Controversial Free ‘Game of Thrones’ RPG Lands on Steam – But is it Worth Playing?
A new Game of Thrones RPG, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, has arrived on Steam, promising hours of gameplay within the rich world of Westeros for the unbeatable price of free! However, before you rush off to download it, there's a catch.
Developed and published by Netmarble, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad officially launched on May 21st, inviting players to explore an open-world action RPG powered by Unreal Engine 5. Cross-play is enabled between PC and mobile, by the way, once you've linked the accounts.
Initial impressions suggest a visually impressive experience, drawing comparisons to modern God of War and FromSoftware titles. Some reviewers on Steam praise the game's combat and story, highlighting its potential.
So why the "Mixed" rating, with only 63% positive reviews? The answer lies in aggressive microtransactions. Many players have slammed the game's monetization strategy, describing it as predatory and unethical.
"As soon as I died and was asked to pay to be revived, I quietly exited the game and refunded," wrote reviewer julbug. Another reviewer, Hyde, stated, "Perhaps the most aggressively unethically monetised game I have ever seen. It's like microtransactions layered upon microtransactions, buried behind endless false currencies to nickel and dime you for everything."
The launch update added the new Stormlands region, the one ruled by Stannis Baratheon. Players will find new story missions and side content, such as: Ferocious Beast Bandit Camps Echoes of the Past Historic Sites Occupied Sites Gods Haven The level cap was raised from 40 to 45. Four new Artifacts (one Legendary, one Epic, and two Uncommon) have been added. New Achievements have been added for performing feats in the Stormlands as well as defeating the Unicorn and Drogon.
Netmarble is celebrating the launch with daily rewards through June 5, tempting players with Golden Dragons, Copper, Iron Ore and more. To claim, simply visiting the Web Shop daily.
The developers aim to eventually bring all of Westeros to life, but future updates depend on the game's success. Will Game of Thrones: Kingsroad overcome its monetization issues and become a worthy addition to the franchise, or will it be another forgotten chapter? Only time will tell.
Have you tried Game of Thrones: Kingsroad? What are your thoughts on the game's microtransactions? Share your opinions in the comments below!