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how to watch game of thrones in order

Here’s a clear way to watch Game of Thrones in order, including House of the Dragon , plus a couple of different “styles” of watch order you can pick from depending on what you care about most.

Best simple watch order (recommended)

If you just want the easiest, most natural way to experience the story as viewers did when it aired, use release order.

  1. Game of Thrones – Season 1
  2. Game of Thrones – Season 2
  3. Game of Thrones – Season 3
  4. Game of Thrones – Season 4
  5. Game of Thrones – Season 5
  6. Game of Thrones – Season 6
  7. Game of Thrones – Season 7
  8. Game of Thrones – Season 8
  9. House of the Dragon – Season 1
  10. House of the Dragon – Season 2
  • This order preserves how the world, lore, and twists were originally revealed.
  • It’s usually the best choice for first‑time viewers because the tone and themes of Game of Thrones set up the universe more strongly than the prequel.

Chronological timeline order (in‑universe)

If you want to follow events in the history of Westeros “as they happened” in the story’s timeline, use chronological order.

  1. House of the Dragon – Season 1 (set roughly 100+ years before GoT)
  1. House of the Dragon – Season 2
  1. Game of Thrones – Season 1
  2. Game of Thrones – Season 2
  3. Game of Thrones – Season 3
  4. Game of Thrones – Season 4
  5. Game of Thrones – Season 5
  6. Game of Thrones – Season 6
  7. Game of Thrones – Season 7
  8. Game of Thrones – Season 8
  • This order front‑loads Targaryen history and the civil war that shapes a lot of the background in Game of Thrones.
  • Some guides note that Game of Thrones is thematically richer, so watching it first (release order) can feel more impactful for newcomers.

Fan “mixed” or custom orders

Forum discussions sometimes suggest splitting things up, like:

  • Game of Thrones – Seasons 1–6
  • House of the Dragon – Seasons 1–2
  • Game of Thrones – Seasons 7–8

However, most fans and professional guides still lean toward either pure release order or pure chronological order, because mixing can undercut the pacing and tension of both shows.

Where “machete” / streamlined orders fit in

Some guides mention a “machete” style watch order: a trimmed subset of episodes meant to give you only the most essential plot and character beats, sometimes relying on the “Previously on” segments to fill gaps.

  • This is more for re‑watchers or people in a hurry; it’s not ideal if you want the full experience.
  • The exact list varies by guide, but the idea is to cut side plots while preserving the core arcs.

Quick tips and latest context

  • As of the mid‑2020s, House of the Dragon has two released seasons that fit before Game of Thrones in the story timeline.
  • Current articles and YouTube guides emphasize that your choice mainly comes down to whether you prefer original viewing experience (release order) or lore‑first worldbuilding (chronological).

TL;DR:

  • First‑time viewer: watch in release order – Game of Thrones S1–S8, then House of the Dragon S1–S2.
  • Lore‑focused viewer: watch in chronological order – House of the Dragon S1–S2, then Game of Thrones S1–S8.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.