Combat, politics and cooperative play: What to expect from Game of Thrones: Kingsroad

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is a new action RPG coming to phones and PC. It's developed by Netmarble, who are dedicated to immersing Game of Thrones fans in an open world environment they haven't gotten to experience in this way before. According to to Netrmarble Neo division director Hyun-il Jang, players "will have the opportunity to walk through Winterfell under Bolton occupation, the grandeur of King's Landing, and even Highgarden, which was previously only seen from afar. Additionally, areas that were not featured in the show are meticulously recreated with great attention to detail."

"From the beautiful White Harbor to the diverse landscapes of the Stormlands, players will experience the thrill of exploration. Along the way, they will encounter various decision points that lead to different outcomes, adding depth to their journey. Furthermore, crafting using a variety of resources and extensive customization options will enhance both exploration and combat, making the experience even more enjoyable."

On the one hand, the fact that Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is being released for mobile devices gives players pause; the world of Game of Thrones is big enough to deserve a big-budget, triple-AAA video game, and it's hard to picture playing that kind of game on your phone. On the other hand, Netmarble really does seem like it's trying to give fans an immersive, feature-rich experience. You can tell from the trailer above that the game looks pretty good, and it will come with a whole new story set during the back half the fourth season of the HBO show.

"The player takes on the role of the heir to House Tyre, a fallen noble family of the North," explained Hyun-il Jang. "House Tyre has lost its glory, and the protagonist’s father lies gravely ill. To restore their house and fulfill their duty as a Northerner, the protagonist embarks on a challenging journey. Together with Jon Snow, they witness the terrifying threat of the White Walkers in the Haunted Forest. Unable to leave the Wall himself, Jon entrusts the protagonist with the mission of traveling across Westeros to warn of the looming danger and seek support for the North, all while striving to be recognized as the rightful heir of their house."

How does Game of Thrones: Kingsroad play?

Jang calls this period of the show "one of the most compelling time periods for fans." The White Walkers are on the move but most of the Seven Kingdoms don't yet know they exist, King Tommen Baratheon rules in King's Landing, and the North is under the control of Roose Bolton. As for what players will actually be doing, the game seems to divide its time between combat and role-playing elements. At the outset, they'll choose between one of three classes: a Sellsword (modeled after Tormund Giantsbane), a knight (modeled after Jaime Lannister) and an assassin (modeled after Arya Stark).

"[T]he Sellsword, with their rugged appearance, wields a massive axe, leading players to expect a slow but powerful combat style. True to this expectation, the Sellsword delivers slower but devastating attacks, excelling in dealing with larger groups of enemies," Jang said. "The Assassin, with the smallest frame and dual daggers, is designed for swift hit-and-run tactics, utilizing skills like stealth and smoke bombs to confuse enemies and gain an advantage. Lastly, the Knight, wielding a longsword, may seem like a basic choice, but it offers the strongest performance for beginners. With balanced stats and straightforward attack patterns, the Knight allows players to grasp combat mechanics quickly and transition to an advanced level more easily compared to other classes."

"The combat in Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is a mix of classic action RPG mechanics- dodging, blocking, parrying, and attacking - combined with a flexible character growth system...this game emphasizes stronger action elements and offers greater freedom in how players develop their characters. The class-specific skills, mastery system, and intuitive combo mechanics make battles both accessible and rewarding."

Along their journey, players will encounter hostiles soldiers and bandits, as well as more otherwortly enemies like wights and White Walkers. And also bears. "Mysterious gameplay elements also exist, allowing players to witness past events or mythical figures through the Weirwood trees and engage in cooperative play to defeat these spectral threats," Jang said.

Then there's the role-playing side of things, where the player will rise in the ranks of the mighty until he can barter with familiar characters; in the trailers, we've seen Jon Snow, Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Varys and Olenna Tyrell all show up. "Political maneuvering and its consequences, whether intended or unforeseen, make for some of the most compelling and memorable moments in the show," Jang said. "One of the team's main goals was to bring moments like these into the game's interactive narrative. In the beginning, the player is in no position to even sit at the table when it comes to playing the game of thrones. But, as the narrative unfolds, they'll find that even minor players have a role and choices to make. Kingsroad allows players to approach a given situation in their preferred way, forging their own path through the complex political landscape of Westeros."

"The design team prioritized not only replicating the appearances from iconic characters in the show but also capturing their personalities and individual roles. Based on their on-screen appearances, we worked on the 3D models and carefully reviewed various animation scenarios to ensure they aligned with each character’s personality. We also refined details such as facial expressions to enhance authenticity. For example, we focused on portraying Ramsay’s sadistic expressions and his timid demeanor in front of his father to ensure these traits are effectively conveyed in key scenes."

Netmarble is fine-tuning the game now, with a release date to be announced later. I want to give Jang and his team credit for seeming to want to build a proper Game of Thrones video game, with lots of stuff to see and do. Hopefully it will live up to the ambitions the developers have for it rather than be dragged down by micro-transactions and some of the other annoying things mobile games are known for. We'll keep an eye out.

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h/t Gaming Bolt