Banner Saga Trilogy

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 77 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
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The "Banner Saga Trilogy" is a single-player strategy RPG with gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and a captivating Norse-inspired story. With 48 characters from 4 races and 40 classes, your choices in combat and caravan management determine survival in this harsh, breaking world. Every decision matters, as victory, defeat, and character loss hinge on your strategic skills.

  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews
story16 positive mentions
  • The game features a compelling story that carries over through all three parts, with player decisions having significant consequences.
  • The hand-drawn art style and music create an immersive experience, reminiscent of classic animated films.
  • The game offers a challenging turn-based strategy experience, with the ability to adjust difficulty levels at any time.
  • Many players felt that their decisions had little impact on the story, leading to frustrating and seemingly random outcomes.
  • The game suffers from plot holes and underdeveloped characters, particularly in the portrayal of female characters.
  • The combat can be overly difficult and frustrating, with some players feeling that the mechanics are not well explained.
  • story33 mentions

    The game's story is a compelling, intricately woven narrative divided into three parts, where player decisions significantly impact the outcome and character dynamics. While the storytelling is praised for its depth and engaging writing, some players feel it can be somewhat scripted and slow-paced, with a mix of beautiful visuals enhancing the experience. Overall, the story is considered the standout feature, making it a worthwhile investment for those who appreciate rich narratives in gaming.

    • “The story is very good and not happy-go-lucky at all.”
    • “The story is the star of the game and the fighting is challenging enough to keep you pushing for one more fight before bed.”
    • “Like with Bioware titles, the characters, storytelling, and world building are very impressive, in a way that's not usually seen in modern games.”
    • “I love the kind of high-stakes RPG that makes your decisions matter in real ways for the story - and that's what this game was sold to me as, and that's where it fell flat.”
    • “Your decisions guide the story in various ways but it is still fairly scripted; the closest analogy I can think of right now is a Telltale game merged with a turn-based strategy.”
    • “So the story feels a little crammed in there, to an extent.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game series are widely praised for their beautiful hand-drawn artwork and compelling art style, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. While some users noted issues with fuzziness when zooming in and expressed a desire for more varied battles, the stunning visuals and rich storytelling remain standout features that enhance the gaming experience. Overall, the graphics are considered a major strength of the trilogy, elevating it beyond typical turn-based strategy games.

    • “Beautiful hand-drawn artwork throughout.”
    • “This game series is beautifully done in both aesthetic and gameplay.”
    • “Really great game, fun with an incredibly beautiful art style!”
    • “The graphics get fuzzy when you zoom in. I wish you could rotate the battlefield during fights, and I wish the fights were more varied.”
    • “Every battle is deliberate and unique, but the visuals leave much to be desired.”
    • “The graphics are not as polished as I expected, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • gameplay7 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its engaging RPG mechanics, strategic party management, and a blend of challenge and fun, enhanced by beautiful aesthetics and music. However, some users find it derivative and lacking originality. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience with a captivating story and addictive elements.

    • “The RPG and stats mechanics of the game during battles make sense, and it was a real joy mixing and matching members of the party to take into battle.”
    • “The story is interesting and keeps you engaged while the gameplay is challenging but fun.”
    • “$8 for 3 really fun, and punishing at times, strategy games, with gorgeous art and animation, amazing music, and great gameplay?”
    • “The gameplay is very derivative and unoriginal.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is consistently praised for being engaging, fantastic, and appropriately epic, enhancing the overall experience alongside the game's art and gameplay.

    • “The music is also very good, and kept me engaged the entire time.”
    • “The music is also fantastic and appropriately epic.”
    • “$8 for 3 really fun, and punishing at times, strategy games, with gorgeous art and animation, amazing music, and great gameplay?”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game runs well on the Switch, though some mention that the controls can be a bit finicky at times.

    • “I love that it runs great on the Switch, though sometimes the controls are a little finicky.”
    • “It runs great on the Switch, and all the games are fantastic.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding is not a feature in the game; instead, battles are intentional and varied, comprising only a portion of the overall experience, which also heavily emphasizes narrative and visual elements.

    • “Yet there's no grinding; every battle is deliberate and unique. Combat is really only about 40% of the game, with the rest being text, visuals, and struggles over how to proceed.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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