The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Check Out After Watching ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'
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Fans of George R.R. Martin’s books (and their television adaptations) were enchanted by the first season of HBO's new spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms because it offered a fresh perspective on the fictional universe of Westeros. Set roughly between the events depicted in House of the Dragon and A Game of Thrones, the show follows the misadventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and the future King Aegon V (Egg) as the former attempts to establish himself as a hedge knight in the violent, dragon-less, but relatively stable world of the Seven Kingdoms. It's a show about refreshingly earnest and noble main character who doesn't get his head chopped off at the end of the first season, so a great change of pace.
If you’re missing that—and the gritty, spectacularly violent world the show still depicts—you can wait for season two, or you can find similar entertainments. We’ve already given you a list of TV shows with the same vibes, but here are the best movies, books, games, and podcasts to check out while you wait for more Dunk and Egg adventures.
The best books like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was adapted from a book, so of course that’s a great place to start. But if you’ve already read the source material, here are a few more books to check out.
Between Two Fires, by Christopher Buehlman
Darker and more horror-coded than Knight, Between Two Fires offers up a similar dynamic between a knight and a more innocent child. In the 14th century, as the Black Death ravages Europe, Thomas is a disgraced knight who encounters a young girl in a village devastated by the plague. She tells him that a second war on heaven is coming, led by Lucifer himself, and that he must guide her to Avignon so she can save the world—and possibly himself.
Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott
This classic, published in 1819, remains a must-read for anyone into knightly chivalry, tournaments, and general adventure. In late 12th century England, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe is one of the last Anglo-Saxon nobleman in a country dominated by Norman invaders. Disinherited by his father, he secretly competes in a tourney presided over by Prince John while King Richard II is imprisoned after the recent crusade, and is swept up in the political machinations of the prince, who fears the return of his brother, the king.
The Last Wish, by Andrzej Sapowski
Sapowski’s Witcher universe has more overt magic and monsters than Martin’s more grounded Westeros, but Geralt of Rivia’s endless journeying and bloody adventures will scratch a similar itch. Geralt is as rootless as Dunk, and travels around dealing with local problems (and the locals themselves, who are often not the friendliest bunch). If you enjoyed the Dunk of it all in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, this is the beginning of a book series you’ll love.
The Dragonbone Chair, by Tad Williams
George R.R. Martin explicitly listed The Dragonbone Chair (and Williams’ entire Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series) as a key inspiration for A Song of Ice and Fire, so this is an obvious choice. While the writers have very different styles and approaches, you’ll find the story of scullery boy Simon’s involvement with an epic struggle between a fracturing human kingdom and the inscrutable, inhuman Storm King just as charming and exciting as Dunk and Egg’s adventures—albeit a little less low-key.
Spear, by Nicola Griffith
This is a bit of a swerve, but will reward fans of the show: A queer retelling of the Arthurian legends, Spear follows a girl named Peretur, who masquerades as a man and becomes one of King Arturus’ knights, taking up the quest for the Holy Grail. Just as Dunk is faking knight until he makes it as a knight, Peretur does what she must in order to find her destiny in a world marked by violence, betrayal, and magic. The episodic nature of her adventures fits in nicely with Knight’s focus on a traveling hedge knight who must be ready for whatever comes his way.
The best movies like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Nothing beats the visual spectacle of knights in shining (or blood-stained and rusty) armor jousting with lances or hammering at each other with swords. If that’s what you miss about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, these movies will do the thing.
A Knight's Tale (2001)
Tonally, this is the way. Heath Ledger plays William Thatcher, a peasant squire who masquerades as a knight in order to compete in tournaments, supported by his fellow squires and a brilliant young writer/forger named Geoffrey Chaucer. It’s got a banging soundtrack and the same positive energy that Dunk brings to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, plus plenty of jousts and even a surprise royal ally. Rent A Knight’s Tale on Prime Video.
Excalibur (1981)
If you’re looking for lots of knightly adventure (and some armor that is seriously shinier than anything Dunk wears on the show), this gloriously over-the-top version of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has it to spare. There are castle sieges and bloody battlefields, plenty of dark, inscrutable magics, and, of course, an epic quest—all rendered in a feverish visual style that never gets old. Rent Excalibur on Prime Video.
The Last Duel (2021)
Offering up a realistic depiction of the Middle Ages and knightly culture, The Last Duel not only has, yes, at least one lance-and-shield shattering duel to watch, it also explores the complex personal and political relationships between knights and lords in ways Knight fans will recognize. It’s inspired by real events, telling the story of the last legally sanctioned duel in France in the 14th century. It isn’t as funny or hopeful as Knight, but it’s just as satisfying. Stream The Last Duel on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video.
Black Death (2010)
Darker and grimmer than A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, this 2010 horror film stars Sean Bean as a knight named Ulric, who travels to a remote village that has been unaffected by the plague in order to arrest a necromancer suspected of protecting it. He’s guided by a novice monk named Osmund (Eddie Redmayne), giving the story some of the same dynamic as between Dunk and Egg—though the ending is much, much darker. Stream Black Death on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video.
Dragonslayer (1981)
With a gritty, realistic look, this fantasy film will supply the one thing missing from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Dragons. In the sixth century, the small kingdom of Urland is sacrificing virgin girls to appease Vermithrax Pejorative, a huge, deadly dragon. The king sends a knight named Valerian (actually a virgin girl, in disguise to avoid being selected for sacrifice) to fetch Ulrich, the last sorcerer, but the old man dies and his apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol), goes instead. It’s full of charm and sword fights, and is a perfect chaser for the the show. Stream Dragonslayer on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video.
The best video games like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
If you find your hands twitching every time you watch the Trial of Seven in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, you might want to play some of these games that offer some of the same pleasures.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Just like the book series that inspired it, this game is perfect for Knight fans. Geralt of Rivia is no knight sworn to protect the innocent, but he is a badass with a sword, and his quest to rescue his adopted daughter echoes Dunk’s determination to stand tall in a world that doesn’t make it easy. Geralt’s many battles as he travels this open-world game are what you imagine Dunk and Egg are getting up to after the end of season one: a series of adventures. Plus, it’s a blast to play.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The plot of this RPG game so strongly parallels A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it’s kind of eerie: Henry of Skalitz comes from humble beginnings and has a lot of emotional baggage, and he starts off with almost nothing, begging for armor and other supplies. From there, you guide Henry as he tries to regain his status as a knight and prove his worth, and the game’s fighting mechanics and detailed universe are almost a perfect fit for fans of the show—if you squint, you can imagine you’re playing as Dunk.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam
Half Sword
If you’re not looking for a similar story but just want to imagine yourself as a knight bashing their way through a tournament, Half Sword is for you. Its focus is totally on a realistic depiction of the physics and mechanics of medieval fighting. It takes a minute to get used to the controls, because you’re actually manipulating a sword or lance instead of just mashing a pattern of buttons—but once you lean into it, it’s as close as you’re likely to get to actually fighting like Dunk and his fellow knights. There’s no story here, just a series of challenging bouts that offer an innovative and interesting variation on combat games.
Platforms: Steam
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
You can play this sandbox fantasy game as a wandering mercenary knight, taking on missions and competing in tournaments, or you can build up an army of your own and lead them into battle. On its own, it’s a fun game that has a similar-feeling universe to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. If you need it to feel more like that, you can install a total conversion called Realm of Thrones that literally turns the map into Westeros.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam
Ghost of Tsushima
You play as a Japanese samurai instead of a medieval knight, but this game has many parallels to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. For one, the character you control, Jin Sakai, must make a series of moral choices regarding his code of honor that will remind you of Dunk’s struggles to stay true to his knightly ideals. For another, you get to fight an army of enemies with a sword while on horseback, although you can also choose a stealthier approach to the game’s main story and many side-quests. But where’s the fun in that?
Platforms: PlayStation, Steam
The best podcasts like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
If kicking back with your headphones or earbuds is your ideal way to dig in deeper to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ vibe, these podcasts will fit the bill.
The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Why not go to the source for all the inside baseball you could want? Hosts Jason Concepcion and Greta Johnsen know their stuff (they’ve been recapping and discussing all the A Song of Ice and Fire shows for a while now), and they bring a nice balance of analysis and fan appreciation to discussions of the episodes. They also do a great job of linking the show to the larger universe and deeper lore.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—The Lorehounds
Speaking of lore, if you’re looking for a really deep dive into the history of Westeros and how Knight fits in, this is the podcast for you. They discuss deviations from the books (good and bad) and offer background on characters and fleeting details shown in the show that will probably have impact on later stories.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—An Unofficial Bald Move Podcast
If you’re looking for a community-engaged podcast that involves its listeners a bit more actively, this podcast from Bald Move is a great choice. It’s filled with smart, enthusiastic recapping and analysis, and actively seeks feedback and suggestions from fellow obsessives to keep the conversation fresh.
Sidequesting
If you want a narrative podcast experience with a similar feel, Sidequesting is what you’re looking for. It follows the adventures of Rion, a wandering adventurer who consistently avoids the major problems afflicting the places he visits—you know, dark lords, scary dragons, legions of undead—and handles all the side quests he can find instead. It’s fun, funny, and will provide that sweet, bighearted vibe that Dunk gives off.
Tale of the Manticore
The hook of Tale of the Manticore is simple: It’s the story of a group of adventurers that is told utilizing the game mechanics of classic Dungeons & Dragons, dice rolls and all. If you’ve ever played D&D you know that this means: Suffering. A lot of suffering, because those dice rolls rarely go consistently in a character’s favor. It’s fun chaos, though, and right in line with the show’s dedication to showing the more chaotic side of Westeros life.