Devolver Digital is well-known for its quality titles, from Enter The Gungeon to Hotline Miami, to the more recent hit Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. When Devolver decided to dip their toes in the mobile market, I can admit I was a bit skeptical – the mobile games market is oversaturated with freemium games, packed with microtransactions, and it’s been like that for a good while. When I gave Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows a try, however, it was a delightful surprise. Released through Apple Arcade, Tale of Crows is a game that puts players in the shoes of a Lord Commander of the Night Watch – a group of guards who protect the wall that separates the kingdom from the wilds beyond.
While Game of Thrones isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think “relaxing”, Devolver has managed to create an authentic and entertaining Game of Thrones game that seamlessly blends the show’s lore into a satisfying idle experience. The art style is simple and pleasing to look at, and the soundtrack is mellow and tranquil – a flawless combination. Gameplay is text-based and narrative-driven, consisting of the player managing all aspects of the Night Watch, from sending out expeditions, to assigning leaders for scouting parties. The idle aspect comes in executing these actions. Expeditions can have many outcomes, from encountering difficult obstacles to finding enemies, or making new allies – and players can complete these events at their own leisure. Balancing sending your forces out with keeping a solid defense is another aspect that encourages your strategic thinking on top of the personality system – do you want to send out your berserker character and have the impulsive one hold down the fort? It’s up to you.
Tale of Crows joins a growing list of games that are exclusive to Apple Arcade, Apple’s subscription game service. At $4.99 a month, you and up to five other family members have access to a library of games without advertisements or microtransactions. You can check it out here.