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.

TechSpot is supported by its audience. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

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

By PC Authority on March 31, 2014 100

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

By Gaming Age on February 26, 2014 62

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 MacLife on January 29, 2014 90

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 reviewstudio.net on January 29, 2014 88

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 GameZone on January 25, 2014 70

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 PCGamer on January 23, 2014 82

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 ztgd.com on January 22, 2014 69

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 New Game Network on January 21, 2014 82

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 Stuff on January 20, 2014 80

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 GamingShogun on January 19, 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 PC Advisor on January 17, 2014 80

The Banner Saga is a remarkably beautiful and constantly surprising roleplaying adventure game, let down only slightly by repetitive and overly-slow turn-based battles.Tags:GamesBest prices todayRetailer Price Delivery Price comparision from, and...

By Polygon on January 15, 2014 80

There was enormous satisfaction in knowing that every little decision I made mattered, and that my choices as a player would not only be respected, but that I would be made to live with them. The Banner Saga made me fight for every inch of progress - and I loved it for that.

By Strategy Informer on January 15, 2014 75

If you don't mind a tough experience and a little frustration The Banner Saga is well worth picking up as it's a unique experience, and both story and animation justify a purchase. However the game's flaws mean it may annoy more than delight, and while...

By Tom's Guide on January 15, 2014 80

'The Banner Saga' offers a strategy/RPG that is simple, refined and more than a little somber — and quite beautiful in its...

Load More Reviews…