Bannermen

About

Bannermen is a single player and multiplayer real-time strategy game with fantasy, warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Pathos Interactive and was released on February 21, 2019. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

"Bannermen is a warfare-focused real-time strategy game with both single-player and multiplayer modes. In the single-player campaign, play as a fallen lord on a journey to regain power. In skirmish mode, test your skills against AI opponents. With a focus on unit control and map strategy, Bannermen offers a competitive experience for new and experienced RTS players alike."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+13

Skip User Reviews

51%

Audience ScoreBased on 158 reviews

story17 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RTS games like Warcraft 3 and Age of Empires.
The voice acting and music are generally well-received, adding to the overall atmosphere of the game.
The campaign has interesting story elements and a variety of missions that can be enjoyable for players.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues that prevent progress in certain missions.
There is a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics, with only one faction and limited unit variety, leading to repetitive gameplay.
The absence of a save feature during missions and poor AI behavior detracts from the overall experience, making it frustrating for players.

story
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The game's story, while inspired by popular fantasy themes, is often described as generic and lacking depth, with some players finding it engaging enough to keep them interested despite its flaws. Many reviews highlight issues such as repetitive mission objectives, poor AI, and unskippable cutscenes that detract from the overall experience. Although some players appreciate the voice acting and campaign length, the narrative is frequently criticized for its execution, including plot holes and uninspired writing.
- “The story is actually interesting, so that is why I am keeping it and playing it until the end.”
- “I can see where they are coming from, and they have some nice ideas. The story is nice if generic, but I wanted to get to the end of the tale, so it kept my interest.”
- “Very much an Age of Empires feel with better combat and storytelling.”
- “Don't expect old Blizzard levels of story writing or voice acting; it is not that.”
- “The campaign story is horribly generic, and maps get reused left and right.”
- “However, with a single faction, a small, uninspired roster, bland story and writing, and very few options in terms of tactics and strategy, it’s tough to recommend.”
gameplay
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
66%
16%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and lack of depth, often comparing it unfavorably to classic RTS titles like Warcraft and Age of Empires. While some appreciate the intuitive mechanics and nostalgic elements, others criticize the repetitive nature, limited unit variety, and numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers enjoyable moments but falls short in providing a robust and engaging gameplay experience.
- “In diplomacy is not an option, there are so many settings and condition options that you can play pretty much any way you want and the gameplay is highly enjoyable in my opinion.”
- “With a historical Age of Empires II/III feel, Bannermen brings amazing combat-driven RTS medieval gameplay that places you back in the old days of gaming.”
- “The product is a very unique game that has been inspired by the greatest RTS of all time (AoE, Warcraft, Starcraft, C&C and probably a lot more than I know of), but still distinguishes itself in gameplay, game mechanics, and flair.”
- “It has zero depth to its gameplay.”
- “On top of the very simple gameplay it still has quite a few bugs, very dumb AI, and lacks a lot of 'quality of life' options.”
- “Gameplay seems very mediocre with stiff unit animations.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
55%
12%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the decent, old-school art style and smooth performance, while others criticize them as dated and lacking in modern polish. Many comments highlight a balance between enjoyable visuals and noticeable glitches, with some users finding the graphics merely serviceable or reminiscent of older titles like Warcraft and Age of Empires. Overall, while there are positive notes about the artwork and textures, the consensus leans towards a need for improvement to meet contemporary standards.
- “Cool voice acting, neat graphics and music.”
- “I have no regrets about this purchase other than people don't fully appreciate it enough yet... this game has amazing graphics and amazing rendering; if you have a good graphics card, you will see it.”
- “The textures are nice without being over the top; the story seems pretty interesting and overall you get a very nice looking experience for your money with an art style that doesn't really set anyone up for displeasure.”
- “The graphics are not very impressive, even at the highest settings.”
- “This plays, and looks, more like an alpha that would hopefully get many updates improving gameplay and graphics, but sadly this appears to be the full version.”
- “90s graphics and 90s gameplay, lots of bugs and the game isn't very fun, very repetitive.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as memorable and excellent, while others find it average or uninspired, describing it as droning and lacking variety. Notably, the use of live instruments and a folk feel is appreciated by some, but overall, the music's impact on the gameplay experience varies significantly among players.
- “The game soundtrack was excellent, probably one of the most memorable things about this game honestly.”
- “Excellent sound and music.”
- “The music is excellent and really carries the game.”
- “The music follows the sound effects in being a constant, droning white noise of nothingness, unoriginal and uninspired, just depressing.”
- “I'd say 2 out of 5 stars; game mechanics were okay, hero was okay, music was okay... the single player campaign lacks any substance or soul, super predictable.”
- “As is the music.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players experienced only minor glitches and no crashes during gameplay, others reported more significant issues, including annoying bugs and game-breaking glitches. The stability seems to vary, with some users enjoying a smooth experience while others faced frequent interruptions and a lack of basic RTS features.
- “Graphics are okay, voice acting is bad, and there are glitches that break the game while trying to build.”
- “Annoying bugs, glitches, and crashes, along with ugly dated graphics, an imbecilic story, and a lack of basic RTS features.”
- “Cool game, but it's full of bugs and glitches.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's optimization has been criticized for being inconsistent, with issues such as stuttering edge scrolling and poorly optimized maps. Reviewers feel that the game requires additional polish and basic features to enhance performance, highlighting a significant gap between its potential and current execution.
- “The game needed 2-3 more months of polish and optimization, especially in areas like basic features (e.g., buildings in fog of war).”
- “They seem to not be optimized at all.”
- “This game has potential, which is unfortunately very apparent and makes its lackluster performance all the more frustrating.”
- “Certain maps have simply terrible optimization.”
- “The game needed 2-3 more months of polish, optimization, and in some areas even basic features (e.g., buildings in fog of war).”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter while others fall flat. Overall, players appreciate the engaging story and voice acting, which contribute to the game's charm despite its shortcomings in multiplayer support.
- “Overall, I enjoy this game; it's like Warcraft 3 but with a Game of Thrones inspiration. The story is interesting, and the voice acting has its moments that make me laugh.”
- “Some moments are good, while others have me laughing out loud. The humor adds a unique charm to the gameplay experience.”
- “I don't care for graphics, so my opinion on that doesn't matter, but the humor in the game definitely keeps me engaged during the single-player experience.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort to progress, likening it to needing a second life to manage the demands.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with players noting that the map creates a vibrant, immersive world rather than a confined space. The engaging environment contributes to a captivating experience from the very start.
- “The map atmosphere was amazing in my opinion; it didn't just feel like a box you were playing in, but a living world.”
- “Nice game with a great atmosphere right from the beginning.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the stylized illustrations and character designs, highlighting their appeal and contribution to the overall character development in the game.
- “I loved the stylized illustrations and the character designs.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a wholesome community that fosters positive interactions, though it is somewhat undermined by a perception of a lazy and self-centered development team.