The world of Game of Thrones has no shortage of characters whose stories ended with major questions still hanging over them, and an upcoming release is exploring one from the earliest season of Game of Thrones. Some were killed before their potential could be explored, while others simply disappeared into the sprawling conflicts that eventually consumed Westeros. Even among the Stark family, several characters never received quite as much attention as their importance to the story might have suggested.
One of the more unusual examples is Benjen Stark, the youngest brother of Ned Stark and a longtime member of the Night’s Watch. Benjen’s position gave him a connection to one of the most mysterious corners of Game of Thrones, particularly once he disappeared beyond the Wall while investigating threats in the far north. His eventual fate was revealed in the show, not the novel canon, but his character remained comparatively unexplored compared to the rest of the Stark family.
Benjen Stark Returns to the Spotlight in Game of Thrones: The Unlikely Heir
- The Unlikely Heir Starts on October 12
That is about to change in a new Game of Thrones: Legends storyline called Kingsroad: The Unlikely Heir, which will put Benjen Stark in the spotlight as a new Legendary Champion. According to the game’s official October 2026 event calendar, The Unlikely Heir runs from October 12 through November 9, with players able to progress through Kingsroad tiers by completing daily and weekly quests. The accompanying Goldroad Pass will include Champion Shards for Legendary Benjen Stark (although those shards are exclusive to the paid pass).
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
The choice is fun because many fans may have largely forgotten about him, as Benjen is largely “removed” from the Stark Family Tree in the broader Game of Thrones roster. In the novels, his disappearance remains unexplained, but the show eventually merged his storyline with a half-undead NPC known as Coldhands from the novels. He survived to make the final sacrifice for Jon Snow later, but there was still relatively little exploration of the character or his life beyond the Night’s Watch.
As is usually the case with this Game of Thrones mobile game, Benjen’s arrival comes with several other major events throughout October. Battle of the Bastards begins on October 8, followed by House of the Dragon on October 15, Battle of Blackwater Bay on October 22, and Assault on Rook’s Rest on October 29. The month will also introduce new summons centered on the Hightowers and Aerion Targaryen (the latter arriving as part of The Brightflame).
Still, The Unlikely Heir gives October a particularly Stark-heavy hook, especially with Benjen finally getting a more prominent role. The Kingsroad season also fits neatly into the character’s history, given how closely Benjen’s story is tied to the Night’s Watch and the dangers beyond the Wall. For a character who spent much of Game of Thrones either missing or operating at the edge of the main story, Benjen Stark gets a little spotlight.
