Reigns: Game of Thrones

Some of the desires of Martin's characters come through in Reigns: Game of Thrones' structure and its writing. I can play as nine different leaders, including Daenerys, Jon, Cersei, Tyrion and Jaime. Each has their own quirks, as well as specific missions and locations that resonate with their previous adventures.

You decide the fate of the denizens of Westeros in this Game of Thrones tie-in, which is, appropriately, a bloody riot

Reigns: Game of Thrones doesn't reinvent the Reigns formula but it certainly gets more out of it than either of the last two games. With clever writing and a deductive approach to ruling from the Iron Throne, it's a great way to revisit the world of Westeros as we await the final season of the show. Just don't stay around for too long or you might find yourself growing bored fighting against the Dornishmen for the umpteenth time.

As an officially licensed game – complete with character likenesses in Reigns' angular portrait format and Ramin Djawadi's instantly recognisable score – Reigns: Game of Thrones is about as close as you'll come to living the day-to-day life of a Westeros monarch, short of visiting the Seven Kingdoms for real. By bringing in key characters and events from the books and show, you're given enough authenticity that exploring storylines only ever teased in the source material (such as seeing Jamie on the throne or a more compassionate version of Cersei) feel just as meaningful.

For fans of the show, Reigns: Game of Thrones is an entertaining experience. The presentation is great and the writing is stellar. Unfortunately, the game often feels repetitive and the lack of direction makes the game a bit frustrating. If the show’s ending left you wanting, this game might satisfy that craving, but newcomers or those that just started the series should definitely steer clear.

I usually like puzzle games more than high-action games, but this one left me a bit flat. If you want to add an official GoT item to your game collection, this one is only $3.99; so no huge investment and you can while away some time as you wonder, "What if I sat on the throne?" One thing to remember in Reigns: Game of Thrones is a lesson that applies to much in life – you're darned if you do and you're darned if you don't. You will end up dead, it's just a matter of time before your reign ends.

GREAT - Reigns: Game of Thrones is a clever choose your own adventure-styled title with highly accessible mechanics and a very robust dynamic narrative experience. Fans of the series will find a lot of canon to play around with and forge their own paths not seen before. Although not part of our typical rating system, I’ve given a higher total score also primarily due to the staggeringly low price point of $3.99, making it the perfect companion game to enjoy the last season with.

Reigns: Game of Thrones delighted me with fun winks and nods and charming writing, but inevitably winter metaphorically comes and the going gets repetitious. Even with the quick burn, I love all the references and wish fulfillment on display as you get to live out the fanciful reigns of Queen Arya, King Tyrion, and many more. This is an excellent use of the Game of Thrones license despite some inadequacies.

To the game’s credit there’s a ton of content to explore and digest and the fan service paid as a whole is commendable, the game likely could have found great success even without so much obvious effort at play...

Fans of the show and novels should definitely pick it up for something fun to do while we wait for Season 8