Arguably the entertainment title that defined the 2010s as far as film and television go, Game of Thrones rose to unprecedented, record-breaking heights throughout its eight seasons as it followed the many feuding families of Westeros battling for the Iron Throne. With a vast array of intriguing and complex characters vying for power in a merciless world of violence and magic, the series fast became famous for its many shocking plot twits and the deaths of major characters. As such, many of these episodes stand among not only the highest rated, but the most voted that IMDb has.

While the series sadly didn't end in the manner that many fans were hoping for, it can still be fondly remembered for the many brilliant moments that cemented it as one of the greatest television shows of all time. Spanning from episodes of unbelievable tension where fans farewelled some of their favorite characters, to more action-packed entries that showcased the epic grandiosity of the show with stunning perfection, these 25 episodes are Game of Thrones' highest-rated according to IMDb users, and cover many of the memorable highlights the series had to offer.

Watch on Max

25 "The Wolf and the Lion" (Season 1, Episode 5)

IMDb Rating: 9.0/10

While it may be somewhat forgotten considering all that came after it, "The Wolf and the Lion" is sensational at elevating the tension while exploring more of the politics of Westeros. Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), captured by Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley), is taken to the Vale to stand trial for his supposed crimes. Meanwhile, King Robert (Mark Addy) plans to have Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) killed, and Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) is attacked in the streets of King’s Landing by Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau).

After the stage had adequately been set in the first four episodes, “The Wolf and the Lion” sees the series begin to launch into its true story, with rifts between the Lannisters and the Starks growing while the crown sets its sights on Daenerys. Its high ranking on IMDb is made all the more impressive considering fan favorite characters Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Daenerys Targaryen don’t appear in it.

24 "The Queen’s Justice" (Season 7, Episode 3)

IMDb Rating: 9.1/10

An episode that contains many moments that fans had been eagerly awaiting, “The Queen’s Justice” delivers a rousing spectacle of great character moments and narrative action. Most notably, it sees Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen finally meet when Jon travels to Dragonstone to request Daenerys’ assistance in the fight against the White Walkers. Additionally, the unsullied are attacked after laying siege to Casterly Rock, and Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk) arrives in King’s Landing with a surprise for Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey).

For all its fantasy grandiosity, Game of Thrones was always at its best when characters were driving the story forward with well-written and meaningful conversations. “The Queen’s Justice” provides that in spades while delivering on plot threads and looming character dynamics that had long been teased. The end result is one of Season 7’s most rewarding episodes, even if it isn’t the most action-packed or intense offering.

23 "Mother’s Mercy" (Season 5, Episode 10)

IMDb Rating: 9.1/10

While there are many who would argue that Season 5 was among the show's weakest outings, the Game of Thrones finale comes up trumps as a suitably shocking episode that completely reset the trajectory of the story going forward. The jam-packed episodes sees Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) launch a failed attack on the Boltons at Winterfell, Cersei is forced into the walk of atonement, Daenerys finds herself surrounded by the Dothraki, and Jon Snow is ambushed by his brothers on the Night’s Watch.

It stands as an underrated episode as far as Game of Thrones finales go, one that saw several monumental shifts in the narrative, including Stannis’ death at the hands of Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) and Jon Snow’s assassination. Bolstered by incredible performances, a razor-sharp script, and plenty of seismic twists, “Mother’s Mercy” exemplifies much of Game of Thrones at its absolute best.

22 "Mhysa" (Season 3, Episode 10)

IMDb Rating: 9.1/10

Another brilliant episode that has been somewhat forgotten over time, “Mhysa” served as the Season 3 finale, meaning it had the unenviable task of following up “The Rains of Castamere” and the depiction of the Red Wedding. Exploring the aftermath of the massacre of House Stark, “Mhysa” focuses on the political fallout of the ambush as the Lannisters claim a swift and decisive victory.

In other storylines, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) and the Hound (Rory McCann) as they must make new plans, while Daenerys Targaryen is warmly received by the freed slaves of Yunkai. While it isn’t the most heart-pounding episode of the series, “Mhysa” still excels as a feat of storytelling, wrapping up the masterful third season in a way that drifts seamlessly into the major plot points of Season 4.

21 "You Win or You Die" (Season 1, Episode 7)

IMDb Rating: 9.1/10

Season 1 provided some of the best episodes Game of Thrones had to offer as well as many of the series’ most underrated and overlooked installments. The season’s seventh episode, “You Win or You Die,” is a perfect example of just that. As the political imbalance amid the Seven Kingdoms grows greater, the ruling families begin to realize their desperation for control. The Lannisters brace for war, while Eddard Stark confronts Cersei to tell her he knows the truth of her son’s parentage.

Even upon rewatching, the episode maintains a sense of dreadful intrigue as the gears of war begin to grind, with Eddard effectively making the political misstep that seals his fate. Brilliantly written and expertly performed (and full of memorable quotes from Cersei), “You Win or You Die” is something of a quiet achiever in the series, a magnificent and vitally important episode that sees the story rocket along even though it doesn’t contain any major twists or character deaths.

20 "A Golden Crown" (Season 1, Episode 6)

IMDb Ranking: 9.1/10

While it would be too corny to describe the episode as an early crowning achievement, "A Golden Crown" was a noteworthy episode of the first season as it elevated political tensions and offered the first glimpse into the fact that no one was safe in Westeros and the Free Cities. It is most memorable for its impact on Daenerys' story, as her oppressive brother Viserys (Harry Lloyd) was killed by Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) in unforgettably gruesome fashion.

The episode also saw Ned Stark tasked with governing the kingdom while healing from his run-in with Jaime Lannister, while King Robert went on a hunting expedition, and Tyrion Lannister demanded a trial by combat while being held as a prisoner in the Eyrie. A pivotal chapter considering the events that would soon follow, "A Golden Crown" managed to be intense in its own right while giving audiences a sickening feeling that something diabolical was just starting to unfold (and that the shocking deaths in Game of Thrones have only just begun).

19 "Home" (Season 6, Episode 2)

IMDb Ranking: 9.3/10

Among the busiest episodes of the entire series, "Home" saw a great many story threads unfurl across Westeros with Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) seizing control of his house in brutal fashion, Jaime confronting the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) regarding his treatment of Cersei, while Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) was assassinated as his long-distant brother returned to the Iron Islands. Elsewhere, Tyrion unshackled the dragons chained beneath Mereen, Arya (Maisie Williams) made a big step in her training in Braavos, and, on the Wall, Melisandre (Carice van Houten) attempted to resurrect Jon Snow.

With so much going on, the GoT episode was able to maintain an impressive pace as it floated breezily between narratives while giving every moment the weight and gravitas it required. It also had quite an impact on fans, with Jon Snow's resurrection being a relief even though many expected it to happen, while the introduction of the iconic villain Euron Greyjoy left many both intrigued and uneasy about what was to come in the Iron Islands.

18 "Valar Morghulis" (Season 2, Episode 10)

IMDb Ranking: 9.3/10

It was a common, and quite ingenious, ploy for Game of Thrones to have the penultimate episodes of its seasons be the most eventful, with the season finale then presenting audiences with the immediate aftermath while also offering a glimpse at how the story would change going forward. "Valar Morghulis" was no different, with the Season 2 finale taking place after the Battle of the Blackwater as a victorious King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) took an interest in Lady Margery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer).

It saw a severely injured Tyrion removed as the Hand of the King as Tywin (Charles Dance) was appointed, while Daenerys ventured into the House of the Undying in Qarth to retrieve her dragons, and Arya reunited with Jaqen H'ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) after escaping Harrenhal. Concluding with the foreboding image of the undead marching on the Wall, "Valar Morghulis" excelled in wrapping up many of Season 2's intriguing threads while laying a sturdy platform for what was yet to come.

17 "The Dragon and the Wolf" (Season 7, Episode 7)

IMDb Ranking: 9.4/10

The Season 7 finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf" brought a great many story threads to a tee as it set the stage for the final season. In King's Landing, a momentous meeting took place involving Westeros' most powerful families concerning the return of the White Walkers, with Cersei and Daenerys both in attendance. Meanwhile, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) reaffirmed his loyalty to his sister, and Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya outmaneuvered Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) in Winterfell. Additionally, it was also revealed that Jon Snow was the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding) and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

With a runtime of almost 80 minutes, "The Dragon and the Wolf" stands as one of the longest episodes of the entire series, a fact made all the more intriguing given its dialogue-heavy nature which was still riveting as pivotal revelations were unveiled heading into the final season. However, it still knew how to pack a shocking, heart-stopping punch with the episode's conclusion deviating from the GoT books by showing the Night King atop his undead dragon demolishing a section of the Wall along the sea at Eastwatch.

16 "The Dance of Dragons" (Season 5, Episode 9)

IMDb Ranking: 9.4/10

An episode dominated by two equally heart-pounding moments, "The Dance of Dragons" saw Game of Thrones venture to as dark a place as it ever did. This, of course, came when Stannis made the terrible decision to sacrifice his daughter Shireen (Kerry Ingram) in an effort to appease the Lord of Light and hopefully gain an advantage in his upcoming battle. The other nerve-jangling moment came when Daenerys and her allies were ambushed in the arena before Drogon swooped in to save the day.

In other plot lines, Jon Snow and the survivors of the attack on Hardhome returned to the Wall to a hostile reception, Arya spotted an old enemy in Braavos, and Jorah presented himself before Daenerys in the arena with hopes of winning her favor. Managing to be triumphant in some stages and utterly mortifying in others, "The Dance of Dragons" presented fans of the series with one of its most emotionally tumultuous episodes.

15 "Fire and Blood" (Season 1, Episode 10)

IMDb Ranking: 9.4/10

A pivotal entry in the series, the Season 1 finale was responsible for taking all the introduction framework of the previous nine episodes and setting in motion the vast story to follow. With Eddard Stark dead, the North breaks away from the Seven Kingdoms and announces Robb Stark (Richard Madden) as the King in the North, while both of the late King Robert's brothers individually challenge Joffrey's claim to the throne.

Meanwhile, a cruel witch's cunning results in Daenerys' baby being born dead, while Khal Drogo is left in a vegetative state. Daenerys plans to sacrifice herself in the funeral pyre but emerges unburnt with three newly hatched baby dragons. After the shocking events of the season's penultimate episode, "Fire and Blood" beautifully depicted where all the central characters were at the end of the season, while teasing how some stories may unfold going forward.

14 "And Now His Watch Is Ended" (Season 3, Episode 4)

IMDb Ranking: 9.5/10

A significant episode for characters north of the Wall and in the Free Cities, "And Now His Watch Is Ended" saw Lord Commander Mormont (James Cosmo) slain as a fight broke out in Craster's Keep, while the episode was made truly memorable for the manner in which Daenerys acquired the Unsullied while dealing with the masters of Astapor. Elsewhere, Jaime struggles to come to terms with his hand being cut off, Arya and the Hound clash as they are taken by the Brotherhood, and multiple figures in King's Landing plot to gain greater power.

A perfect encapsulation of all that made Game of Thrones so enthralling, the episode saw major characters exit the series, had plenty of political intrigue, and saw characters like Jaime and Daenerys take massive steps in their development. It was also a huge episode for two of the GoT' greatest duos, with Jaime and Brienne starting to form something of a friendly bond, while Arya and the Hound would go on to be arguably the best pairing in the entire series.

13 "The Children" (Season 4, Episode 10)

IMDb Ranking: 9.6/10

An aptly named episode, "The Children" marked the midpoint of Game of Thrones as a whole and brought many intriguing subplots to their conclusions while igniting new story threads in the process. Most notably, Jaime Lannister helped Tyrion escape from prison to flee King's Landing, but Tyrion killed his father before departing. Meanwhile, Bran and his traveling party were aided by the Children of the Forest as he finally found the Three-Eyed Raven, while the Hound and Brienne had a dramatic fight over Arya Stark. Additionally, Daenerys' rapidly growing and unwieldy dragons began to cause problems for her.

The episode is jam-packed with significant Game of Thrones character arcs being wrapped up and new ones being set in motion, as was the case with Stannis arriving at the Wall and Arya abandoning a mortally wounded Sandor Clegane to secure passage to Braavos. It was a satisfying climax to what many deem to be the greatest season of Game of Thrones, one which had the show's tens of millions of fans eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

12 "The Watchers on the Wall" (Season 4, Episode 9)

IMDb Ranking: 9.6/10

An uncharacteristic episode, "The Watchers on the Wall" dispensed with the series' usual narrative-hopping structure and took place entirely at Castle Black as the Wildlings launched their attack on the Wall. Flourishing under Neil Marshall's direction, it was 50 minutes of sheer, non-stop intensity as the Night's Watch found themselves being attacked from both sides of the Wall by an extensive army of free folk, mammoths, and even giants.

What was most impressive about the episode was that, while it excelled as a brilliant depiction of battle violence, it still found plenty of time to focus on character, with Ygritte's (Rose Leslie) death in Jon's arms marking one of the show's most heartbreaking moments. It also proved to be a fantastic episode in the context of Jon Snow as a character, with the fan-favorite demonstrating his strength as a leader while many of his commanders failed to answer the call.

11 "Baelor" (Season 1, Episode 9)

IMDb Ranking: 9.6/10

The first truly unforgettable, gut-wrenching moment in Game of Thrones came in the penultimate episode of its first season when, famously, Eddard Stark's execution was unexpectedly ordered by King Joffrey who had promised to spare Stark's life should he pledge his loyalty. It was amazing how such a sickening tone washed over audiences so quickly when Joffrey barked his command, a feeling that fans would become very familiar with as the series wore on.

"Baelor" is an essential episode that effectively marked the decisive turning point at which many viewers truly learned that no character was safe, and every action would bear meaningful consequences, thus cementing its brutal reputation. While that devastating twist has defined the episode's illustrious standing within the series, "Baelor" also saw Daenerys at her weakest as she went into premature labor while Khal Drogo began to succumb to infection.

10 "Blackwater" (Season 2, Episode 9)

IMDb Ranking: 9.7/10

Another episode like "The Watchers on the Wall" and, perhaps coincidentally, another episode directed by Neil Marshall, "Blackwater" focused solely on Stannis' attack on King's Landing and the defense led by Tyrion Lannister. A cunning ploy from Tyrion involving wildfire thwarted Stannis' sea-bound attack, forcing him and his men to mount an assault from the land. Meanwhile, in the keep with Sansa and many other noble women and children, Cersei readies herself to kill her children before Tywin, strengthened by his new alliance with House Tyrell, swoops in to secure an unlikely victory for the Lannisters.

Alongside the masterful battle sequence in "Blackwater," the episode is defined by its palpable, atmospheric tension which covers every character it explores. It also featured some pivotal moments which included the Hound leaving King's Landing and Sansa's refusal to go with him, as well as the confirmation that Tywin had established what would be a costly allegiance with the Tyrells.

9 "The Laws of Gods and Men" (Season 4, Episode 6)

IMDb Ranking: 9.7/10

A triumphant, rewarding highlight of Game of Thrones' fourth season, "The Laws of Gods and Men" will long be remembered by fans of the series, focusing on Tyrion's trial as he stands accused of assassinating King Joffrey at his wedding feast. As Tyrion quickly discovers that the whole trial is all for show, with his guilty verdict pre-determined by the judges, which include Cersei and Tywin, he snaps into a glorious rant in which he levels personal attacks at everyone in the room before demanding a trial by combat.

Peter Dinklage earned universal acclaim for his striking and impassioned performance, while the result of the trial set his arc on a whole new trajectory. The episode's other plotlines also covered Stannis Baratheon and Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) venturing to the Iron Bank, Yara Greyjoy's (Gemma Whelan) unsuccessful attempt to rescue her brother from Ramsay Bolton, and Daenerys navigating her responsibilities as the leader of Mereen.

8 "The Lion and the Rose" (Season 4, Episode 2)

IMDb Rating: 9.7/10

While Game of Thrones had a proven track record of making major character deaths as devastating as they were brutal, a rather satisfying exception came in Season 4's second episode, "The Lion and the Rose." Focusing on the wedding of Joffrey and Margery, it displays the hated young king at his characteristic worst, that is until he takes a sip of poisoned wine and dies in horrific fashion, with the blame quickly being placed on Tyrion while Sansa is escorted away from King's Landing.

Other key developments in the episode saw Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) make plans to solidify his standing as the Warden of the North by dispersing men to kill what remains of the Starks, while Bran's journey north of the Wall found a renewed purpose. Director Alex Graves earned high praise for his efforts, with the episode building up a sense of tension from minor moments leading up to its grand crescendo in Joffrey's demise.

7 "The Door" (Season 6, Episode 5)

IMDb Rating: 9.7/10

A heartbreaking episode, even by Game of Thrones' standards, "The Door" saw Bran discover the origin of the White Walkers but expose his position to the Night King (Vladimir Furdik), a mistake which saw the Three-Eyed Raven's lair attacked by wights. While Meera (Ellie Kendrick) and Bran made a narrow escape, the Three-Eyed Raven, the Children of the Forest, and Summer were slain, while Hodor (Kristian Nairn) sacrificed himself in order for Bran to escape, with the tragic origin of his speech impediment being revealed in the process.

Meanwhile, Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) declared his love for Daenerys while revealing he had greyscale, House Greyjoy found an unlikely and dangerous new ruler, while Jon Snow devised a plan to unite the north against the Boltons. While the episode received high praise for its quiet character moments littered throughout, it was undoubtedly the devastation of Hodor that made it such an enduring hit with viewers.

6 "The Mountain and the Viper" (Season 4, Episode 8)

IMDb Rating: 9.7/10

Season 4 of Game of Thrones marked one of the greatest seasons of any series in television history, with its eighth episode a heart-stopping highlight. In it, many winding plotlines were resolved in some way, with Ramsay being legitimized following his successful ploy to take Moat Cailin using Theon Greyjoy, the Hound and Arya arrive in the Vale where Clegane receives some inconvenient news, Littlefinger is interrogated about Lysa Arryn's (Kate Dickie) death, while Jorah is exiled from Mereen by order of Daenerys.

However, what "The Mountain and the Viper" will forever be remembered for is its titular duel to decide Tyrion's fate. With Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) hellbent on avenging his sister, the duel had a spiteful and deeply personal venom to it which saw a mounting tension ripple throughout the episode in the lead up to the fight. The final moments of the episode, with the Dornish Prince's violent death, are among the most horrific and squeamish in the entire series.