Game of Thrones Is Officially Bringing Back Daenerys Targaryen

The Mother of Dragons is returning... but with a twist

It's safe to say that Game of Thrones has become a cultural juggernaut. George R.R. Martin's book series, and the web of TV series that have been inspired by it, have been dominating our pop culture for years, and a few of the biggest characters are about to make a comeback.

Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, a new real-time strategy game from Playside Studios, premiered its latest trailer at Gamescom Opening Night Live last month. The trailer showcased the best look yet at the game's epic battles, all while confirming some of the characters who can lead a player's army. In addition to Jon Snow, Robb Stark, and Jaime Lannister, the trailer unveiled the game's take on two of the franchise's standout characters: Daenerys Targaryen (modeled after Emilia Clarke's portrayal on the TV show) and the Night King.

The trailer for War for Westeros also appeared to confirm that, once a player's army wins a match, their leader gets to sit on the Iron Throne. Depending on which character's army a player chooses, this might provide a sort of wish fulfillment, as the claim to the Iron Throne became very messy in the later seasons of the show. Daenerys, in particular, was just minutes away from claiming the Iron Throne when she was killed by Jon Snow... and her trusty dragon, Drogon, melted it after her death.

While the flagship adaptation of Game of Thrones ended in 2019, the franchise has still found ways to endure. Two of the saga's prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, have already aired seasons on HBO this year. House of the Dragon, which chronicles the end of the Targaryen dynasty, is expected to conclude with a fourth and final season in 2028. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, meanwhile, will get a second season inspired by Martin's novella The Sworn Sword, which is scheduled to premiere in 2027. A stage production from the Royal Shakespeare Company, titled Game of Thrones: The Mad King, also premiered over the summer, and is set to transfer to London next year.

This year also brought news that Game of Thrones will finally be headed to the big screen, as Warner Bros. Pictures is developing a movie inspired by the "Aegon's Conquest" storyline from Martin's first prequel book, Fire & Blood. While these new onscreen stories might not include Daenerys and many of the other characters from her era, at least War for Westeros will be there to keep their legacy alive when the game debuts in 2027.