You can skip 2 of the 3 titles in the Game of Thrones franchise and still follow the main story: House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The essentials (1 titles) take about 71 hours instead of 101 hours.
- Skippable
- 2
- Essentials
- 1
- Time saved
- 31 hours
Safe to skip
- House of the Dragon2022 · Series · 27h 17m · optionalThe Targaryen civil war, nearly 200 years earlier.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms2026 · Series · 3h 28m · optionalDunk and Egg, about 90 years earlier.
Why each one is optional
What each skippable title is, what it adds if you do watch it, and who is in it.
No. 01 · 2022 · Series · 27h 17m · optional
House of the Dragon
The Targaryen dynasty is at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins when King Viserys breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm.
Why it matters: The Targaryen civil war, nearly 200 years earlier.
- Starring
- Matt Smith, Steve Toussaint, and Sonoya Mizuno
- Creator
- George R.R. Martin and Ryan J. Condal
- Scores
- IMDb 8.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 88%
- Episodes
- 26 across 3 seasons
No. 02 · 2026 · Series · 3h 28m · optional
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits await these improbable and incomparable friends.
Why it matters: Dunk and Egg, about 90 years earlier.
- Starring
- Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, and Daniel Ings
- Creator
- George R.R. Martin and Ira Parker
- Scores
- IMDb 8.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 94%
- Episodes
- 6
The essentials, in release order
- Game of Thrones2011 · Series · 70h 32mThe main series; watch it first.
Common questions
Do I need to watch every Game of Thrones title?
No. You can skip 2 of the 3 titles in the Game of Thrones franchise and still follow the main story: House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The essentials (1 titles) take about 71 hours instead of 101 hours.
How long are the Game of Thrones essentials?
About 71 hours for 1 titles, in release order starting with Game of Thrones.
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