Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is an online-only action RPG that cannot be played offline. Whether you are advancing through the campaign, crafting gear at your estate, or fighting bandits across the North, the game requires an active broadband internet connection at all times.
While the game is structured around a single-player narrative and lets you experience the majority of the open world on your own, it runs on live-service servers. A disconnection drops you from the active session, and player reports confirm that unstable ping can force you to re-watch cutscenes or repeat combat encounters.
Internet Requirements and Server-Side Structure
Netmarble Neo developed Game of Thrones: Kingsroad as a connected cross-platform title across PC (via Steam), Android, and iOS. The official Steam store page lists a continuous broadband internet connection as a mandatory system requirement alongside DirectX 12.
Because account progression, inventories, and economies are tracked server-side, offline caching is not supported. This connected setup enables seamless cross-progression between PC and mobile devices by signing into the same Netmarble account. However, it also means background systems—such as your Recharge Points (RP) energy timer, in-game shop refreshes, and seasonal pass milestones—require constant communication with the game servers.
How Solo Play Works in Kingsroad
Executive Producer Jang Hyun-il explicitly characterized the title as a single-player-focused open-world action RPG rather than a traditional MMORPG. For the vast majority of your journey through Westeros, your gameplay experience mirrors a single-player campaign:
- Isolated Story Progression: You explore the regional maps (including the North, Castle Black, and later expansions like the Westerlands) independently. You cannot roam the open countryside side-by-side with friends.
- Narrative Quests: Main campaign missions following House Tyre, dialogue scenes with characters like Jon Snow and Jaime Lannister, and field exploration are strictly solo endeavors.
- Multiplayer Hubs: Other players are visible only in designated multiplayer spaces, such as major cities and fortified settlement hubs. Outside these hubs, the world is populated strictly by hostile NPCs and quest givers.
- Solo Instanced Modes: Certain challenging modes, such as the roguelike "Expedition Beyond the Wall," are specifically balanced for individual play.
Even though you are wandering the wild alone for roughly 80% or more of your playtime, the background server link remains active. If the connection drops while fighting an open-world enemy, the game interrupts your session.
Cooperative Multiplayer and Group Activities
Multiplayer in Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is entirely cooperative and instance-based. Group features unlock as you advance through the main story (beginning around early story milestones near Winterfell).
Players cannot party up to clear open-world side quests together, but they can team up for instanced PvE activities:
- Altar of Memories (4-Player Co-Op): A co-op dungeon mode where four players enter an instanced arena to defeat mythical beasts, such as griffins, basilisks, unicorns, and the Firewyrm. Dungeons track player performance through an MVP system, granting higher-damage contributors better reward tiers.
- Elite Hideouts (2-Player Co-Op): Small-scale tactical raids where pairs of players infiltrate and clear fortified enemy camps.
- Altar of the Abyss: High-difficulty raid content designed for coordinated endgame groups.
- World Bosses: Scheduled open encounters, such as the Drogon world boss spawn near Winterfell, allow nearby players in the same channel to fight massive threats collaboratively.
Co-op instanced content requires spending Recharge Points (RP)—the game's energy currency, which recharges at a rate of 1 point every 10 minutes—to claim full reward drops.
Game Modes and Connectivity Overview
| Feature | Availability | Connection Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Story Campaign | Solo Only | Yes | Follows the heir of House Tyre; played entirely alone. |
| Open-World Exploration | Solo Only | Yes | Hunting, camps, and puzzles; friends cannot join your open field. |
| Settlement Hubs | Shared Multi-Space | Yes | Cities where other active player characters appear on screen. |
| Altar of Memories | 4-Player Co-Op | Yes | Instanced boss dungeons featuring legendary creatures. |
| Elite Hideouts | 2-Player Co-Op | Yes | Instanced two-player enemy camp raids. |
| Altar of the Abyss | Group Raid | Yes | Endgame raid instances for coordinated teams. |
| Expedition Beyond the Wall | Solo Roguelike | Yes | Single-player challenge instance requiring server verification. |
| PvP Combat | Not Available | N/A | There are no player-versus-player duels or open-world PvP modes. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play Game of Thrones: Kingsroad without an internet connection?
No. Game of Thrones: Kingsroad requires an active broadband internet connection to launch, authenticate your account, and load game areas. There is no offline mode.
Does Game of Thrones: Kingsroad have open-world co-op?
No. You cannot invite friends to roam the open wilderness, ride horses together across maps, or complete standard open-world side quests as a party. Co-op is restricted strictly to instanced dungeons, camp raids, and hub-based matchmaking.
Is there any PvP in Game of Thrones: Kingsroad?
No. Game of Thrones: Kingsroad features no PvP battlegrounds, arenas, or open-world player killing. All multiplayer interactions are strictly cooperative (PvE) or social within city hubs.
