Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

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Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a sandbox action-RPG set in the medieval world of Calradia. The game features a vast open world to explore, complex battle systems with strategic options, and a focus on player choice and character development. Players can build their own kingdoms, engage in large-scale battles, and form alliances to conquer territories.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 173,462 reviews

gameplay4,020 positive mentions

story1,562 negative mentions

gameplay
14,018 mentions
29 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the core mechanics and combat system, which build upon the beloved elements of its predecessor, "Warband." While the graphics and some gameplay features have been improved, several mechanics feel unfinished or underwhelming, leading to repetitive gameplay and a lack of depth in areas such as diplomacy and kingdom management. Overall, the game offers an engaging experience, especially in battles, but many players feel it still requires significant updates and refinements to reach its full potential.
- “Great game with amazing gameplay, could use an expansion or two of the map to continue my interest but otherwise great!”
- “From its intricate battle mechanics to its deep role-playing elements, this game offers an unparalleled experience for fans of the genre.”
- “The gameplay is so immersive that it's hard to get bored, even after putting in 100 hours.”
- “It's a shame to say, but this game is still bare bones, it has bugs that haven't been fixed for a long time and it doesn't get actual updates that add more gameplay, just small bug fixes the size of 1040kb every time.”
- “The gameplay loop becomes very much a loop, and there is little to no diplomacy present in a game where royalty and lordship is the name of the game.”
- “The game is still like the original, better in detail and gameplay, but it lacks a lot of the polish to some mechanics, but it could be so much better.”
story
13,238 mentions
10 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story in "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being shallow and repetitive. The main questline, which involves tracking down nobles and completing fetch quests, is often described as tedious and lacking depth, leading to frustration among players. While some appreciate the sandbox nature of the game that allows for personal storytelling, others feel that the overall narrative and quest variety need significant improvement to enhance the gaming experience.
- “Dozens of different stories that have never been repeated, the same dozens of born children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, hundreds of captured and lost lands, executed lords, murdered relatives, revenge for murdered relatives, the death of your hero or the end of your character's story high on a mountain with elders... all this and much more that I have not listed awaits you in this fascinating and interesting game, and will forever remain in my memory, absolutely every fragment.”
- “Creating our character and writing a personal story for him adds a satisfying depth to the experience.”
- “The game allows you to create your own story and playstyle, giving you the freedom to do whatever you want.”
- “The story is laughable; there's literally no incentive to do the main quest, and the plot doesn't do anything new or innovative.”
- “The main quest is a broken mess; don't bother with it.”
- “The quests are repetitive and predictable; the game's balance and bugs currently are not a huge issue as they are fixing them at a reasonable rate, however there are some core mechanics and design choices that make me feel as if it might eventually stray in a wrong direction.”
graphics
11,930 mentions
29 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" have received significant praise for their improvement over its predecessor, "Warband," with many reviewers noting the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and enhanced character models. However, some players express disappointment, feeling that despite the graphical upgrades, the game lacks substantial new content and features, often describing it as a graphical refresh of "Warband" rather than a true sequel. Additionally, performance issues and graphical glitches have been reported, particularly during large battles, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience.
- “The graphics are beautiful, with stunning environments, detailed character models, and gorgeous lighting and particle effects that bring the medieval world to life.”
- “The game is beautiful aesthetically, the battles even more exciting, engaging, and are just a treat to play on.”
- “The graphics have been significantly upgraded and it's a bit easier to track quests/access info in the encyclopedia, plus the new units and factions are great.”
- “This feels a lot like a $65 graphical refresh of Warband, with very few new mechanics.”
- “Maybe I'm just getting old, but this feels like a downgrade compared to previous M&B titles, in every aspect except the graphics.”
- “After 8 years of development, what you essentially get is a 12-year-old game with decent graphics.”
stability
6,378 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The stability of "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reviews highlighting its buggy nature and frequent crashes. While some users report enjoying the game despite these issues, noting that it is still in early access and subject to ongoing updates, others express frustration over game-breaking glitches and performance problems that hinder gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that while the game shows great potential, it remains a rough and unstable experience that may not be suitable for those averse to technical issues.
- “Great game, nice graphics, awesome battles, intelligent AI, no glitches, no crashing.”
- “The graphics are updated, performance is good, it's not buggy, the world map is gorgeous, and there are so many little improvements over Warband it's impossible to count them all.”
- “The game is gorgeous and runs great with a much improved physics engine over Warband.”
- “Half baked game full of bugs and glitches with a terrible AI that feels like the game is in permanent beta stage.”
- “I loved Warband and I kept on coming back to this hoping it would be good but unfortunately it's so buggy, incomplete, and filled with unfun mechanics that it's unplayable.”
- “The game constantly freezes and crashes my PC, I have over thrice the RAM recommended in the settings, and my PC is pretty potent; I never had this problem on any game I've ever played with this PC.”
optimization
4,306 mentions
16 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" has received mixed reviews from players. While some users report significant improvements in performance and stability over time, particularly in battles with large troop counts, many others continue to experience severe stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, especially during sieges and large-scale battles. Overall, the game is seen as needing further optimization and bug fixes, with many players recommending waiting for more updates before fully engaging with the game.
- “This game made great improvements to gameplay, optimization, and storytelling in comparison to the previous titles.”
- “Performance optimization coding master-class right here, fellas!”
- “Amazing mechanics and so much freedom given to the player and is very well optimized to be able to handle 1000 individual troops on a battlefield at once.”
- “However, the performance issues really detract from the game, and in my experience the game consistently crashes when I play any campaign long enough.”
- “Unfortunately, I would say it's poorly optimized.”
- “The performance is absolutely shit for me and it is basically unplayable even though I fulfill all the specs.”
grinding
2,200 mentions
0 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the early game can be engaging, it quickly devolves into a tedious and repetitive grind, especially in the late game. Players often express frustration with the slow progression of skills, the lack of meaningful quests, and the overwhelming need to grind for resources and renown, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some players find the grind rewarding, particularly when enhanced by mods that alleviate some of the more tedious elements.
- “Army progression is not grindy as it was.”
- “Maybe to a person that has all the time in the world, the grindfest is fine, but I have things to do in real life, and I just want to have fun building a kingdom, not grinding out meaningless battles with bandits so I can get more XP.”
- “More-over, there is no blueprint trader or blueprint quest that would make you learn special recipes without the casino grindy thing.”
- “You will spend hours and hours and hours and hours of your real life building an army, during all this time you will be broke and will not be able to "do what you want" because you are grinding and not necessarily having fun.”
- “The campaign is pretty sad, one pretty boring questline that is designed to be super grindy and still unexplained.”
- “The game feels grindy and not in a very rewarding way.”
music
1,146 mentions
36 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in "Bannerlord" has received mixed reviews, with many players comparing it unfavorably to the iconic soundtrack of "Warband." While some praise the new compositions for their epic and immersive qualities, others criticize the music as repetitive and generic, lacking the memorable themes that defined its predecessor. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the medieval atmosphere but leaves room for improvement in variety and originality.
- “The soundtrack also deserves praise, further immersing you in the world of Bannerlord with epic and immersive melodies.”
- “The music is fantastic and one of my favorite parts of the game as it stands.”
- “The music is beautiful, the system in how it runs is very theatrical.”
- “The music is the most generic, boring stuff I've ever heard from one of my favorite medieval series.”
- “The previous warband music-- which you can look up on YouTube-- is infinitely better than this-- literally.”
- “The battle music is composed in repetitive thirty-second clips that aren't even looped correctly, causing audible breaks that throw you out of the moment.”
replayability
986 mentions
43 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The replayability of *Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord* is widely praised, with many players highlighting its near-infinite potential, especially when enhanced by a robust modding community. While the base game offers substantial replay value through diverse gameplay mechanics and sandbox elements, some users note that it can feel repetitive without mods, which significantly boost the experience. Overall, the game is considered highly replayable, with many players expressing a willingness to return for multiple playthroughs.
- “One of the most replayable and fun games I've ever owned.”
- “The battles are epic and dynamic, the game is highly replayable, combat is endlessly fun, the modding community is amazing.”
- “Infinitely replayable and infinitely moddable.”
- “Replayability without mods is not great.”
- “Some-to-all of this may be fixable with mods, but the base game has been abandoned in an unfinished state with almost no replayability.”
- “Game is stale asf, no diplomacy, 0 replay value.”
humor
634 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" is frequently described as chaotic and unpredictable, with players finding amusement in the game's absurdities, such as the clumsy AI, hilarious glitches, and the often ridiculous scenarios that unfold during battles and sieges. Many reviews highlight the comedic potential of the game's mechanics, character interactions, and the unexpected outcomes of player choices, making it a source of both frustration and laughter. Overall, the game is seen as a blend of medieval warfare and humor, with players enjoying the lighthearted moments amidst the chaos.
- “Let me put it like this, it's hilarious to see how every single noble hates you with all their heart after you've killed every single leader of each country along with their adjacent nobles; it's really funny to see how you are in permanent war against everybody and they can't put a dent in you.”
- “Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is like trying to build a sandcastle with a wrecking ball – chaotic, unpredictable, and hilariously disastrous.”
- “Charge into a group of enemies, screaming like a drunken Viking, and watch your ragtag army turn the tide with surprising effectiveness (or, more likely, hilarious incompetence).”
- “But at that point, I was simply too tired; it was not funny anymore.”
- “I have seen projectiles change course 45-90° in front of me to still hit me; not funny.”
- “Troop upgrades are just an unfunny joke. Go to barbarians, send troops, boom, elite imperial cataphracts for life, baby!”
atmosphere
244 mentions
59 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord" is generally praised for its impressive graphics, engaging music, and the immersive experience of large-scale battles, which many players find captivating. However, there are notable criticisms regarding the lack of depth in town interactions and NPC behaviors, leading to a feeling of emptiness in certain areas of the game. While the game shows potential for a rich medieval atmosphere, many players feel it still requires further development and polish to fully realize this vision.
- “The game's attention to detail and art direction are impressive, with every aspect of the game's visual design contributing to the overall immersion and atmosphere.”
- “Graphics are nice, art direction is awesome, music is wonderful and the overall atmosphere will grip you tightly.”
- “The atmosphere is so much better than the previous one in every way.”
- “The overall atmosphere of the game is empty, with very little world building and interaction with NPCs.”
- “There is really no atmosphere to these towns/settlements, as NPCs follow linear walking paths and don't really do too much of anything.”
- “All the promises about immersion and adding atmosphere over the past eight years have had 0 follow through.”
character development
222 mentions
27 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game offers players a range of cultural backgrounds and unique skills, allowing for significant customization and strategic choices. However, many reviews highlight issues such as a clunky interface, bland character interactions, and a lack of depth in the overall system, leading to a mixed experience. While some players appreciate the complexity and potential for diverse builds, others find the character development mechanics underwhelming and hindered by bugs and design flaws.
- “Character development is great, with lots of interesting choices and skill builds; melee builds and horse archer builds feel almost like two separate games.”
- “Character development is very open-ended: constantly becoming more proficient at various fighting styles, party management, trading, and diplomacy throughout your full career as you develop your playstyle.”
- “The character development is very in-depth, as is the leveling system.”
- “Somehow worse controls, interface, and character development system than the first game.”
- “No substantial story, no character development, no interactivity with party members - really unsatisfying experience with nothing to sink your teeth into.”
- “The graphics are unchanged, there is no story, there is no diplomacy, there is no dialogue/meaningful NPC interaction, there are no peacetime activities, there is no character development, there is no quest variety, the battles feel the same, the AI feels identical, the economy is broken, the map is the same, nothing is balanced, there is no story, the world feels empty and devoid of life or purpose and there's nothing to do.”
emotional
194 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some feeling deeply immersed and connected to the gameplay, while others express disappointment over the lack of character depth and engaging storytelling. Many players report moments of intense emotional investment, particularly during battles, but also highlight the game's shortcomings in fostering meaningful relationships and narratives. Overall, while the game has the potential for emotional engagement, it currently struggles with execution, leaving some players feeling heartbroken or disillusioned.
- “I love the development of your castles and found a surprising emotional connection to certain fiefs (especially the ones early on).”
- “It made me feel again in a dead world.”
- “Graphics are beautiful, I believe I cried a little when I entered into a custom battle against the AI with 500 soldiers on both sides.”
- “Then there is literally the most bare-bones and boring storyline that doesn't even provide a reason for itself to exist.”
- “It crashes nonstop, it's repetitive, boring story (from the time I've been able to play without constant problems), and there are way too many little problems that it's pretty much unplayable.”
- “Poorly optimized, weird combat, boring story, and bad UI.”
monetization
184 mentions
2 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" due to its perceived lack of content and unfinished features despite being marketed as a full release. While there are no microtransactions, players feel misled by the game's advertising and believe that the developers have not delivered on their promises, leading to frustration and disappointment within the community. Overall, the sentiment is that the game exploits nostalgia for its predecessor while failing to provide a satisfactory experience.
- “It's just a full game, without microtransactions and with a great community.”
- “Just give it some time, it's worth it and hey, there is no negativity in this game, no monetization of mods, no microtransactions, maybe DLC in the future but they really do work on their game.”
- “While this means that mods are not stable just yet, this does mean that the devs are actually really paying attention to their game and not making plans for other endeavors such as microtransactions or obscure DLCs.”
- “This full release is a cash grab by a lazy and disappointing team of developers.”
- “I cannot recommend you spend money on this product; it very much looks to be an open and transparent cash grab devaluing their own franchise and running off with the money similar to many other companies these days.”
- “The release on early access, what looks like they care to get the game in their fans' hands is actually a desperate cash grab to regain their lost money in this lost cause of a game.”