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Reigns: Game of Thrones – take on the Iron Throne

Winter is coming. Look busy.

One of our favorite mobile game series is back, with a multi-million dollar franchise in tow. That’s right, the decision-based monarch simulator Reigns has joined forces with HBO’s swords-and-dragons smash hit Game of Thrones. It’s a match made in Heaven.

In Reigns, you play the ruler of a kingdom and must keep various forces like wealth and power in balance, lest the people (or a neighboring army) rise up and knock you from your throne. It’s a game of binary decisions, made using a Tinder-inspired swipe system. The framework is the same as ever here, but instead of our own world, you’re ruling over Westeros and its inhabitants.

There are nine potential kings and queens to unlock, from the Mother of Dragons herself to the dry-witted Tyrion Lannister. You can play as whoever you like, trying to survive as many moons as possible to hit a new high score for longevity. All your favorite characters are here and, in the spirit of the show, if one of them gets on your wrong side you can simply order them killed.

The entire concept is framed as a series of magical visions, allowing the Reigns writers to veer wildly off-canon and set up unexpected and improbable scenarios for you to deal with. It’s a great way to capture the spirit and setting of Game of Thrones without messing with its specific plotlines. It’s a lot of fun playing through these “what would you do?” scenarios in such a detailed and well-loved universe.

If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, this app is a must-have. But even if you’ve not delved into the violent political intrigue of the HBO show, it’s still the deepest and most ambitious Reigns game to date and at $4/£4 with no in-app purchases we think it’s worth anyone’s time. Just remember that ruling the Iron Throne is a dangerous game…

Get Reigns: GoT