Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Faces Mixed Steam Reviews Due to Monetization Issues

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, the highly anticipated action-adventure RPG, received an Early Access release on Steam this month. However, it has experienced a decline in player satisfaction since its launch. The game's Steam reviews have changed from "mostly positive" to "mixed" by March 30, 2025, because players are unhappy about the current monetization system.

Players can explore both King’s Landing and Castle Black in the Westeros landscape as they pursue their path to becoming House Tyre heir through Kingsroad. Authoritative criticisms celebrated the game for its accurate representation of George R.R. Martin’s universe through its rich environments and absorbing narrative. Underneath the surface, a rising discontent has developed, driven by what players label as aggressive pay-to-win strategies.

Players complain about how the game's optional in-game purchases through microtransactions affect their progression even though they need to buy the game first at a price point between 21.99 EUR and 77.99 EUR for early access. Some users express dissatisfaction about paywalls triggered after extensive gameplay, which leads them to label the system as pay-to-progress rather than extra optional content. A Steam reviewer emphasized how "the cash shop destroyed the game for me" because of the uselessness of grinding without extra financial investment. Perception exists about gaming features, including paid revives along with fast-travel fees, because they seem inappropriate for premium titles.

According to release plans, the upcoming complete mobile version of Kingsroad remains the main obstacle for many players. Numerous gamers maintain that the game still holds features from mobile titles such as strict in-game monetization methods and item frameworks, which limit pre-order bonus items to one character slot per account. The development team at Netmarble received criticism because they allegedly focused on financial gains instead of building an authentic Game of Thrones RPG experience.

Kingsroad exists currently as an early access release, which allows various development possibilities. The company needs to handle these concerns ahead of release to recover its standing among players aiming for a quality Westeros experience. The game exists at a turning point where its developers must decide how to respond to player complaints before they can determine its destiny.