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Game of Thrones: Kingsroad paired two different release stages: paid early access began on March 26, 2025, and its free-to-play release followed on May 21, 2025. The paid period was an advance-entry offer, not a change to the planned free-to-play model. Steam now lists the RPG as free to play.
Why a free-to-play RPG had paid early access
The apparent contradiction comes down to timing. Netmarble’s Game of Thrones: Kingsroad offered paid editions for players who wanted to enter during early access. The later full release was free to play. Steam records both the March 26, 2025 early-access start and May 21, 2025 free-to-play release on its store listing.
So the announcement was not that the game would permanently require a purchase. It was that early access had a price, while the subsequent release opened the game under a free-to-play model.
What the historical early-access editions included
Insider Gaming reported on March 22, 2025, that the Standard Edition cost $24.99 and included early access, a Northern Outfit, a Jon Snow Emoji Pack, and 350 Iron Bank Marks. Its report also described Deluxe and Ultimate editions with additional digital cosmetics, mounts, currency, and battle-pass items. These were reported package details and prices for the 2025 early-access offer, not current purchase options; see Insider Gaming’s announcement coverage.
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TweakTown likewise reported that entry packs started at about $25 and reached about $90. It described a four-week early-access period as an expectation at the time, not a guaranteed duration. The early-access window ended with the May 21 free-to-play release, according to Steam’s dates. TweakTown’s report provides that contemporaneous context.
When and where the game launched
March 26: paid early access began
Steam lists March 26, 2025, as the early-access date for Kingsroad. The paid editions were the route into that advance period.
Rank #2
- Collectible chess set featuring custom sculpted pieces of HBO Game of Thrones characters. Who will reign in this battle for supremacy in the classic game of chess - choose a side between Westeros and the White Walkers as you battle it out!
- Westeros characters include Jon Snow as king, Daenerys Targaryen as queen, Tyrion Lannister and Tormund Giansbane as bishops, Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth as knights, Drogon and Rhaegal as rooks, and the Unsullied as pawns.
- White Walker characters include Night King as king, Viserion as queen, White Walkers as bishops, Horses as knights, Giants as rooks, and the Wights as pawns.
- Includes 32 Custom Movers, 1 Game Board, 1 Chess Mover Reference Sheet, Removable Slip Sheet, Rules
- 2 Players | Ages 18+ | 60 Min Play Time
May 21: free-to-play release
The game team announced on May 21, 2025, “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is now officially live, and your journey through Westeros begins today.” Its official launch announcement linked to iOS, Android, Netmarble PC Launcher, Steam, and Epic Games, while noting that the Epic release was delayed at that time.
The same announcement described launch availability in approximately 200 countries across North and South America, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and North Africa. It said Asia would follow after additional localization. That was the publisher’s description of the May 2025 rollout, not an independent player-count measure or a guarantee of current availability in every country or launcher.
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Rank #3
- The final Chapter Pack in the Kingsroad cycle for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game
- Includes such notable schemers as Mace Tyrell, Grand Maester Pycelle and Little finger
- As part of the Kingsroad cycle, marks a return to players' favorite themes
- Deliberately light on new rules
- Allows players to battle for the Iron Throne with a climactic blend of new twists on established mechanics
What kind of game is Kingsroad?
Steam describes Game of Thrones: Kingsroad as a story-driven action-adventure RPG set in Westeros. Netmarble Neo is listed as developer and Netmarble as publisher. The story follows a player character from House Tyre and their effort to restore the house. Steam lists single-player, online co-op, and in-app purchases among the game’s features. Its current listing is Free To Play.
Steam also lists partial controller support, including Xbox controllers. That makes an Xbox controller an optional PC input choice, not a stated requirement; partial support does not mean every function is guaranteed to work through a controller.
Rank #4
- SEVEN ARMIES DESTINED FOR BATTLE: Claim your right to the Iron Throne with one of seven Noble House armies. Each army is composed of 45 finely crafted game pieces (315 game pieces total) represented by two different sculpted designs
- Over 600 unique game pieces including armies represented by noble Houses
- 3 different ways to play: Skirmish, Dominion, World at War
- 2-7 Player | Ages 17+ | 60+ Min Play Time
What the free-to-play status does—and does not—tell you
The current Steam label establishes that the game is listed as free to play on that storefront. It does not establish the present terms of in-game purchases, whether the historical founder or early-access packs remain available, or availability on every platform and in every region. Those details should be checked on the relevant current store page rather than inferred from the 2025 launch announcement.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Prove your worth and claim the Iron Throne in this epic trivia battle.
- Face 600 questions spanning noble houses, dragons, wars of Westeros and more
- Test your loyalty with six categories covering House And Banner, The Seven Kingdoms And Beyond, Alliances And Betrayals, Organizations And Titles, Dragons And Magic, The Iron Throne
- A must-have for true fans of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond the Wall.
- Compact and portable - carry your conquest wherever the realm takes you.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
