Game of Thrones: Conquest review: It’s fun, addictive but not perfect

"The night is dark and full of terrors."

Game of Thrones's season 8, the last of an epic series that is arguably one of the biggest TV phenomena, is still months away. Most of the fan theories and plot post-mortems have already been put out there and till Season 8, Episode 1 premieres, there is little else to do but a rerun. But now, there's a new window back to Westeros — Game of Thrones: Conquest.

Launched for Android and iOS earlier this week, Game of Thrones: Conquest is a mobile strategy game that lets you take control of the continent by building your own House and army. In the process, you will need to keep your House safe as well focus on keeping your warriors trained and active. And, just like the TV series, you will need to forge alliances, make strategic moves and expand your empire.

We have been playing the Game of Thrones: Conquest for last two days, here are our key takeaways.

What we liked

In terms of gameplay and storytelling, the Game of Thrones: Conquest is impressive and as addictive as any other strategy games are. Developers have done a splendid job at keeping the look and feel very close to what we have seen on the TV series. The game launches with the familiar intro theme, and well, why not.

HBO went with the actors from the TV series, who guide you at each step. For example, our favourite imp, Tyrion Lannister makes appearances in his inimical style: "I will reward you handsomely for each quest you complete."

What makes the Game of Thrones: Conquest different from other strategy games is that it's not merely about consolidating resources. This game makes you work on your politics. At the bottom, there's a real-time comments box where other Houses (players) sharing views, make a pitch for joining house and put requests such as borrowing bannermen (GoT speak for hired soldiers).

What we didn't like

While the game is pretty much simple and easy to get started, the graphics aren't really mind-blowing. We played the game both on an Android and iPhone. The graphics and animation quality leave much to be desired. Also, the top-down angle just adds more and unnecessary steps to get a full view.

The game continuously prompts you to get faster upgrades but that costs money. If you go for organic upgrades, it may take hours or even days in some cases. The game is also not without bugs and glitches. Going by the comments in the Google Play Store, a number of people have faced issues such as auto-disconnection and framerate lags.

More,

The Game of Thrones: Conquest is a free to download but comes with some in-app purchases. For example, a starter pack that includes a 2-hour peace shield, second builder along with stock of food and wood will cost you somewhere between ₹65 and ₹85. Note that the game needs an active internet connection to work.

Overall, Game of Thrones: Conquest is fun and addictive to play. If you're a true GoT fan, you shouldn't miss out on this game.