Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 450 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story Game Cover
Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story is a great-looking game, but the loop of crafting and unlocking skills is where it's at its finest.
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"Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story" is a charming crafting RPG set in the magical world of Bandle City. As a shy yordle from a knitting-obsessed island, you'll face a massive threat to your home and must grow in courage and skill to save it. The Digital Deluxe Edition offers exclusive poro outfits, backpack designs, pathway effects, and recipes for added customization .

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Epic Games
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 450 reviews
story64 positive mentions
grinding93 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and charming character designs that create an engaging atmosphere.
  • The crafting mechanics are unique and add depth to the gameplay, allowing for a variety of activities and quests.
  • The story is whimsical and fun, with humorous dialogue that appeals to both League of Legends fans and newcomers.
  • The game can become grindy and repetitive, requiring players to complete numerous fetch quests to progress.
  • There is a lack of clear instructions and guidance, leading to confusion about how to complete certain tasks and quests.
  • The XP system has diminishing returns, making it difficult to level up and unlock new skills as the game progresses.
  • story251 mentions

    The story in "Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story" is generally described as charming and whimsical, featuring cute characters and engaging dialogue that appeals to fans of the League of Legends universe. However, many players find the quest mechanics frustratingly linear and repetitive, often requiring extensive crafting and resource gathering that can detract from the overall enjoyment of the narrative. While some appreciate the cozy atmosphere and lighthearted themes, others criticize the story for being simplistic and the gameplay for lacking depth, leading to a mixed reception regarding its storytelling effectiveness.

    • “The story is a bit charming, and there's a lot of amusing little characters.”
    • “I love the quests, the storyline, the 'way' you progress, and there's just enough customization.”
    • “In conclusion, 'Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story' is a captivating and enjoyable game that offers a perfect blend of adventure, strategy, and storytelling.”
    • “The story is straight up bad, with caricature characters and long written dialogues every few minutes.”
    • “The main problem with that is that the quests themselves aren't that fun, forcing you to walk around the world and back just to talk to characters and stop from time to time to craft specific items.”
    • “It's basically a fetch quest with pretty environments simulator.”
  • gameplay110 mentions

    The gameplay in "Bandle Tale" offers a mix of crafting, exploration, and quirky social mechanics, which some players find engaging and enjoyable, while others criticize it for becoming repetitive and bogged down by tedious mechanics. Many users appreciate the crafting system and the charming characters, but express frustration with the linear progression, clunky controls, and lack of clear guidance on gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is seen as a cozy experience that may appeal to fans of crafting and item management, but it may not satisfy those looking for deeper gameplay or more varied mechanics.

    • “Bandle Tale was not what I initially expected it to be; however, I was very positively surprised by the gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The game mechanics are smooth and intuitive, making it accessible to players of all skill levels.”
    • “The cosy atmosphere is delightful and the gameplay is very well thought out.”
    • “The gameplay itself does turn a bit stale later on in the game, but definitely not to an amount where you end up grinding hours and hours to keep progressing.”
    • “The most important thing is the boring gameplay and game design decisions.”
    • “Controls are really clunky, the mechanic that you can only hold one thing in your hands is obnoxious and much of the game doesn't get explained properly if at all, this issue is present right from the very very start of it.”
  • grinding95 mentions

    The game's grinding aspect is a mixed bag, with many players noting it can become tedious and repetitive, particularly as the game progresses. While some enjoy the grind for crafting and resource gathering, others find it overwhelming and lacking direction, leading to frustration. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate grindy gameplay, but it may not appeal to everyone, especially those seeking a more relaxed or traditional farming sim experience.

    • “The mechanics are basically collecting and crafting; it is not grindy, and the day and night cycle are just there for cosmetics. You don't need to worry about time in this game at all, and there are no stamina issues either. You have a stamina bar that is just for running, but all other interactions are unlimited!”
    • “It's not a sit back and relax game; it's not just a crafting game (although there is crafting), and it's not farming.”
    • “This game starts off as rather fun and really pretty before quickly devolving into a needlessly grindy series of tasks.”
    • “Overall, the game can be enjoyable if you go in with the right mentality, but for me, the grindiness and lack of direction on how to achieve something that seems simple just don't make much sense.”
    • “It's fun for about 30 minutes when you arrive at Bandle University, but as soon as you unlock the other three places, it becomes completely insufferable as you have to jump from place to place doing the most mind-numbingly boring 'grinding' activities in order to move forward with your skills.”
  • graphics60 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and intricate details that create an immersive and cozy atmosphere. Players appreciate the whimsical aesthetics and adorable character designs, which enhance the overall experience, although some note that the visuals alone may not compensate for gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal, especially for fans of cozy and crafting genres.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that truly bring the world of Bandle City to life.”
    • “I found Bandle Tale to be an extremely whimsical, low-stakes cozy game, with beautiful pixel graphics and atmosphere, and those are the type of games I love.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, and the world is colorful, carefully constructed, and interesting to explore.”
    • “The gameplay felt repetitive and very unforgiving, and the story/visuals weren't really enough to keep me playing.”
    • “I usually have a hard time with pixel graphics games because I find it hard to read what's going on.”
    • “It's like they had a solid vision for the aesthetics and story, but didn't really put the same amount of planning into the actual gameplay.”
  • music34 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its cozy and enchanting qualities, complementing the adorable graphics and characters. Many players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, although some note a lack of variety in the tracks. Overall, the music significantly enhances the game's charm and ambiance, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.

    • “The setting and the characters are adorable, very cute art and really nice cozy music.”
    • “The animation is amazing and the music is also phenomenal.”
    • “The graphics and music are both top-tier, I'm continually awed by how stunning the graphics are.”
    • “It's filled with repetitive mechanics and sounds (is there really only one song in the soundtrack?!).”
    • “Music's alright.”
    • “I'm not that invested in the soundtrack of most games but this one definitely has great ambiance and fitting tracks for each game feature/task.”
  • humor21 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the witty dialogue and funny character interactions that evoke laughter. However, some feel it lacks the trademark surreal and dark humor of previous titles, leading to a less engaging experience for those familiar with it. Overall, while the humor is cute and enjoyable, it may not resonate with everyone, particularly those expecting a deeper comedic edge.

    • “The dialogue was well written, witty, and funny.”
    • “The worldbuilding was done very well, all the islands are so cute and the characters have hilarious dialogue.”
    • “The settings are adorable and the characters and their banter have made me laugh out loud more than once.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its cozy and wholesome narrative, appealing to fans of family-friendly experiences. While many players appreciate the warm vibes and charming exploration, some critique the story and dialogue as lacking depth, leading to mixed feelings about the overall emotional engagement. The game's pacing, particularly with time-sensitive tasks, can disrupt the intended relaxed atmosphere, creating a tension that contrasts with its otherwise adorable presentation.

    • “There are of course a lot of hints and references to League and their lore, but the core of this game is just a wholesome narrative exploration/gathering game.”
    • “I've had a great time and if you enjoy Lazy Bear's games, Riot Forge, or just a cozy, wholesome game, I'm sure this is one for you!”
    • “Downright adorable and wholesome.”
    • “The story felt flat and uninspired, lacking any emotional depth.”
    • “The dialogues were dull and failed to evoke any feelings.”
    • “The humor fell flat, making it hard to connect with the characters emotionally.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game lacks significant replayability, with users noting that it offers no endgame content and follows a linear progression that doesn't change upon replay. Many feel that the experience is limited to a single playthrough, as the same story and quests must be completed each time, diminishing its lasting appeal despite its appealing aesthetics and sound design.

    • “There is 0 end game or replayability in this game.”
    • “So it's not replayable, as it's the same story, same course of action, same progression.”
    • “Beyond the cute aesthetics, decent sound design, and nods to other titles in the 'LOL universe,' I don't think this title has much lasting power, as is, and little to no replay value.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of Bandle Tale is widely praised for its whimsical and cozy nature, enhanced by beautiful pixel graphics and smooth gameplay mechanics. Reviewers highlight the engaging story and relaxing ambiance, making it a delightful experience for fans of low-stakes games.

    • “I found Bandle Tale to be an extremely whimsical, low-stakes cozy game, with beautiful pixel graphics and atmosphere, and those are the types of games I love.”
    • “The atmosphere is great, the story is engaging, and the mechanics are smooth.”
    • “Relaxing atmosphere, beautiful pixel art, and animations.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in this game is mixed; while some players appreciate the depth and enjoy the plot, others feel it lacks the extensive lore and development found in titles like League of Legends. Overall, it offers a variety of experiences, including character growth, but may not satisfy those seeking rich narrative depth.

    • “I enjoyed the plot and the character development.”
    • “If you expect anything related to League of Legends lore or extensive character development, this game is not for you.”
    • “This game offered a lot of different things - character development, exploration, family, crafting, and partying!”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is primarily based on skin purchases, as it is free to play, which may deter some players from spending due to perceived high prices. Notably, there are no microtransactions or in-game store, focusing the monetization on cosmetic items only.

    • “No microtransactions, no in-game store.”
    • “The game respects players by not including any pay-to-win mechanics.”
    • “All content is accessible without spending extra money, which is refreshing.”
    • “I understand that since League of Legends is a free-to-play game, some players might balk at the prices of skin purchases.”
    • “There are no microtransactions or in-game store.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

30hMedian play time
218hAverage play time
20-515hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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