It is absolutely baffling that the Game of Thrones series ended back in 2019, if only because, after nearly a decade, its prevalence in the cultural zeitgeist has seemingly resisted the temptation to evaporate, much like its contemporaries that have long since been forgotten. Game of Thrones, either through the success of its numerous spin-offs or the simple desire for excellently written fantasy epics, has persisted and will likely continue to do so for many, many years to come.
I am glad to see it remain a focal point for fantasy enthusiasts and, indeed, generate so much discussion many years later, both positive and negative. Even the heated discussions about the series’ finale merely illustrate just how impactful the rest of its seasons are and only further delight my inner Game of Thrones devotee. Now, as a consequence of its ability to survive amidst a truly historic run of equally great shows, some of GOT’s best characters are returning in a big way, including its most beloved protagonist turned antagonist, and the cause of the show’s lingering existential dread.
Daenerys & The Night King Are Officially Returning In 2027
The Night King and Daenerys are making their grand return to the world of Game of Thrones (despite both meeting their untimely end during the explosive events of season 8) in 2027 through the highly anticipated release of War for Westeros. For those somehow not in the know, this is the extremely promising and appealing strategy game from developer Playside Studios that looks to ape the success and stylings of the criminally underrated cult classic, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2.
War for Westeros, as the title implies, ostensibly lets players wage war for the seven kingdoms as one of numerous factions, including the obvious candidates such as the Starks and the Lannisters, but also as the undead hordes of the Night King and as Daenerys and her legions of Unsullied. The last two were showcased in the game’s latest trailer, which not only gave us a good glimpse at its stunning gameplay, but also truly illustrated just how much of the series’ history can be changed over the course of an in-game campaign.
The trailer shows John Snow making his way toward the Iron Throne, victorious, as well as Jamie Lannister, Daenerys, and, at the very end, even a completely redesigned Night King. One shudders at the thought of the White Walkers truly taking over the world, but if that’s your dream, it can absolutely be made a reality. It’s an excellent concept for a game, one that gets increasingly exciting the more of it is shown off, and one that seems as if it’ll be executed excellently, especially if its recent character trailers are anything to go by.
Game Of Thrones: War For Westeros Is Doing Its Characters Justice
This most recent gameplay trailer isn’t the only one Playside has deigned to show off, as, shortly before it dropped, the studio set about revealing a handful of characters that would be made available as playable heroes. Much like the aforementioned Battle for Middle-earth 2, War for Westeros is putting a premium on its heroes and villains, with the likes of Arya Stark and even the Mountain available as recruitable characters.
However, these aren’t merely more powerful units with a familiar face. Instead, Playside seems to have gone to the effort of incorporating their abilities and traits, as seen in the books and show, into the character build. The gameplay trailer for Arya, for example, showcased her ability to transform into other hero units, which perfectly represents her learned skills as an assassin for the Faceless Men. It’s a small touch, but one that is sure to further immerse players in this exciting new release.
It is great to see even more factions and characters like the Night King and Daenerys represented in War for Westeros, as it makes it feel like it will be the definitive Game of Thrones game we’ve all been wishing for. Of course, there’s every possibility that it’ll end up a disaster, but I have every hope that it’ll turn out to be something truly special. At the very least, it’ll be a fun, Game of Thrones-themed replacement for Battle for Middle-earth 2, a game that is impossible to play these days and is sorely in need of a follow-up.
- Released
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2027
- Developer(s)
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PlaySide Studios
- Publisher(s)
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PlaySide Studios
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
