I agree and disagree.

The vast majority of mechanics have been done before, though I would argue this game makes use of those mechanics better than most. Not dissimilar to Horizon: Zero Dawn, cliches are used because, when they are good, they work.

The true appeal of GoT is not inventiveness, but in reward. Take The Witcher 3, for example. At its core, the game isn’t all that special. The combat is serviceable, the maps are large and somewhat bloated, most missions consist of “go here and kill x enemies”, but people praise it. The story is not the only draw, plenty of games with brilliant stories are nowhere near as successful (eg The Longest Journey).

The real draw is that you are always progressing in a meaningful way. You’re always getting vanity gear, charm slots, weapons, armor, you are always rewarded for just exploring. What’s more, your approach to combat is limited only by imagination. You can stealth or cold approach. You can use ninja tools or go straight swordplay.

GoT is gorgeous not for any new reason, it takes what we know and puts them together well. It utilizes a shockingly underutilized setting, combines it with a system that is known and liked by the community, and sets it over a narrative that is compelling enough to drive you forward. I guarantee you I would love Assassin’s creed if the narrative didn’t try to force the stupid Templar stuff, and if progression wasn’t so painfully slow. Play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and count the number of times you encounter an enemy that takes you longer than 5 minutes to kill. In GoT you can kill any enemy that isn’t a boss in under 2 seconds with enough skill.

In other words, the sum is greater than its parts.