Broken Banners

About

Broken Banners is a single player casual strategy game. It was developed by Eirik Wiklund and was released on March 31, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Broken Banners" is a narrative-driven, open-world simulation game set in a medieval fantasy world. Players take on the role of a mercenary leader, managing their band of warriors and navigating political alliances while completing missions and uncovering the truth behind a war-torn kingdom. The game features tactical combat, strategic resource management, and a rich, dynamic world with meaningful choices and consequences.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 84 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and unique mix of tower defense and auto battler mechanics, providing an engaging gameplay experience.
Graphics and sound design are well-executed, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere.
The variety of towers and the strategic depth of tower placement and combinations keep the gameplay interesting and challenging.

The game heavily relies on RNG for tower availability and upgrades, which can lead to frustrating experiences and a lack of control over gameplay outcomes.
There is no meta progression or carry-over rewards between levels, making the gameplay feel repetitive and limiting long-term engagement.
Some design choices, such as the upgrade system and limited tower slots, create significant balance issues that detract from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The gameplay combines tower defense and auto battler mechanics, creating an engaging experience centered around strategic tower combinations and resource management. While the randomization of tower draws can be frustrating, it adds a layer of risk and reward that keeps the gameplay loop exciting, albeit best enjoyed in short bursts. Some players note balance issues, particularly regarding attack speed versus damage, but the overall mechanics offer potential for future enhancements.
- “The challenge and fun of it comes from figuring out what tower combos are the best, learning the meta mechanics (cash management, wave makeups, etc.), and trying to craft a winning build from the random towers you're dealt.”
- “The added mechanics from auto battlers make it feel very exciting!”
- “Though the deck building mechanic can be a little infuriating from time to time as it doesn't always give you the towers you want or those that work with your strategy, it gives the developers plenty of room to add new mechanics to give you more control over the draw in the future.”
- “In tower defense games, usually attack speed is more of a premium over other stats because overkill damage is pointless unless there is a mechanic that states otherwise.”
- “Yes, it does make gameplay random, and it can be a factor in your success... but what makes this game so worthwhile is the fact that it's that constant risk/reward every round... do I save my money to add another tower, or do I spend it trying to get the towers I want?”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their fantastic quality and unique art style, with many noting the detailed visuals and effective sound design. While some reviews mention simplistic elements, they still find the graphics appealing and fitting for the game's mechanics. However, a few critiques highlight that poor design decisions can detract from the overall visual experience.
- “The graphics are fantastic, the sound effects and music are good, and though there are possibly some balance issues, it's definitely worth the price of admission.”
- “The artwork is detailed and unique, which is reflected in the game's design. Though it appears as a classic tower defense game, the developers have added the lovely mechanic of deck building.”
- “The art style is nice, and the sounds are not too annoying. There are some great roguelite concepts implemented to keep the rounds flowing, and the game is affordable.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game lacks any significant story or lore, leaving players wanting more depth and context. Adding narrative elements such as character backgrounds, mission details, and side quests could enhance the overall experience and engagement.
- “There is no story or lore at all.”
- “Meta progression with usable spells and heroes, as well as more 'identity' (adding some text/lore to each monster, mission, and some additional side quests) would really make this one more interesting.”
- “There is no story or lore at all.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers note that the game's atmosphere is meticulously crafted, yet some find it lacking in depth or substance, leading to a sense of emptiness despite the evident effort put into its design.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a world that feels both alive and haunting.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that keeps you engaged and on edge throughout the game.”
- “The game's atmosphere is a perfect blend of tension and beauty, making every moment feel significant.”
- “For example, there is no depth to the atmosphere, which is odd given the amount of effort that went into it.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the immersive qualities one would expect.”
- “Despite the visual effort, the atmosphere fails to engage or evoke any real emotion.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “It is very tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and monotonous.”
- “I find the grinding to be a frustrating and repetitive experience.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music and sound effects in the game are generally well-received, complementing the fantastic graphics and enhancing the overall experience, making it a worthwhile purchase despite some potential balance issues.
- “The graphics are fantastic, the sound effects and music are good, and though there are possibly some balance issues, it's definitely worth the price of admission.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players feel that while the permanent item buffs gained every five turns contribute slightly to the game's replayability, they do not significantly enhance the overall experience, leaving some users wanting more in terms of replay value.
- “The permanent item buffs you gain every 5 turns add only a bit to the replayability value, but not enough for me.”