Battle Brothers

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 12,532 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Battle Brothers Game Cover
Battle Brothers is a solid, exhilarating experience that might turn away some due to its difficulty, but attract others because of its challenge.
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"Battle Brothers" is a turn-based tactical RPG set in a gritty, medieval fantasy world. As the leader of a mercenary company, you must manage your crew, take on contracts, and engage in strategic battles in a procedurally generated open world campaign. The game offers a Supporter Edition, which includes a digital art and lore book and a legendary item with a unique background story.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Gog Com
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,532 reviews
gameplay513 positive mentions
grinding251 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,601 mentions

    The gameplay of "Battle Brothers" is characterized by its deep tactical combat and strategic management of a mercenary company, offering a blend of engaging mechanics and challenging scenarios. Players appreciate the game's complexity, with a steep learning curve that rewards careful planning and understanding of various mechanics, such as fatigue and morale. However, the reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating moments, and some players feel that the lack of clear tutorials and repetitive gameplay may detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many find the gameplay addictive and rewarding, particularly for fans of tactical RPGs.

    • “Very engaging action/tactical RPG about managing a mercenary company, where losing is fun, and stories around your band of warriors form naturally through gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay revolves around strategic combat, resource management, and making critical decisions that affect your team's survival and success.”
    • “The gameplay is deep and extremely challenging.”
    • “Yeah, the game has 99 things the developer did right, but this one thing makes the game a chore to play, and that's why I can't recommend it to anybody who hates stupid rigged RNG mechanics like me.”
    • “While 'Battle Brothers' has a lot of potential with its compelling concept and world design, the excessive difficulty and repetitive gameplay overshadow these strengths.”
    • “The core gameplay is repetitive and unsatisfying.”
  • story1,495 mentions

    The story aspect of "Battle Brothers" is largely procedural and player-driven, with minimal overarching narrative or structured quests. Players create their own stories through the experiences of their mercenary company, as each character has unique backstories and traits that can influence gameplay. However, many reviews highlight the repetitiveness of missions, which often boil down to similar tasks like escorting caravans or hunting down enemies, leading to a grind that can detract from the overall experience. While the writing for quests and character interactions is praised, the lack of a cohesive plot or significant story progression leaves some players wanting more depth and variety in the narrative.

    • “What I love about this game is that you start with a kind of blank sheet and the story of your recruits will write itself along the numerous encounters you will face.”
    • “The game's depth lies in its complex interactions and the consequences of player choices, with the story evolving based on the strategic decisions made throughout the campaign.”
    • “You can engage with the 'story' as much or as little as you want, but ultimately it's hard to escape the feel of the world.”
    • “The missions lack variety and quickly become repetitive, making progression feel like a tedious grind.”
    • “There is no real, particular story to Battle Brothers; there is no end-goal, per se.”
    • “The quests are usually to go kill something or patrol an area, but occasionally they have you attack another town and destroy some of their buildings.”
  • graphics979 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players initially put off by the simplistic, minimalistic art style that features torso-only character models and limited animations. However, as players engage with the game, they often find that the graphics grow on them, appreciating the unique charm and functionality that effectively conveys gameplay information. Overall, while the visuals may not match modern AAA standards, they complement the game's immersive atmosphere and deep mechanics, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of tactical RPGs.

    • “The game's atmosphere and art style are commendable, creating a setting that is both immersive and appealing.”
    • “The graphics, while simple, are excellent and paired with the fantastic audio, painting a visceral image of violence and grit that no other title can match.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, gritty, and perfect for the setting, and it effectively conveys the game's themes and mechanics.”
    • “The graphics are pretty terrible, but hiding under that is an excellent game!”
    • “The low-res graphics really hurt, especially in the early game where all your units look alike. There's no good way to differentiate who's a tank vs. DPS vs. cannon fodder except by changing the name of your units, but the names don't pop up in every view.”
    • “The graphics may look simplistic, but this is a work of love.”
  • replayability545 mentions

    The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, largely due to its procedural generation of maps, diverse character builds, and multiple starting scenarios, which ensure that no two playthroughs are the same. Players appreciate the depth added by an active modding community and various DLCs, further enhancing the game's longevity and replay value. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitive elements, the overall consensus is that the game offers an engaging and endlessly replayable experience.

    • “There is also like 12 different types of starting parties to pick from, and 4 or 5 end game events, so replayability is near infinite.”
    • “This incredible game, despite playing for hours, the different events I encountered in every playthrough prove the level of replayability.”
    • “The countless scenarios, origins for the company, and styles of play make this game highly replayable.”
    • “The replayability of this game feels endless.”
    • “The game is a huge grind, lacking in adventuring options, progression options and replay value.”
    • “While this game has many positives to its name - the turn-based system, the action point costs, it suffers one major flaw in a game designed around replayability - it's so boring to restart.”
  • music483 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players praising the soundtrack as one of the best in gaming. While some reviews note a lack of variety and potential repetitiveness over extended play, the majority highlight the immersive and evocative nature of the compositions, which effectively complement the game's medieval fantasy setting. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “The music is incredible and it has a very unique look that grew on me.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing and drags you into the beautifully designed atmospheric medieval world and lets you create your own story with your brothers.”
    • “The music composed in this game perfectly complements the setting and I just can not get the soundtrack out of my head.”
    • “The music is pathetic, the graphics are so two-dimensional and uninteresting that it's insulting, and the missions are repetitive (literally the same text).”
    • “I found the game a bit repetitive and this wasn’t helped by the lack of music and sound variety.”
    • “The music gets a bit repetitive after a few dozen hours, but no matter - it's still good, and you can always turn it off.”
  • grinding256 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that missions lack variety and often devolve into monotonous tasks. While some find enjoyment in the grind and appreciate the strategic elements, others feel that the excessive reliance on grinding detracts from the overall experience, making progression feel frustrating and unfulfilling. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy deep, tactical gameplay but may alienate players who prefer a more dynamic and less grind-heavy experience.

    • “Easy to play in the background; the management mechanics aren't tedious, but you feel steady progress with each mission and battle.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The missions lack variety and quickly become repetitive, making progression feel like a tedious grind.”
    • “Whatever enjoyment the game offers is outweighed by the long, tedious stretches of grinding broken up by frustrating RNG.”
    • “However -- it's just too unforgiving, too grindy, too punishing, too stingy with rewards to keep on playing.”
  • atmosphere164 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and gritty medieval aesthetic, enhanced by detailed pixel art, evocative sound design, and a compelling soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the successful blend of dark themes with humor, creating a captivating environment that draws players into the harsh realities of mercenary life. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its strategic depth and replayability.

    • “The game's atmosphere and art style are commendable, creating a setting that is both immersive and appealing.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredible; I once fought a hunting pack of werewolves in the middle of a forest during the night with fog, and the music made it even more chilling.”
    • “The gorgeous art design and a very fitting soundtrack paint a gritty atmosphere befitting a medieval low-fantasy setting perfectly.”
    • “The art style clashes heavily with the grim, serious atmosphere that they're trying to create.”
    • “Just to give a comparison regarding its aesthetics and atmosphere: Pillars of Eternity tries to achieve immersion through sheer walls of text, narrating to the gamer of a world he doesn't actually get to see or live in.”
    • “The atmosphere is down-to-earth and relatively dark.”
  • humor128 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark, gritty comedy and absurdity, often highlighting the ridiculousness of tactical failures and the grim realities of mercenary life. Players appreciate the witty writing and humorous events that provide levity amidst the game's challenging mechanics, with many finding the dialogue and character backstories both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the humor is described as a key element that enhances the experience, making the game's darker themes more palatable and enjoyable.

    • “This indie gem combines tactical combat with a management sim, where every decision you make can (and will) lead to the hilarious demise of your entire band.”
    • “The writing is deft at weaving in just enough regular gallows humor and mundane horror to gradually dull the player into the same sense of sardonic nihilism as their captain stand-in.”
    • “The atmosphere of Battle Brothers is dark and gritty, but with a perfect measure of dry, tongue-in-cheek humor to break up the sadness.”
    • “It's really too bad I was kind of enjoying it, but if you're an adult, it just isn't going to be fun for long wading through all the obscene tales of screwing dead horses, etc. Not funny.”
    • “It's just not funny.”
    • “Not funny, ha ha, but funny, ah ha.”
  • emotional63 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players expressing feelings of heartbreak and attachment to their characters, often leading to tears when they face loss. The challenging gameplay fosters a deep investment in the mercenaries, making victories feel rewarding and defeats devastating, akin to a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its narrative and character dynamics, making it a memorable experience for those willing to engage with its brutal mechanics.

    • “Battle Brothers is a touching game about found family starting a contract-based, freelance worker's co-op in Germany's beautiful countryside.”
    • “It can be brutal even on the lowest settings, and if you invest emotionally in any of your little mercs, you're going to get your heart broken.”
    • “Watching your best friends and favorite soldiers die because of a misstep or a lucky goblin arrow is heart-wrenching and in a nutshell everything I love about this game.”
  • stability37 mentions

    The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent glitches, freezes, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in critical moments. While some players have experienced a relatively bug-free experience, others describe it as "unplayably buggy" and in need of significant improvements. Overall, the game shows potential for stability with ongoing updates, but many players recommend waiting for further patches before diving in.

    • “And increasing the fun is the fact this is a finished, bug-free game with bags of content, and given the sheer enormity of random map seeds, every game is different in so many ways.”
    • “Great little indie game, ticks all the right boxes for me. It has an overarching structure with a lot of randomness built in and has turn-based combat, allowing you to think through your battle strategy while sipping your coffee. I personally like the artwork, and the overall game is quite polished. The sound effects are also nice; it's never not satisfying connecting a sword strike. It's bug-free as far as I know; I haven't encountered one in almost 100 hours.”
    • “Game is very stable and bug-free.”
    • “On top of that, there are graphic texture glitches happening every now and then.”
    • “If you play where you cannot save (ironman), and this game glitches for some reason... you just lost your entire campaign.”
    • “Have to refight every fight because the game freezes up and becomes unable to progress/unresponsive.”
  • character development37 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and customization options, allowing players to experiment with various stats and abilities. While some reviews note that the character development can feel simplistic or rigid due to procedural elements, many appreciate the diverse scenarios and the impact of choices on mercenary growth. Overall, the game strikes a balance between strategic management and character progression, making it engaging for fans of tactical RPGs.

    • “The character development is easy to understand and very customizable. The units start with base stats and proficiencies that you will want to pay attention to; those little stars next to stats mean they will level up faster than others, so pay attention to those!”
    • “Overall, character development is in-depth, and learning what works and what doesn't will take a lot of experimenting for the new player.”
    • “All that said, the cruxes of a tactics RPG like this are still character development and combat, both of which Battle Brothers does commendably.”
    • “With all the potential for character development and leveling up, it doesn't matter because everybody dies!”
    • “Another issue some may find with the game is that there is scarcely any character development, other than the RPG mechanics of skilling up stats and obtaining abilities.”
    • “Well, I consider that last part, the character development, the worst part of the game.”
  • optimization31 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report a smooth experience with few technical issues, others encounter significant performance problems such as stuttering, lag, and audio glitches. Some users have noted that despite the game running well on high-end machines, there are still areas needing improvement, particularly in saving and quality of life features. Frequent patches are being released, indicating the developers are actively working to address these issues.

    • “The game runs smoothly with few technical issues reported, providing a stable and reliable gaming experience.”
    • “Game seems really polished and runs smoothly.”
    • “A few performance bugs even running on a high-power machine, but they are patching almost daily at the moment, so expect it to settle down quickly.”
    • “In a few words, it's medieval XCOM but without time-consuming cinematics and badly optimized.”
    • “Keeps lagging and getting bad audio and graphics stuttering.”
    • “Maybe instead of creating new DLCs, the company should fix the stuttering and freeze save issues that hundreds of players have!”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game features microtransactions and in-game purchases, which some players view as intrusive, particularly due to forced advertisements for other products. While there are mixed opinions on the monetization strategy, many players appreciate that the developers have not resorted to blatant cash grabs and have continued to support and develop the game, despite some feeling that recent changes have detracted from its original appeal.

    • “Microtransactions are well-balanced and do not feel intrusive.”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model with no pressure to spend.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no in-game purchases, allowing for a pure gaming experience.”
    • “Forced advertisements in-game for their other products.”
    • “Used to be a great game, but just like any great game, the developer promptly drove the IP into the ground with poorly thought out cash grabs and core changes...”
    • “This game was a cash grab with a ridiculous support bundle that is not worth it and the support for this game was made out to be more than it was.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Battle Brothers

Play time

90hMedian play time
178hAverage play time
20-267hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 143 analyzed playthroughs

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