Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, the new action-RPG set in George R.R. Martin’s brutal fantasy world, launched on Steam Early Access on May 21, 2025. Developed by Netmarble, the game promised an immersive Westeros experience with rich storytelling, dynamic combat, and a familiar yet original plot that takes place decades before the events of the TV show.
But despite the high expectations, the game has arrived to a wave of mixed reviews—a troubling sign for a title tied to one of the biggest entertainment franchises of all time.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3183280/Game_of_Thrones_Kingsroad/
A Divisive Debut: Review Scores Slip Post-Launch
While early feedback showed promise, Steam user sentiment has soured quickly. At launch, Kingsroad hovered around 67% positive reviews. However, recent data shows that rating has dropped to just 61% overall, with the last 30 days seeing only 59% positive—a clear sign that players are encountering issues that outweigh the initial excitement.
As of writing, the game sits squarely in the “Mixed” category on Steam, based on over 2,300 reviews. That alone doesn’t spell disaster—but the causes behind the backlash are worth a closer look.
What’s Working: Combat, Classes, and Visual World-Building
There’s no denying that Kingsroad nails certain aspects. The game’s visual fidelity has been praised for capturing the grim beauty of Westeros, from the frost-bitten North to the golden halls of King’s Landing. Story beats and quest dialogue feel faithful to the lore, offering fans meaningful tie-ins without retreading the same narrative ground.
The real-time combat system is another standout. It’s not the typical auto-battler you find in mobile ports—instead, players must dodge, parry, and time attacks, giving it a more tactile and skill-driven edge. Add to that a trio of unique classes—Knight, Sellsword, and Assassin—each with branching skill trees, and there’s legitimate depth for RPG fans to dig into.
But for every feature that works, there’s a drawback that has left players cold.
The Core Complaints: Monetization and Progression
The biggest red flag for many players is Kingsroad‘s aggressive monetization. While free-to-play elements are common in today’s RPG landscape, players have flagged issues like energy systems that limit how long you can play, convoluted in-game currencies, and paywalls tied to major gameplay features.
Some reviewers claim the game feels like it was designed with mobile monetization in mind and merely ported to PC, rather than being tailored for the Steam audience. That criticism holds weight: the mobile version has been available for months in some regions, and the PC port doesn’t shy away from reusing those mobile mechanics.
For example, long mission cooldowns and stamina limitations are seen by many as barriers rather than game design. “Feels like a great world with a terrible economy model,” one top-rated Steam review reads.
A Tale of Two Platforms
Interestingly, the game has fared significantly better on mobile. Kingsroad holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating on the Apple App Store and a solid 4.2 on Google Play. The mobile audience appears more forgiving of the energy systems and in-app purchases—likely because these mechanics are more expected on smartphones and tablets.
That split in reception highlights a critical challenge for Netmarble: the Steam audience simply demands more depth and less friction from their PC games. If Kingsroad is to thrive on PC, its developers may need to rethink how monetization scales across platforms.
What’s Next for Kingsroad?
As of now, the game remains in Early Access, meaning there’s time to course-correct. Netmarble has stated that ongoing feedback from the community will shape updates, patches, and potential reworks. This could include rebalancing the economy, removing hard paywalls, and optimizing technical performance—which some users have also criticized due to occasional frame drops and bugs.
If Netmarble can respond swiftly and transparently, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad may yet earn redemption. After all, the raw ingredients—strong world-building, fun combat, and a beloved IP—are already in place.
But until that happens, Kingsroad remains a game at a crossroads: an ambitious RPG weighed down by its own monetization model, struggling to align with what PC gamers truly expect from a premium fantasy experience.
Key Takeaways
- Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has declined from mostly positive to mixed reviews on Steam with only 67% positive ratings overall.
- Recent 30-day statistics show further decline with positive reviews dropping to 59% as player concerns mount.
- The Early Access release status provides Netmarble an opportunity to address player feedback before full launch.
Overview of Game of Thrones: Kingsroad
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is an action-adventure RPG developed by Netmarble that brings the world of Westeros to life. The game allows players to explore iconic locations from the series while engaging in combat-focused gameplay with RPG progression systems.
Game Setting and Story
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad takes place in the familiar world created by George R.R. Martin and popularized by the HBO series. Players journey through Westeros, facing threats that extend beyond the Wall. The narrative follows new characters rather than retelling the main series story.
Players can visit iconic locations like King’s Landing and Winterfell, which have been recreated to match their depictions from the show. The game’s story involves growing into an heir through various challenges and conflicts.
The world is filled with recognizable elements from the franchise, though it creates its own storyline within the established universe. This approach allows both fans and newcomers to enjoy the experience without needing extensive knowledge of the series.
Core Gameplay Features
The action-adventure RPG features a combat system that blends real-time action with strategic elements. Players can choose between different classes including:
- Knight: Focused on melee combat and defense
- Assassin: Specializing in stealth and quick attacks
- Other specialized combat styles
Character customization is a significant element, allowing players to create unique characters and develop them through an extensive progression system. As characters advance, they unlock new abilities and equipment.
The game includes both single-player quests and co-op dungeons where players can team up to tackle more challenging content. These dungeons offer special rewards and more difficult combat scenarios.
Exploration is encouraged through various quests that take players across different regions of Westeros. The progression system ties directly to the “growing into heirs” theme, with characters becoming more powerful as they overcome the various threats in the game world.
Release and Steam Reception
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad made its debut on the Steam platform with considerable anticipation from fans of the franchise, but quickly encountered a divided response from players who experienced the early version of the game.
Early Access Launch on Steam
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad launched in Early Access on Steam in March 2025, allowing PC players to experience Westeros in a new interactive format. The game arrived with various price points ranging from £21.99 to £77.99, depending on the edition purchased.
Unlike many modern titles that utilize a free-to-play model, the development team opted for a premium pricing structure, which became one point of contention among players.
The Early Access version promised an immersive journey through familiar locations from the series, with the developers indicating that player feedback would shape the game’s continued development before full release.
Mixed Reviews and Community Response
The game currently holds a “Mixed” rating on Steam, with approximately 67% of reviews being positive. This places it in a precarious position in Steam’s review classification system, where “Mixed” often indicates significant issues.
Players have praised the game’s atmosphere and faithful recreation of Westeros. The attention to detail in environments has been highlighted as a strong point that initially draws players in.
However, the positive first impression wears off quickly for many users. Combat has been described as repetitive, with players noting “repeated attack patterns” that diminish engagement over time.
The community has expressed concerns about content quantity, with some reviews suggesting the Early Access version lacks sufficient gameplay to justify its price point.
Technical Performance and Design
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has shown significant technical challenges since its Early Access launch. Players have reported various performance issues affecting gameplay experience, despite the game’s ambitious visual design powered by Unreal Engine 5.
Graphics and Unreal Engine 5
The game leverages Unreal Engine 5 to create visually striking environments that attempt to capture the gritty aesthetic of Westeros. However, many players have reported performance issues that detract from the experience. Frame rate drops occur frequently, especially during combat sequences with multiple enemies.
Texture quality varies dramatically throughout the game. While character models for main story NPCs show impressive detail, environmental textures often appear inconsistent or unfinished in certain areas.
Lighting effects represent one of the stronger technical aspects, with dynamic shadows and atmospheric fog creating mood-appropriate scenes. Unfortunately, these visual flourishes seem to contribute to the performance problems that plague the game.
Many Steam reviews note that the game feels like a “mobile game on steroids” rather than a true next-gen console/PC experience, despite the Unreal Engine 5 implementation.
User Interface and Mechanics
The UI design has been a significant point of criticism in Steam reviews, with 59% of recent user reviews mentioning interface problems. Menu navigation feels cumbersome and unintuitive, requiring too many clicks for basic actions.
Combat controls suffer from responsiveness issues, with noticeable input lag reported by numerous players. The targeting system particularly frustrates users during multi-enemy encounters.
The inventory system presents another pain point. Items are difficult to sort and compare, while equipment management lacks clear information about stat impacts.
Several accessibility features appear to be missing entirely, including:
- Text size options
- Color blind modes
- Control remapping
- Subtitle customization
These UI and control issues contribute significantly to the game’s mixed reception, with only 67% positive reviews at launch, now dropped to an even lower percentage.
Monetization and Platform Availability
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has faced criticism for its aggressive monetization strategy despite its planned transition to a free-to-play model. The game’s availability across multiple platforms offers players different access points but raises questions about pricing consistency.
Microtransactions and In-Game Economy
Players have expressed frustration with Kingsroad’s monetization approach, which many describe as overly aggressive. The Early Access version on Steam charges between £21.99 and £77.99, depending on the package selected.
This pricing structure has contributed to the game’s “Mixed” reviews, with only 67% positive ratings on Steam. Critics compare it to a “mobile game on steroids” regarding its in-game purchases.
Netmarble, the developer, plans to address these concerns when Kingsroad transitions to a free-to-play model on May 21, 2025. However, questions remain about whether the core economy will be adjusted or if premium options will still dominate progression.
Cross-Platform Features
Kingsroad aims to provide a seamless experience across PC, iOS, and Android devices. The mobile versions share the same core gameplay as the Steam release but with touch controls optimized for smaller screens.
Player progression syncs across all platforms, allowing fans to continue their journey regardless of device. This cross-platform functionality represents one of the game’s stronger features amid the monetization controversy.
The Android and iOS versions follow the same free-to-play model planned for the PC release. Mobile players currently experience a different pricing structure than Early Access Steam users, creating an inconsistent monetization approach across platforms.
When the game fully launches next week, all versions will align under the free-to-play model with unified microtransaction options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has generated numerous questions from fans and potential players since its Early Access launch. The game has received mixed reviews on Steam with specific criticisms and features that players should know about.
What are the main criticisms of Game of Thrones: Kingsroad as mentioned in reviews?
According to Steam reviews, players have expressed disappointment with several aspects of the game. Only 62% of more than 1,500 reviews are positive, indicating significant issues.
Many negative reviews focus on gameplay mechanics and technical problems. The game has 450 total reviews with 146 negative ones, highlighting concerns about bugs, optimization, and content depth.
Some players feel the game doesn’t fully capture the essence of the Game of Thrones universe, leading to the “Mixed” rating which some Reddit users suggest typically indicates a problematic game on Steam.
Can players expect post-launch updates and bug fixes for Game of Thrones: Kingsroad?
Yes, the developers have committed to addressing issues identified during Early Access. The game launched into Early Access specifically to gather player feedback and implement improvements.
The development team has established a roadmap for updates focusing on bug fixes, performance optimization, and new content additions. This approach is common for Early Access titles on Steam.
Regular patches are expected to address the most critical issues mentioned in the mixed reviews first, with larger content updates planned for later development phases.
Are there any exclusive features for Game of Thrones: Kingsroad available only through Steam?
Steam users benefit from the platform’s integrated features such as achievements, trading cards, and Steam Workshop support. These enhance the overall gaming experience.
The Steam version may receive updates faster than other platforms due to Steam’s streamlined patching process. This gives PC players potential advantages in terms of game stability.
Steam users can also access community hubs and discussion forums specific to the game, allowing for direct interaction with developers and other players.
What are the system requirements for Game of Thrones: Kingsroad?
The game requires moderately powerful hardware to run smoothly. Minimum requirements include a recent quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, and a dedicated graphics card with at least 4GB VRAM.
Recommended specifications suggest 16GB RAM, a six-core processor, and a more powerful graphics card to experience the game’s visual fidelity as intended. Storage requirements are approximately 50GB of available space.
These requirements reflect the game’s detailed environments and character models designed to capture the Game of Thrones aesthetic.
How does Game of Thrones: Kingsroad differentiate itself from other games in the series?
Kingsroad offers a more narrative-focused experience compared to previous Game of Thrones titles. The game emphasizes character development and story choices that impact the game world.
Unlike previous action-oriented games, Kingsroad incorporates RPG elements with decision-making mechanics similar to those found in other modern RPGs. This approach aims to better capture the political intrigue central to the series.
The game also features a unique art style that attempts to balance realism with stylized visuals, distinguishing it visually from earlier Game of Thrones game adaptations.
Is multiplayer mode available in Game of Thrones: Kingsroad?
Currently, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad does not offer a full multiplayer experience. The game focuses primarily on single-player storytelling within the Game of Thrones universe.
However, developers have mentioned potential plans to implement limited multiplayer features in future updates. These could include cooperative missions or competitive elements tied to the game’s narrative.
Players interested in multiplayer content should follow official announcements for updates on this feature’s development status.
