The Banner Saga

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 34 expert reviews

Excellent:

14
Good:

12
Average:

5
Bad:

3

Pros:

Gorgeous art and music.
Challenging combat.
Individual decisions and their far-reaching. consequences keep you interested in the plot

Cons:

Convoluted narrative web leads to a messy conclusion.
Some weak explanation.

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Last revision on June 13, 2017

Reviewers Liked

Gorgeous art and music
Challenging combat
Individual decisions and their far-reaching. consequences keep you interested in the plot
Fun turn-based battles
Effectively conveys the thanklessness of leadership in a troubled time
Alette is a stand-out character
Intriguing story

Reviewers Didn't Like

Convoluted narrative web leads to a messy conclusion
Some weak explanation
Very linear, with little opportunity to explore
Not many interactions
Little animation, little voicework
The disparity between decisions and their consequences isn't always rewarding

Expert reviews and ratings

100

Great art, stellar music, and strong combat and narrative choices. Get Banner Saga...

By PC Authority on March 31, 2014

CommentThis being the first Kickstarted game I'll ever review, there's a bracing nakedness in the lack of barriers between the audience and artist which casts an air of intimacy over the whole critique. In no way do I feel that this separates it from...

By Gaming Age on February 26, 2014

Even when it overreaches, The Banner Saga is engrossing and captivating, spinning gorgeous art and simple mechanics together into a tense web. The end of the world is rarely this poignant or bittersweet.

By MacLife on January 29, 2014

Stoic's Banner Saga has a lot to offer if you are in mood for games that slap you once in a while. It has a beautiful art-style, an amazing soundtrack, and a captivating, yet unforgiving world to offer. However, all of this is bogged down by a great deal...

By reviewstudio.net on January 29, 2014

A man down on his luck will do anything for survival. I learned that the hard way when I forcefully took livestock from an innocent farmer unwilling to trade it to me. Did I feel good about it? Absolutely not, but when you've got an entire clan looking...

By GameZone on January 25, 2014

These non-playable sequences give you time to reflect on events, on decisions you've made and allies you've lost, while conveying both the passage of time and the sense of journey in a more convincing manner than almost any other game. Perhaps that's Stoic's most remarkable feat of all: this saga may be over within a dozen or so hours, yet it still has the weight and feel of an epic.

By PCGamer on January 23, 2014

Born from a successful Kickstarter campaign, The Banner Saga is a turn-based strategy game set in a fantasy realm which draws heavily on Norse culture. Developed by Stoic and the first of three planned titles, it is set in a time where there are no Gods...

By ztgd.com on January 22, 2014

You can nitpick The Banner Saga to death, but despite its flaws the game is a joy to play. People who are looking for a fantasy world with weight and depth will fall in love with Stoic's tale of man and varl pushed to the brink. This studios first...

By New Game Network on January 21, 2014

Despite a handful of criticisms, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Banner Saga to anyone with an interest in tactical RPGs, or even those who appreciate a game with a unique and beautiful presentational style. The story, music, characters and world...

By Stuff on January 20, 2014

100

The only thing we like better than seeing the little guy make their funding through Kickstarter is seeing them then turn out a product that is as good as hoped for, maybe even better. The Banner Saga was a project with a lot of heart and some smart...

By GamingShogun on January 19, 2014

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