Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows

While most games are designed to keep players focused on their screens for as long as possible, this adventure encourages you to walk away. It's a gamble, but that actually makes Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows more captivating. While the pace is slow and steady and the action never really ramps up, Tale of Crows hooks you hard and fast. That's because you feel like you're making a real impact on the game, since you're constantly forced to make decisions -- and then wait to see how those decisions impact other men of the Watch. That also adds to replayability, since you're often curious how the game would have branched if you'd chosen another path. 

The chief criticism is the same thing that makes the game so compelling. It tests your patience, making you wait anywhere from several minutes to several hours before you're presented with more options. It's a game that will never rush you, but you can't rush it, either. And if you occasionally lack patience, that will drive you batty at times. There's also some repetition of scenarios that gets old after a bit. In general, though, this is a wonderful side pocket of the Game of Thrones world that harkens back to an oft-forgotten style of storytelling and gameplay that's a welcome break from the fast-paced games of today.