If you’ve ever zoomed into your CK3 map and thought “this kingdom could really use a few dragons and some political trauma,” you’re not alone. Crusader Kings 3 might not have official Westerosi content, but it’s hands down the best sandbox to recreate Game of Thrones without having to sell your soul to Paradox DLCs. With the right mods, roleplay decisions, and a little imagination, you can rebuild the Seven Kingdoms, rewrite the Red Wedding, and even decide if Jon Snow deserves the throne this time.
The Mods That Make It Happen
Before you start crowning yourself King in the North, you’ll need to transform medieval Europe into something more, well, dramatic.
1. A Game of Thrones (CK3 Mod)
The A Game of Thrones mod is your main ticket to Westeros. It completely replaces the CK3 map, factions, cultures, and events with content from George R.R. Martin’s world. You’ll find:
- Fully reworked maps for Westeros and Essos.
- Major houses like Stark, Lannister, Targaryen, Baratheon, Greyjoy, and Tyrell.
- Events inspired by the books and show, like the War of the Five Kings.
- Dragons, White Walkers, and dynamic civil wars.
You’ll want to grab this mod first, then add the recommended submods like AGOT: Colonisation, AGOT: Events, or AGOT: Bloodlines for even more depth.
2. Better UI and Map Aesthetics Mods
To make Westeros look as gritty as the show, install visual enhancers like Flat Map Reborn, Better UI Scaling, and Ethnicities and Portraits Expanded (EPE). They’ll make your characters look less like melted candle wax and more like actual schemers.
3. Immersion Boosters
If you’re a purist and want to play vanilla CK3 but still get a Thrones-like experience, try Community Flavor Pack and More Court Positions. Combine those with custom names, and suddenly you’re Robert Baratheon with a hangover and a dangerous amount of power.
Building Westeros Without Mods
If your PC melts at the word “mod,” don’t panic. You can recreate the Seven Kingdoms vibe in vanilla CK3 with some creative roleplay.
Start as England.
England’s duchies and vassal structure are perfect for simulating Westeros. Rename them to mirror the regions:
- Northumberland = The North (House Stark)
- Wessex = The Reach (House Tyrell)
- Cornwall = Dorne (House Martell)
- East Anglia = The Vale (House Arryn)
Then, customise dynasties and sigils to match their Westerosi counterparts. Your courtiers will quickly fill the roles of schemers, betrayers, and tragic martyrs.
Roleplay Tips:
- Always marry for power, never love.
- Have at least one bastard heir and a secret lover.
- Execute your best friend after a misunderstanding.
- Name your heir “Aegon” or “Rhaenyra” for extra flavour.
It’s basically the same as a regular CK3 playthrough, just with more emotional damage.
Dynasties Worth Recreating
| Westerosi House | CK3 Equivalent | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|
| Stark of Winterfell | Northumberland or Scotland | Honourable, stubborn, slightly doomed |
| Lannister of Casterly Rock | West Francia | Gold, scheming, questionable family morals |
| Targaryen of Dragonstone | Byzantine Empire | Prestige, dragons, and a god complex |
| Baratheon of Storm’s End | Brittany | Power-hungry, drink-loving chaos |
| Greyjoy of Pyke | Norse Raiders | Raiding, burning, shouting “what is dead may never die” |
| Martell of Dorne | Iberian kingdoms | Isolationist, proud, stylishly vengeful |
Each of these dynasties can dominate the continent in completely different ways. Bonus points if you roleplay the cultural quirks: a Lannister never forgets a debt, a Stark always warns about winter, and a Greyjoy just steals everything anyway.
Making It Feel Like Westeros
To really nail that Thrones atmosphere, you’ll want to mess with CK3’s mechanics.
- Feudal Contracts: Turn them into alliances or betrayals. Offer independence to houses that support your claim or revoke land to punish traitors.
- Hooks: Treat them like secrets and debts. You can even roleplay Tyrion-level manipulation by stacking blackmail hooks on rival families.
- Court Intrigue: Keep your spymaster busy. If there aren’t enough assassinations, you’re not doing it right.
- Faith Mechanics: Use them to simulate the Faith of the Seven or the Lord of Light. Make heresy a political tool, not just a headache.
For the True Roleplayers
If you want to go full Westerosi historian, you can recreate the timeline:
- Start with Aegon’s Conquest and unite the Seven Kingdoms by force.
- Move through The Dance of the Dragons, letting rival claimants destroy the realm.
- Or skip straight to Robert’s Rebellion, overthrow the Targaryens, and spend the rest of your life regretting your decisions.
Every CK3 campaign is basically a tragedy anyway, so it’s a perfect fit.
Final Thoughts
Recreating Game of Thrones in Crusader Kings 3 isn’t just about mods or maps. It’s about capturing that messy, glorious balance between power and ruin. Whether you’re rebuilding the Targaryen dynasty, scheming as the Lannisters, or losing your head as a Stark, CK3 gives you the freedom to write the ending the show didn’t.
And if you ever get bored? Just unleash a dragon. Works every time.
