Bastion

One of the best XBL games ever is now one of the best PC games ever too.

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In Bastion, play as a survivor navigating a floating, post-apocalyptic world destroyed by the Calamity. Wield an arsenal of upgradeable weapons while listening to a reactive narrator who comments on your actions. Explore over 40 hand-painted environments, discover the secrets of the Calamity, and unlock New Game Plus and Score Attack modes after finishing the main story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 17,048 reviews

story4,997 positive mentions

grinding106 negative mentions

story
9,126 mentions
55 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of *Bastion* is a compelling narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players control "the kid" on a quest to restore the titular bastion after a catastrophic event known as the calamity. The unique storytelling is delivered through a dynamic narrator, whose engaging voice provides context and commentary on the player's actions, enhancing the immersive experience. While the plot is relatively straightforward, it touches on deeper themes of loss and redemption, making it both emotionally resonant and memorable for players.
- “Genuinely interesting story delivered in a very immersive and fluent game language; literally zero cut-scenes or jarring NPC monologues.”
- “The story was not that pretentious and it was actually well made with a beautiful lore, and the soundtrack...”
- “The narrator is the star of the show here; he both tells the story and injects little quips as you make your way through the beautiful and broken world.”
- “The main character is the typical blank canvas shell of a character, and his story is told to you amid battle through little more than one-liners from a narrator trying to sound cool and completely failing at it.”
- “The pacing is slow, and the story itself is just meh.”
- “The story is the least attractive feature of Bastion.”
music
7,197 mentions
68 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in *Bastion* has been universally praised for its exceptional quality and emotional depth, often described as one of the best soundtracks in gaming history. Composed by Darren Korb, the soundtrack blends various genres, including acoustic and folk elements, enhancing the game's atmosphere and storytelling. The narration, delivered by Logan Cunningham, complements the music beautifully, creating a captivating and immersive experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “The music is stellar and the combat is engaging.”
- “Every single song feels superb both in production and in the moment in the game where it plays.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful and the gameplay is fun and non-repetitive thanks to the different weapons you can bring along.”
- “I've read a lot of praise about the soundtrack, but I did not find it to be particularly compelling.”
- “The soundtrack, despite its varied instruments for each level, didn't manage to entice me with any memorable tunes.”
- “Some songs became quite grating after a while, actually.”
gameplay
5,162 mentions
58 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Bastion" is characterized by its engaging hack-and-slash mechanics, allowing players to utilize a variety of weapons and abilities that can be customized for different playstyles. While some reviewers noted that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, many praised its fluidity, responsiveness, and the unique integration of narration that enhances the overall experience. The game successfully combines a compelling narrative with solid gameplay, making it a memorable title in the indie gaming landscape.
- “Bastion is a beautifully crafted game in all areas, its gameplay is fun, the story is well-told, and the atmosphere is fantastic especially due to Rucks the narrator.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and keeps you on your toes, and has a pretty diverse system for such a cheap game.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and really enjoyable, the story is fleshed out nicely - the world's atmosphere will suck you in.”
- “If they had spent even half the amount of time on play-testing and polishing the mechanics as they did the aesthetics, then this game would be a gem.”
- “The gameplay can be very rough around the edges, pretty clunky and even buggy.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, which isn't necessarily bad, except that it carries no weight.”
graphics
3,483 mentions
70 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Bastion* are widely praised for their stunning hand-painted art style, which combines vibrant colors and intricate details to create a visually captivating experience. The game's aesthetic is complemented by a memorable soundtrack and engaging narration, enhancing the overall immersion and emotional impact of the story. While some players noted that the visuals can occasionally hinder gameplay clarity, the unique artistic direction remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The graphics are stunning and the music is iconic.”
- “The gorgeous watercolor aesthetics are perfect and unrivaled to this day.”
- “Bastion's hand-painted art style is a visual feast for the eyes.”
- “The visuals hindered the experience more than it helped. Enemies were hard to see and could hide behind something that is visible from your character's point of view, but not from the camera's point of view, meaning you'd get hit but wouldn't know from where.”
- “The art style feels oversaturated to the point that you don't even want to try to take it all in; you just want to go through these maps, see if anything becomes interesting at some point... reminds me of early 2010s cellphone games.”
- “The graphics are not great, but that does not really matter. The game looks good, and so I don't really dock the game for anything, graphics-wise.”
replayability
647 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Bastion offers a notable level of replayability, primarily through its New Game+ mode, multiple endings, and a variety of weapon combinations that encourage experimentation with different playstyles. While the main story is relatively short, players can engage with additional challenges and difficulty modifiers, enhancing the overall experience. However, some reviewers noted that the linear nature of the game may limit replay value for those less interested in replaying the same narrative.
- “The honey-voiced narrator and excellent story is theoretically the main draw here but this game also offers very tight and replayable gameplay that, unusually for a singleplayer game, very much encourages (without requiring) tweaking and testing and refining a playstyle, and offers more than enough replayability to make it worth it between the who knows where levels, training areas, challenge modifiers, and new game+.”
- “It has great replay value with multiple weapons and builds, multiple endings, and fantastic music.”
- “The game has a variety of melee and ranged weapons as well as secret skills that are like special moves that use tonics, the game mana bar, the game difficulty comes in the form of modifiers that buff your enemies give them more attack etc. a great brawler with good replayability.”
- “The game has 2 major endings and a new game plus, but even then it's not very replayable.”
- “The only real fault I could put against it would be minor nitpicks like the lack of sprint, or the lack of replayability.”
- “The only negative takeaway is that the story background isn't fully fleshed out and the replayability factor is pretty low.”
atmosphere
531 mentions
70 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of *Bastion* is widely praised for its stunning visuals, exceptional soundtrack, and engaging narration, which together create a deeply immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from melancholy to adventure, through its unique art style and dynamic music that complements the storytelling. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, making it a memorable and captivating journey for players.
- “Supergiant are great at establishing a story's tone and atmosphere, from the way the game plays, to the way it is presented in graphics and sound.”
- “The music is top-notch, from that very first scene, all the way to the end of the game, featuring lovely atmospheric pieces that range from adventurous to deeply melancholic.”
- “The atmosphere is gritty, western, and impressive as all get.”
- “The atmosphere this game creates alone is worth the money.”
- “The narrator’s voice is deep and brooding and when I first started playing it was somewhat disconcerting, largely due to the fact that the voice is slightly unnerving, and creates an atmosphere of uneasiness.”
- “While the game mechanics are solid, the thing that captivated me was the story, music, and atmosphere.”
emotional
384 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Bastion" is widely praised, with players expressing deep investment in its touching narrative and character arcs. The game's beautiful art style, haunting soundtrack, and exceptional narration enhance its emotional impact, often leading players to tears, especially during pivotal moments and the poignant ending. Overall, "Bastion" is celebrated as a powerful emotional journey that resonates long after the gameplay concludes.
- “This game is deep, emotional, and bittersweet, and flawless where it truly matters.”
- “It's a touching story that for some reason takes you for a ride on a feels train.”
- “Bastion is, without a doubt, the most emotional game I've ever played.”
- “It's really sad because interesting themes get overlooked for a quick profit, and someone decided to put a ton of effort into telling a boring story with an uninteresting setting; it's almost annoying.”
- “Horrible combat, the voice actor overacts, and the storyline is boring.”
humor
200 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily delivered through a witty and engaging narrator whose commentary adds a unique charm and often elicits laughter. Players appreciate the clever quips and real-time responses to their actions, which enhance the overall experience, although some feel the humor can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of funny narration, beautiful art, and engaging gameplay creates a delightful atmosphere that many find enjoyable and memorable.
- “The narration has funny little quips in there that can sometimes be helpful depending on the task of 'the kid.' I love the game so much, the soundtrack is really good, the art is lovely and there's always lore lurking around somewhere.”
- “The narrator's wry humor initially feels like a breeze of fresh air, but the novelty wears away quickly.”
- “The narrator commenting on your every move is an impressive, humorous touch.”
grinding
121 mentions
5 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it tedious and time-consuming, especially when pursuing achievements or upgrades, others appreciate the optional nature of grinding, noting that it is not necessary to complete the game. Many players feel that the combat can become repetitive, but the engaging story and atmosphere help mitigate the grind for some. Overall, the game offers a balance where grinding is present but not overwhelmingly required, allowing for a more streamlined experience for those who prefer to focus on the narrative.
- “Not too long, and not very grindy either - once you finish an area, it's cleared and you move on.”
- “No grinding necessary, unless you want to be sure to unlock everything before finishing the narrative.”
- “Bastion is an especially excellent example of what indie games are capable of, with its combination of colorful scenery, engaging storyline, and a measured pacing that results in little to no grinding for players.”
- “The weapon trials are not fun and very tedious.”
- “To upgrade them you need to spend a significant amount of time grinding.”
- “The game does feel a little sluggish and the restriction to not replay stages in story mode makes sense from a story perspective, but farming currency in just a limited number of areas is just not fun.”
optimization
62 mentions
42 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is generally well-received, with many players noting smooth performance even on lower-end hardware, such as the Steam Deck. However, some users experienced significant performance issues, including stuttering and control recognition problems, particularly on high-end systems. Despite its age, the game is praised for its solid optimization and lack of major bugs, making it enjoyable for most players.
- “If you have a Steam Deck, this is one of those 'perfect games' for it... runs smoothly and you can just play in bed or while relaxing.”
- “The game ran very smoothly and I didn't encounter any bugs or performance issues on the Steam Deck, and the game looks great.”
- “Brilliantly well optimized, I was capable of playing it without any hiccups on a Pentium 3.”
- “A 13-year-old action game that has performance issues on a 4080 and AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, lol.”
- “Albeit, the game suffers severe lag/stuttering which makes the game unplayable.”
- “Worst performance I've ever seen out of a game, from one of the least graphically heavy games I've ever played.”
character development
54 mentions
46 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and ability to make characters feel real, while others criticize it for being minimal or lacking nuance. Many players appreciate the unique and vibrant character designs, which enhance the overall aesthetic experience, but some feel that the narrative does not provide enough context for meaningful character growth. Overall, while the visuals and storytelling elements are often highlighted, the character development itself is seen as inconsistent, with varying levels of engagement from players.
- “Moreover, there is a rich story as well as superior character development that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
- “Easily one of the best written stories I have seen in a game for a long time, the depth of character development including design traits and backstory allows the player to have a wide variety of imagination to fill in the gaps of these characters' lives.”
- “The character development is interesting and by the end of the game they feel a little more 'real' than expected -- which is great.”
- “There isn't a lot of plot or character development at the beginning, so I was confused about what people were talking about when they praised this game's narrative.”
- “Not much character development, but you can't really expect that from a game with not enough game time.”
- “The story didn't appeal to me, nor did the character development.”
stability
29 mentions
31 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
66 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of bugs and glitches, while others encountered minor issues, particularly on Linux. Overall, many users noted that the game runs well on various platforms, with only occasional, non-disruptive glitches mentioned. Despite some complaints, a significant number of players found the game to be polished and stable, enhancing their overall enjoyment.
- “The only good thing I can note is that it runs great on Linux.”
- “To be clear: in the gameplay, I didn't encounter any bugs (yet), so it is not buggy in general.”
- “The game runs great, with barely a bug to see.”
- “Buggy sh*t, not even had debug testing.”
- “The gameplay can be very rough around the edges, pretty clunky and even buggy.”
- “Sadly I died a couple of times because of those glitches.”
monetization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the experience without the distraction of additional purchases. Reviewers appreciate the game's authenticity and the absence of excessive marketing, which contributes to a more genuine and satisfying gameplay experience.
- “This is what I believe to be a masterpiece of a game with no microtransactions. You take the role of a kid in a world that has already been destroyed, and along the way, you will meet characters and companions to enrich the story, as each character has their own personality and backstory.”
- “Bastion was somewhat of a risky buy; the advertising and marketing allude to a lukewarm game with little substance.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more to enjoy the full experience.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to fully enjoy the game without spending extra money.”