With the success ofHouse of the Dragonwiping away much of the disappointment set by theGame of Thronesfinale, all eyes are back on George R. R. Martin’s crowning IP. The latest series is far less ambitious in scale, and while it has explored some parts of Westeros that were previously untouched like Driftmark, its intrigue comes from the tense relationships in King’s Landing’s Targaryen family. Aegon’s conquest solidified its place on the continent, butthe Targaryen dynastystretches far beyond the narrow sea, into the southern shores of Essos.
Essos is east of Westeros, and thoughGame of Throneslargely takes place in the latter, Essos is vital to theSong of Ice and Firebooks. Daenerys' isolation with the Dothraki and subsequent conquering of Slaver’s Bay, Arya’s detour to Braavos, and Daemon’s quiet life in Pentos all shed light on the continent, and there are plenty of side stories which take place there, yet Essos has many unexplored places. The setting is ripe for further stories to be told, and the popularity of open-world games sets up an ideal opportunity forGame of Thronesto explore the region through video games.
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Westeros is Well-Charted in Game of Thrones
With eight seasons and endless lore tidbits that center around Westeros, the area is familiar to many fans.House of the Dragonis doing well to plug the gaps, fleshing out parts of the continent that were left vague inGame of Thrones, but the continent to the East has plenty of intriguing places that would offer atmospheric, tonal, visual, and mechanical benefits for a video game. From the mystifying markets in Asshai to the barren wasteland of the Dothraki Sea, the setting is diverse and well-documented, but largely unexplored.Westeros would make a fine gamein its own right, but would provoke harsher comparisons to the TV show’s take on the famous continent.
Telltale Games used Westeros in itsGame of Thronesepisodic title, adding some lore to the universe. It has more room to be further fleshed out, butGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonuse the continent to push each show’s respective story forward, with the Iron Throne always being the point of contention. Essos is a place that is referenced and fought for in these shows, but still remains a detailed fictional environment which has yet to be used as the primary setting of a property.
Essos Could Be Perfect for a Game of Thrones Fantasy Title
Essos is geographically huge, and full of diverse cultures. There are few similarities between Mereen and the Bone Mountains, so an open-world game that stretches from its western shores to the Gray Waste would have to be as ambitious asThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntandSkyrim. Including multiple lore-heavy locations in one open-world is a difficult feat to achieve, asGotham Knightsproved with its take on Arkham Asylum, but games likeFinal Fantasy 14andRed Dead Redemption 2prove it can be done given time and the right development team.
InGame of Thrones,Essos feels like nothing more than a deviation from the harsh environments of Westeros, asDaenerys Targaryen’s journeyis far more about the power struggles in the places she rests than it is about where she goes. Essos is larger than the show could have shown, and a video game could be the best chance to give it the recognition it deserves. Though there are a few spin-off shows that should capture more of its best side, an open-worldGame of Thronestitle would have much more potential.
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