Every Game of Thrones Season, Ranked

Game of Thrones has long cemented itself as a cornerstone of modern mass culture, extending far beyond the realm of television. As one of the most expensive, most-watched, most-discussed, and highest-rated series ever made, GoT remained at the top for nine years (skipping 2018), delivering high-quality storytelling through dozens of intersecting character arcs, paired with blockbuster flair, and appealing to audiences across various ages and preferences.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s book series A Song of Ice and Fire, GoT draws heavily on a richly developed world and deeply fleshed-out characters from several influential houses of Westeros — such as the Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, Baratheons, and Tyrells. More than anything, the show benefited from excellent casting choices, introducing many young actors who would become stars, while also presenting a believable and lived-in setting thanks to carefully selected filming locations and outstanding work by the art and costume departments.

Like with any popular show, every fan has their own favorites among the Game of Thrones seasons and episodes, shaped by beloved characters or pivotal points in the narrative. Below, this list will try to do the show justice by ranking every season of Game of Thrones (excluding House of the Dragon), briefly touching on the major events of each and highlighting both their strengths and shortcomings.

The list contains spoilers for all Game of Thrones seasons and major events.

8. Season 8 (2019)

Fan-Service Instead of a Fitting Finale

• Best Episode: Episode 3 – The Long Night

The final season of Game of Thrones is far from the best, often feeling like a betrayal of many things viewers had come to expect from the show. Even setting aside the biggest issues in writing, dialogue, and abrupt character shifts, there are countless problems: extremely uneven pacing (with hardly anything happening during the first two episodes), an abundance of fan service moments, a rushed attempt to tie up every loose end, and an overall shift toward delivering a predictable big-budget spectacle disguised as an epic finale. It’s a far cry from the show’s best seasons.

Even when listing the major moments of Season 8, from the defeat of the Night King during the Battle of Winterfell and Daenerys’s descent into madness at King’s Landing to the final twist involving the selection of a new king — none of them deliver the signature GoT thrills. Events either take the most obvious route to the conclusion or, conversely, attempt the most unpredictable twists just for the sake of it, with no proper buildup or justification.

The only real praise for Season 8 lies in Ramin Djawadi’s consistently excellent score, which elevates episodes like The Long Night, and in the expectedly top-tier production values, featuring television’s best costumes and visual effects. Of course, some degree of disappointment was inevitable for a finale with years of buildup and soaring expectations, but rewatching the series back to back makes the flaws of the final episodes even more glaring, often resulting in a frustrating viewing experience.

7. Season 7 (2017)

Where the Show Started to Fall Apart

Best Episodes:

• Episode 4 – The Spoils of War
• Episode 7 – The Dragon and the Wolf

Game of Thrones Season 7 served as the predecessor to the underwhelming finale, and all the warning signs were already present. While not as disappointing as Season 8, it was clear that the creators had run out of source material, shifting the emphasis to large-scale action over the nuanced, dialogue-driven storytelling that had defined the series. The season was widely criticized for its messy narrative, featuring characters seemingly teleporting across Westeros and gaining sudden plot armor — a cheap trick that created the illusion of danger while delivering predictable, blockbuster-style outcomes.

The season managed to partially compensate for its chaotic storytelling with massive action set pieces, successfully masking the lack of wit and sharp writing with supposedly pivotal episodes like the quest to capture a wight, large-scale dragon battles, and a few sudden, satisfying character deaths. As a result, many viewers appreciated the expanded budget and scope, with some episodes surprisingly rated among the series’ highest.

Still, it became increasingly clear that the show’s new direction prioritized fan-service and character interactions designed as long-awaited payoffs. Lead characters grew too vital to sacrifice or be taken off the board, even when the story demanded it.

6. Season 5 (2015)

Not Weak, but Rather Unremarkable

Best Episodes:

• Episode 8 – Hardhome
• Episode 9 – The Dance of Dragons

On its own, Season 5 isn’t weak — it’s just inferior to the surrounding seasons and a bit event-light, squeezed between some of Game of Thrones’ best. It also marks the first time a GoT episode dropped below an 8.0 rating on IMDb, reflecting the season’s dragging nature, with nothing major happening for several episodes straight. Some viewers even found themselves becoming a bit bored — something that once seemed impossible when watching Game of Thrones.

Pacing is the biggest issue with Season 5. The first half focuses heavily on the High Sparrow, Daenerys in Meereen, Sansa’s torture, and Arya’s training in Braavos — all of which started to feel overly drawn out. The second half somewhat redeems itself with stronger payoffs, featuring standout episodes like the perfectly balanced (between dialogue and action) Hardhome, where Jon faces the Walkers, the downfall of Stannis who risked everything, and Arya finally beginning her path of revenge. And of course, there’s one of the show’s most shocking twists: the Night’s Watch betraying and killing Jon, which easily ranks among the most unforgettable deaths in the entire series.

5. Season 2 (2012)

Expanding the World and Character Roster

Best Episodes:

• Episode 9 – Blackwater
• Episode 10 – Valar Morghulis

Season 2 carries the torch of expanding the Game of Thrones world further and elevating the stakes, introducing a plethora of new key players, shifting focus to spotlight characters like Stannis and Robb Stark to blur the lines of who the actual leads are, and beginning to streamline its core conflicts with constant teases of a much bigger threat beyond politics. With an even more dialogue-driven nature than the debut season, GoT makes it clear that sharp writing is the major driving force of the series, generating real tension and emotion through character exchanges and clever interactions.

But it’s not just that; this season also gave viewers a glimpse of the show’s first large-scale battle, and the Battle of Blackwater didn’t disappoint. Still, the season overall served more as a taste of what’s to come, a middle ground between the prologue and the main course. A strong season of a great show; nothing more to add.

4. Season 1 (2011)

A Strong Debut that Makes Introductions Seem Easy

Best Episodes:

• Episode 9 – Baelor
• Episode 10 – Fire and Blood

The one to start it all — it’s hard to understate the influence and importance of the very first Game of Thrones season, which instantly put the show on the map as the pinnacle of television and established the blueprint for the show’s aesthetic: a gritty, lived-in, and realistic medieval fantasy feel that has yet to be surpassed. Tasked with introducing a vast array of characters and locations, Season 1 somehow remained accessible and immediately captivating, avoiding the sense of being too overwhelming.

With perfect casting, stellar music, and, of course, the first shocking twists that taught viewers no one is ever safe in this world, including the brutal executions of Ned Stark and Viserys Targaryen (and the slow, painful death of Khal Drogo) — Season 1 is a masterful debut and a strong prologue to the real game that would unravel much later. Even though it’s slower-paced to give viewers time to settle in, and less significant in hindsight compared to what follows, the first step is always the hardest, and the first impression is the most important. Would GoT have ever become as popular if Season 1 had been any different?

3. Season 3 (2013)

Gripping, Hope-Shattering, and Convincing

Best Episodes:

• Episode 4 – And Now His Watch Is Ended
• Episode 9 – The Rains of Castamere

Of course, Season 3 is largely defined by The Rains of Castamere (Red Wedding) episode — still considered one of the most powerful and shocking scenes in the entire show. Topping everything viewers had seen so far in this universe was no easy task, but the brutal slaughtering of several key characters at once definitely traumatized many, becoming a hot topic of discussion for weeks.

Fortunately, there’s much more to appreciate about this season beyond its unforgettable climax. By now, George Martin’s world is fully established, and the focus shifts from introductions to rich character development. Once again, the show masterfully redefines seemingly evil characters into misunderstood figures who slowly become fan favorites (yes, we’re talking about Jaime Lannister here). The romances between Robb Stark and Talisa Maegyr, and Jon Snow and the wildling Ygritte, delivered some of the coziest and most cherished moments, even though the audience could already sense they wouldn’t end well. Daenerys also saw major development, claiming the Unsullied and rising to power in the season’s fire-breathing finale, making it easy to root for the one true queen of Westeros and setting the stage for her triumphant return.

2. Season 6 (2016)

Action-Packed Season to Deliver Resolutions for Major Arcs

Best Episodes:

• Episode 5 – The Door
• Episode 9 – Battle of the Bastards
• Episode 10 – The Winds of Winter

It’s hard to pick one definitive favorite among the two most explosive seasons of Game of Thrones, especially given how high-stakes and endlessly packed Season 6 is with brutal action and jaw-dropping resolutions. Cersei’s revenge on the High Sparrow, Hodor holding the door, and, of course, the brilliant Battle of the Bastards — fans were treated to high point after high point. GoT once again shatters expectations and delivers an even more breathtaking big picture, resolving several long-running arcs in an incredibly admirable and satisfying way, while also staying true to the core pillars of the show.

The real star is definitely Jon Snow, whose meteoric rise as the new King in the North after his resurrection began to feel almost a bit unnatural, but oh so deserved. Other characters try to keep up, with Sansa Stark taking the second spotlight as a finally matured and cold-blooded person, ready to face everything she once feared. Almost perfectly balanced between personal struggles and the growth of the lead cast, and a bigger overarching plot that really gained traction, Season 6 is often regarded as the best among Game of Thrones, and it’s hard to argue. It’s a shame that right after this high point, which shows what a true grand finale could feel like, the show starts to really lose its ground.

1. Season 4 (2014)

Witty, Brilliant, and Rewarding Watch from Start to Finish

Best Episodes:

• Episode 2 – The Lion and the Rose
• Episode 6 – The Laws of Gods and Men
• Episode 10 – The Children

While Season 6 is home to some of the best action set pieces and hugely impactful events in all of Game of Thrones, Season 4 is home to some of the best writing and sharpest dialogue, unraveling verbal conflicts and emotional resolutions so masterfully it’s hard to look away — and this is exactly what GoT is about. Not as many earth-shattering events as in Season 6, yet half of the episodes in Season 4 have a viewer rating of 9.7, which no other season managed to top.

With a central theme revolving around the long-awaited murder of Joffrey at his own wedding, followed by Tyrion’s trial, Season 4 is all about the Lannisters (arguably the most interesting family in GoT), culminating in an unforgettable Tyrion transformation and Tywin’s death. Fans of high-stakes action got their treat too, with a climactic duel between the Mountain and Oberyn Martell, as well as Jon Snow leading the Night’s Watch in the massive battle against the Wildlings. Not to forget the magnetic duo of the Hound and Arya, with impeccable dynamics. With all that on the fans’ plate, it’s hard to even pinpoint issues with Season 4, representing the peak of Game of Thrones as a whole, as well as one of the most admirable television seasons in general.