“Game of Thrones” ran from 2011 to 2019 and picked up quite a following throughout those years. Based on the novels written by George R. R. Martin, the television adaptation allowed passionate fans of the show to follow characters like Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clark), Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and many more.
For years, numerous elements made “Game of Thrones” a favorite show among many. These elements include the intensity of the storylines and the incredible growth of multiple characters along the way. (Did you see the way Theon evolved?) Not to mention the action sequences and special effects. Who could forget the dragons? While a few episodes lagged during this series, many fans had no problem sitting through those to get to the best episodes of “Game of Thrones.”
Fans of “Game of Thrones” fretted with Dany when she couldn’t find her beloved dragons and cried when Visierion died in the battle beyond the wall. They could feel their hearts racing when Ned Stark stood before the city, holding on to his pride, while Joffery Lannister called for his beheading. Fans held their breaths and maybe even closed their eyes when Ned lost his life simply because he refused to play the game.
Later in the series, fans cheered as Joffrey was poisoned on screen and suffered an excruciating death. Then, when Ramsay Bolton was also dealt a painful and deadly dose of karma, viewers were equally overjoyed. “Game of Thrones” had a way of sucking fans in and delivering unexpected storylines. While not all the episodes were incredible, the ones on this list may have you wanting to binge-watch this show all over again. (Check out the best original episodes of “The Twilight Zone.”)
To determine the best episodes of “Game of Thrones,” 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on audience reception from IMDb. Episodes were ranked based on average IMDb user rating as of March 2024. In the case of a tie, the episode with the greater number of audience ratings was ranked higher.
25. Unaired Original Pilot (Season 1, Episode 0)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 36
24. Mhysa (Season 3, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 35,145
23. A Golden Crown (Season 1, Episode 6)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 37,755
22. You Win or You Die (Season 1, Episode 7)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 38,251
21. Mother’s Mercy (Season 5, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 46,635
20. The Queen’s Justice (Season 7, Episode 3)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 49,996
19. Valar Morghulis (Season 2, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 9.3/10
- IMDb user reviews: 38,060
18. Home (Season 6, Episode 2)
- IMDb user rating: 9.3/10
- IMDb user reviews: 50,373
17. Fire and Blood (Season 1, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 9.4/10
- IMDb user reviews: 43,958
16. The Dance of Dragons (Season 5, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.4/10
- IMDb user reviews: 47,840
15. The Dragon and the Wolf (Season 7, Episode 7)
- IMDb user rating: 9.4/10
- IMDb user reviews: 68,437
14. And Now His Watch Is Ended (Season 3, Episode 4)
- IMDb user rating: 9.5/10
- IMDb user reviews: 41,884
13. Baelor (Season 1, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.6/10
- IMDb user reviews: 50,300
12. The Children (Season 4, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 9.6/10
- IMDb user reviews: 51,333
11. The Watchers on the Wall (Season 4, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.6/10
- IMDb user reviews: 52,588
10. Blackwater (Season 2, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 54,039
9. The Laws of Gods and Men (Season 4, Episode 6)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 58,257
8. The Mountain and the Viper (Season 4, Episode 8)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 59,776
7. The Lion and the Rose (Season 4, Episode 2)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 60,036
6. The Door (Season 6, Episode 5)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 77,424
5. The Spoils of War (Season 7, Episode 4)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 93,785
4. Hardhome (Season 5, Episode 8)
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10
- IMDb user reviews: 107,481
3. The Rains of Castamere (Season 3, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10
- IMDb user reviews: 116,473
2. The Winds of Winter (Season 6, Episode 10)
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10
- IMDb user reviews: 158,674
1. Battle of the Bastards (Season 6, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10
- IMDb user reviews: 222,672