative significantly. Overall, while there are standout moments and strong initial character arcs, the execution leaves some players feeling disappointed.
- “As long as you know that Telltale has an overarching narrative in place and your choices serve more to further character development and deepen the sense of immersion, you won't be disappointed.”
- “In terms of games in general, this product is very unique in style as the action is brought behind the more important character exchanges. The character development is superb with an array of emotions felt through the different episodes with very surprising outcomes.”
- “This is a great story-driven game with one of the best character development and story arcs.”
- “Although all the characters are interesting in the beginning, there is almost no real character development.”
- “No character development at all, and nothing you do really matters or changes anything.”
- “Most dialogue is just boring and the choices have little to no impact on the story or character development.”
grinding
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
-10 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for its slow and tedious gameplay, with many players finding the point-and-click sequences and quick-time events to be particularly unengaging. While the narrative aims to capture the essence of the Game of Thrones universe, the repetitive and frustrating mechanics detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony that overshadows the story's potential. Despite some appreciation for the interwoven storylines, the general consensus is that the game often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable journey.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “A dip into the GOT world sounds awesome, but the gameplay is slow and tedious.”
- “It just becomes tedious.”
- “This game comes really close to emulating the quality of the show, but because of poor writing and the flawed template that Telltale uses, it ends up being a frustrating, tedious experience.”
monetization
13 mentions
0 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling it serves primarily as a cash grab rather than a fully realized experience. Reviewers express disappointment over the lack of content and meaningful choices, suggesting that the game feels more like an advertisement for future installments than a standalone narrative. Overall, the sentiment is that the game exploits its popular IP without delivering a satisfying or impactful experience.
- “I didn't pay $30 for an advertisement for Telltale's Game of Thrones Season 2 trailer, but that's what I got.”
- “Don't spend your money on this; it's a total cash grab without any outcome other than a truly linear one (soap operas have more excitement and leave you with a better feeling than this).”
- “The main problem with this is that it is not a game; it's a few Game of Thrones episodes that prompts you to click the mouse now and then - 'your choices matter' was, in retrospect, the biggest misadvertisement possible, since, frankly, they do not.”