The wait is finally over, as Game Of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon flies back onto our TV screens this week for its second season. Expect a summer filled with political tensions, family feuds, and of course, an army of ferocious dragons ready to tear one another apart.
The only downside to this TV goliath's return is the agonising wait for new episodes each week. But there is a solution to get your high-fantasy fix in the meantime – gaming.
While you’re busy deciding whether to pledge fealty to Rhaenyra or Alicent, below is a wide selection of acclaimed fantasy games with the same themes of power, revenge and violence found in both House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. Enjoy!
Elden Ring
With author George R.R. Martin himself helping to write its backstory, Elden Ring is a treasure trove of adventure and drama that every House of the Dragon fan will revel in. Selling well over 25 million copies, this game is simply a gaming masterpiece and a staple in the fantasy genre.
You play as the Tarnished, an exile summoned back to The Lands Between to restore the fractured world. Throughout your epic journey, you'll uncover the mysteries of the fabled Elden Ring, face demigods corrupted by power, and slay plenty of monsters, horrors and of course, dragons.
The broken world around you will attempt to kill you at every point throughout your journey, which can easily reach hundreds of hours of playtime. Information is scarce – it's up to the player to investigate quests with their own ingenuity and curiosity.
A brand new DLC, Shadow of Erdtree, released on June 21st, has already earned critical acclaim. Early impressions say it’s more like a sequel than an add-on, promising countless hours of additional content, unforgiving battles, and even more fantasy lore to savour.
Elden Ring is available to play on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S, and PC
Final Fantasy XVI
While Final Fantasy is famous for its rich, unique storytelling, it's widely known that the latest release, FFXVI, was heavily inspired by the Game of Thrones universe. Producer Naoki Yoshida told Game Informer last year that the development team watched the first four seasons of GoT to get a sense of the type of fantasy people enjoyed at the time.
The result? An epic fantasy adventure with signature Final Fantasy elements sown throughout. You play Clive Rosfield, the quintessential Jon Snow of the story. Born into royalty, Clive soon finds himself living the life of an outcast. His quest for redemption sees him take on several political powers, all to rescue his people from slavery and free the world of Valisthea from a withering Blight.
Rather than dragons, specific characters control Eikons – powerful elemental beings that are the kingmakers of the land. In this way, the key plot points of House of the Dragon play out, albeit with more spectacle. And with two additional DLCs, Echoes of the Fallen and Rising Tides, players new and old have plenty of new lore to explore in this magical, medieval world.
Final Fantasy XVI is available to play on PlayStation 5. A PC version is in development
Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series
Released back in 2014, the Game of Thrones video game still proves a popular revision course for GoT fans looking to re-explore Westeros all over again. It could be the perfect way to reignite those nostalgic feelings while also giving you fresh plot points to enjoy.
Set at the end of the third season of Thrones, players take control of a new faction, House Forrester, a noble family who pledges loyalty to the Starks. It features choice-driven gameplay across six episode arcs, which puts you in total control of the story events.
Controlling five different characters, your decisions in one episode can affect the future and, ultimately, how, who or if your House survives. Though taking place long after the events of House of the Dragon, players can still revisit signature locations from the Game of Thrones universe, including King's Landing and The Wall, and meet with iconic characters like Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and Cersei Lannister.
Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series is available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One/360, PC, Android & iOS devices
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With over 50 million sales, The Witcher 3 is one of the most acclaimed games ever made. And it's easy to see why—this game is brimming with high-octane action and dark fantasy, translating everything we love about the book series into the 3D world.
You play as the stoic witcher, Geralt of Rivia, who must find his adopted daughter, Ciri, before the otherworldly army known as the Wild Hunt does. As an open-world game, Geralt is free to chart his own path and explore the ravaged lands of the Northern Kingdoms with trusted swords and crossbows in hand.
The true magic of The Witcher 3 is found in its amazing narrative. With over 36 different endings, every decision you make can help shape the story in front of you. And whether it’s the raging war between Nilfgaard or Redania, the healthy supply of side-quests found dotted around the Continent, the addictive game of Gwent, or the endless monsters and dragons you’ll slay, the world of Witcher 3 feels as alive and visceral as any TV show to date, including Netflix's popular Witcher adaptation.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available to play on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC
Crusader Kings III
Mythological creatures aside, House of the Dragon is just as easily a story about politics—knowing who to trust and who not to. As such, there is a multitude of different strategy games that can flex your diplomacy and put you in the mindset of the Targaryens.
Crusader Kings III sees you command your house through the Middle Ages and beyond. You'll engage with a cast of historical characters and befriend, romance, or betray them to ensure the survival of your lineage. It all seems eerily familiar.
How you rule is ultimately up to you. Rule with an iron first? Be the caring king found only in storybooks? And what about your heir? How do you want to sculpt them to rule after your death? With Crusader Kings, no stone is left unturned.
Perhaps what’s most exciting about this game is the variety of mods and add-ons you can install to tailor the game to your liking. This includes a Game of Thrones campaign, which sets the game in Westeros and replaces characters with the likes of Tywin Lannister, Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark.
Crusader Kings III is available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and macOS
Baldur's Gate 3
Winner of virtually every award going in 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 is high-fantasy at its best. And it gives gamers all the tools they need to craft their very own epic adventure.
Built on the famous Dungeons and Dragons mantle, there are endless quests, narrative choices, and some of the most memorable characters found in gaming to date. With incredibly detailed character creation (complete with Dragonborn races), you have all the ingredients to craft your own House of the Dragon-inspired story in Faerûn.
Whether you play the hero or the villain is up to you. And it doesn’t have to be a solo adventure, either. You and three friends can team up and tackle everything the game offers, recreating that classic tabletop magic and the opportunity to review and deconstruct every House of the Dragon episode as it happens.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC and MacOS
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim is a game where so many gamers have cut their fantasy teeth. And if you're looking for somewhere with wall-to-wall dragons to the backdrop of civil war, you’ll feel perfectly at home here.
Originally released in 2011, it has enjoyed three DLC add-ons, a virtual reality version, and numerous remasters and graphic updates to ensure the journey remains timeless. Set in the frozen province of Tamriel, where dragons have suddenly returned, you play as the fabled Dragonborn.
Your quest seems hopeless, at least at the start – slay the dragon Alduin, also known as the World Eater. To grow stronger, you’ll do your best to defeat dragons, absorbing their souls and expanding your magical abilities.
As an open world, Skyrim has set the standard. Side-quests you happen upon command your full attention and prompt you to explore every nook and cranny available. There are new abilities and weapons to experiment with. And when all is said and done, there’s the little problem of an unlimited number of dragons that spawn at random intervals, keeping you on your toes at all times.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is available to play on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, 360 and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Since its debut in 2009, the Dragon Age series has undergone multiple transformations and innovations to keep its gameplay and fantasy stories fresh. The fourth edition, Dragon Age: The Veilgaurd, has long been anticipated, and from the teasers and trailers released thus far, the wait has been worth it.
Set in the world of Thedas, corrupt Gods have broken free from centuries of darkness, with one goal on their mind – destroy the world. With several factions to navigate, in-depth combat, and character customisation, expect Veilguard to fulfil all your high-fantasy needs.
With the warning "You know there will be dragons" spoken in its teaser trailer, this could be the perfect way to celebrate the end of this season of House of the Dragon and scratch that fantasy itch when it releases later on in 2024.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in the future
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