The final season of Game of Thrones has started, and some fans would love to have the atmosphere from the series in an MMORPG. Our author Alex believes: For fans of Game of Thrones looking for an online role-playing game, Guild Wars 2 is ideal!
What is Guild Wars 2? Guild Wars 2, or GW2, is an MMORPG from ArenaNet. The game was released in 2012 and introduced some innovations that have since been adopted by many other games in the genre.
These are the features of Guild Wars 2:
- There is no vertical progression. Once players have obtained the maximum equipment, they can keep it forever. The wardrobe and transmutation system ensure that endgame content is primarily about aesthetics.
- New, free story updates are released every 2-4 months. New raids and fractals are also regularly released at no additional cost.
- The game is very social. Players cannot steal enemies or resources from each other and are frequently invited to large boss fights with other players.
- The focus of the game is on the story. All story-relevant content is voiced.
- The base game of Guild Wars 2 is free to play. However, to experience all new content, players need to purchase the two expansions. There are also various story content that can be purchased later for gems.
5 Reasons Why Game of Thrones and GW2 Fit Well Together
Guild Wars 2 is a fantasy role-playing game. As the logo suggests, dragons are our main opponents. And that’s already the first reason why GW2 and Game of Thrones go together.
Dragons Everywhere
How it is in Game of Thrones: The dragons have played an important role since the first season. By the end of the season, the three little ones hatched from their eggs.
Together with the Mother of Dragons, they experience adventures in the world and behave rebelliously towards their “mother” especially in the early years.
However, it is undeniable that they are especially needed in the fight against the Night King and his armies of White Walkers.
How it is in Guild Wars 2: The Elder Dragons are our enemies. However, we cannot simply defeat them all, as their loss and the resulting magic would throw the world out of balance.
To bind this magic, we have Aurene as our own dragon by our side. First, we retrieve her egg, then she hatches, and afterwards, we raise the dragon.
Throughout the story, we fight alongside the others. The current story revolves around the battle against Kralkatorrik. However, even before that, we faced two Elder Dragons.
Anyone who wants to ride a dragon can likely do so with the next episode. Fans of the majestic creatures will definitely get their money’s worth in Guild Wars 2.
Crises Across the Entire World
How it is in Game of Thrones: Game of Thrones is a very complex world. There are conflicts between different ethnicities, cultures, or characters.
These conflicts range from disagreements and disputes to major wars. The characters experience many developments, some positive and some negative.
While Jaime Lannister was an arrogant and haughty character at the beginning, he has now developed into a mediator and carries many doubts with him.
The conflicts and developments make the world exciting and tangible for the viewers.
How it is in Guild Wars 2: Each race in Guild Wars 2 has its own conflict and a party that works against the race. Whether the Nightmare Court is trying to detach other Sylvari from the dream or the Flame Legion wants to lure the Charr back to magic.
And also the characters around us go through enormous developments. One can feel the doubts and worries they carry. Especially the members of the Destiny’s Edge, a group consisting of members from all races, change significantly.
However, there are also characters like the Sylvari Canach, who cynically and coldly respond to all world threats. But those who have experienced his story from the beginning know how difficult his path to our hero group was. And this makes him very likable and his behavior more understandable.
The Structure of the Worlds
How it is in Game of Thrones: The world of Game of Thrones is structurally comparable to Europe. In the north, there is an icy world, similar to our Scandinavia.
The central part of the continent Westeros resembles Central Europe. In the south, we find another desert region, reflecting parts of Africa.
Also, many aspects of the population and the overall style of the world remind one of Europe. Concepts such as castles, knights, and peasants are based on it.
How it is in Guild Wars 2: The continent Tyria, on which the base game of Guild Wars 2 is mostly set, is also inspired by Europe.
In Guild Wars 1, there were additional chapters and continents that reflected Asia or Africa. A part of that can be explored since the latest expansion Path of Fire.
The basic structure, with snow in the north, green and flat plains in the middle, and desert in the south, can also be found in Tyria. Just like the basic concepts regarding castles, nobility, and peasants.
In World vs. World, it’s even about besieging and capturing the castles. For this, medieval weapons such as battering rams, trebuchets, or ballistae are used.
Both worlds share the aspect that while magic and mystical beings exist, they move visually and contextually within a relatively realistic framework.
The Small Ones Have a Big Influence
How it is in Game of Thrones: Tyrion Lannister is a dwarf. And a large part of his family is ashamed of him. But now after seven seasons, he has survived many.
He is now Hand of Queen Daenerys and attempts to unite all races of Westeros to fight against the White Walkers.
But while Tyrion is small but grown-up, there are also many children who have decisively influenced the story. Whether Bran or Arya, Jon or Sansa, Joffrey or Tommen. The list of small heroes or monsters from Game of Thrones is long.
How it is in Guild Wars 2: The Asura are small beings that compensate for their lack of size with their intellect. Taimi from our hero group sometimes manages to solve puzzles or complete tasks all by herself.
She embodies both the small being and the fact that she is still a child and physically impaired.
But other members of our group are also young and wild. This includes the Norn Braham and the Charr Rox.
Allied Characters Are Not Safe
How it is in Game of Thrones: Fans of the series know the shocking moments when a beloved character dies in an episode. And the creators are merciless.
Whether it’s executions, treacherous murders, or the Red Wedding. No character in Game of Thrones is truly safe.
How it is in Guild Wars 2: Although the MMORPG treats its characters a bit kinder than George R.R. Martin and the creators of the series do, no one in the world of Tyria is safe either.
In the first story episodes, we lose our order mentor, and later some characters who previously fought faithfully by our side also die.
Especially the latest episode “All or Nothing” had a very well-known victim. But we don’t want to reveal too much at this point.
