How to watch Game of Thrones in order

By Alex Wiggan

In 2011, the US fantasy drama series, Game of Thrones made its debut. The show – which aired on HBO – was based on author George R. R. Martin’s book series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

Set on the fictional continents of Essos and Westeros, Game of Thrones was conceived as an epic fantasy series, which centred its story around an ensemble of characters, including the Starks and the Lannisters.

Upon making its debut, the first season of Game of Thrones was a big hit with audiences. The ten-episode season averaged over 2.52 million US viewers, and this influenced HBO to commission a second season.

Further seasons followed, with the ratings increasing year-on-year. In time, the show would also inspire a spin-off series, which further expanded the Game of Thrones universe (aka the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise).

But if you’re new to Game of Thrones, you may be wondering how many seasons there are, and how many episodes you need to watch. You may also be wondering about the spin-off show, as well as the viewing order.

For all those details and more keep reading. Below you’ll find a run-through of the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise.

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Understanding A Song of Ice and Fire – The Game of Thrones series

As noted above, Game of Thrones first hit television screens in 2011. The first season of the show – which featured a cast that included Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, and Sean Bean – ran for ten episodes and was an instant hit.

Due to the success of season one, a second season of Game of Thrones followed in 2012, which ran for a further ten episodes. This in turn proved even more popular than its predecessor, leading to a third season in 2013, a fourth in 2014, a fifth in 2015, and a sixth in 2016.

Each of these seasons comprised ten episodes, and each was a ratings winner. Every year the figures increased, as the show’s popularity grew in the US, as well as overseas.

In 2017, a seventh season hit television screens, this time comprising seven episodes. The reduced number did nothing to impact the ratings, and they continued to soar.

The show then went on a brief production hiatus before returning in 2019 for an eighth and finale season. This season comprised six episodes.

After 73 episodes, Game of Thrones came to an end, however, the show concluded as a ratings smash-hit. The final season average 11.99 viewers in the US, with 13.61 million tuning in for the final episode, ‘The Iron Throne‘.

Although this was the end of Game of Thrones, this wasn’t the end as far as HBO was concerned. With fans all over the world, and plenty of stories left to tell, a spin-off series was given the greenlight to continue the show’s legacy.

This new series, titled House of the Dragon, was created as a Game of Thrones prequel. Partially based on George R. R. Martin’s book, Fire & Blood, the show rewound the clock approximately 200 years to a time before the events of Game of Thrones.

The first season of House of Dragon debuted in 2022, with a cast that included Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, and Rhys Ifans. The season ran for ten episodes, with a second season airing in 2024.

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Game of Thrones in order

Should you wish to watch the Game of Thrones shows in production order, as they originally appeared on screens, then follow this list:

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones: Season One (2011)
Game of Thrones: Season Two (2012)
Game of Thrones: Season Three (2013)
Game of Thrones: Season Four (2014)
Game of Thrones: Season Five (2015)
Game of Thrones: Season Six (2016)
Game of Thrones: Season Seven (2017)
Game of Thrones: Season Eight (2019)

House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon: Season One (2022)
House of the Dragon: Season Two (2024)

Alternatively…

Game of Thrones in chronological order

Should you wish to watch the shows in chronological timeline order, then follow this list:

House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon: Season One (2022)
House of the Dragon: Season Two (2024)

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones: Season One (2011)
Game of Thrones: Season Two (2012)
Game of Thrones: Season Three (2013)
Game of Thrones: Season Four (2014)
Game of Thrones: Season Five (2015)
Game of Thrones: Season Six (2016)
Game of Thrones: Season Seven (2017)
Game of Thrones: Season Eight (2019)

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Editor/writer/fantasy icon

Alex Wiggan

Alex is a writer, editor, and blogger specialising in movies, TV, comics, retro toys, and general geekery. He is a championing voice in nerd content, an expert in pop culture, and a trusted movie critic who publishes new reviews on a weekly basis. After graduating with a degree in film & television studies from the University of Derby in the UK, Alex went on to study journalism in Sheffield, before acquiring NCTJ accreditation. Prior to a career in blogging, Alex was a magazine editor, a senior copywriter, a features writer, and a freelancer.

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