Winter is Coming... To Your PC: 'Game of Thrones: War For Westeros' Wants to be More Scheming Than Scraping
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Playside is developing a new RTS called *Game of Thrones: War For Westeros* that aims to capture the political intrigue and backstabbing of the books and show, drawing inspiration from games like *Age of Empires* and the board game *Root* to create a truly treacherous experience. Let's hope it has less awkward writing than the later seasons of the show!
Right, so another *Game of Thrones* game is on the horizon, but this one might actually be interesting. Playside, the folks behind *Age of Darkness: Final Stand*, are cooking up an RTS called *Game of Thrones: War For Westeros*, and it sounds like they're aiming for more than just epic battles. According to Rock Paper Shotgun (cheers, Edwin Evans-Thirlwell!), they're hoping to capture the backstabbing and political maneuvering that made the books and show so addictive.
According to Playside's game director Ryan McMahon, *War For Westeros* will throw four players into a "sandbox" mode, all vying for control of the Seven Kingdoms. Think *Age of Empires* meets a particularly vicious game of *Settlers of Catan*, where alliances are as fragile as a Lannister's sense of morality. You'll be building your empire, unlocking tech, and trying not to get stabbed in the back (virtually, of course). And yes, there are dragons. Because, you know, *Game of Thrones*.
The game features four factions – Lannister, Stark, Targaryen, and the Night King’s icy horde. Naturally, the living have to team up to fight the undead, but even then, someone's got their eye on the Iron Throne. McMahon even hinted at a "natural politics" system that'll let you use your influence to mess with other players. Sounds delightfully Machiavellian, doesn't it?
Playside is drawing inspiration from *Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth*, which is a bit of a deep cut. As Rock Paper Shotgun pointed out, the interesting bits of *Lord of the Rings* weren't the battles, but the stuff happening *around* the battles. Here's hoping *War For Westeros* can pull off the same trick, capturing the espionage and scheming that makes *Game of Thrones* so compelling. McMahon seems pretty passionate about the source material, so fingers crossed.
What's really got me excited is the mention of *Root*, the board game where everyone's got different win conditions and asymmetric gameplay. Imagine that kind of chaos in Westeros! Instead of just crushing your enemies, you could be manipulating them, forging alliances, and generally being a sneaky little weasel. That's the *Game of Thrones* I want to play.
It's due to release in 2026, so there's still a long wait. But if Playside can deliver on their promises, *Game of Thrones: War For Westeros* could be more than just another RTS. It could be a truly treacherous and engaging experience, fit for a king (or queen, or Hand, or… well, you get the idea). Bloody hell, I'm already getting ideas on how to play as Varys in this game!
Tags: Game of Thrones, RTS, Strategy Game, PC Gaming, Playside
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun