The Bard's Tale Trilogy

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,746 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
The Bard's Tale Trilogy Game Cover
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"The Bard's Tale Trilogy" is a collection of three updated and enhanced versions of the classic RPGs. Explore the world of Skara Brae as the Bard, using your wit, music, and weapons to overcome challenges. This trilogy combines humor, puzzle-solving, and tactical combat in a beautifully remastered package for modern systems.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,746 reviews
graphics70 positive mentions
grinding114 negative mentions
  • Faithful remaster of the original trilogy with updated graphics and quality of life improvements.
  • Nostalgic experience for fans of the original games, capturing the charm and gameplay of the 80s.
  • Automapping and save anywhere features enhance playability and reduce tediousness.
  • Gameplay can feel grindy and repetitive, especially in later dungeons.
  • Some puzzles and mechanics may frustrate modern players due to their obtuse nature.
  • Only the first game is currently available, with the other two promised for future release.
  • graphics322 mentions

    The graphics in the remastered version of "The Bard's Tale Trilogy" have been significantly improved, offering a modern aesthetic while retaining the nostalgic charm of the originals. Players appreciate the enhanced visuals, smoother animations, and quality-of-life features like auto-mapping, which make the gameplay more accessible without sacrificing the classic feel. While some may wish for options to toggle between original and updated graphics, the overall consensus is that the remaster successfully breathes new life into a beloved classic.

    • “One of the greatest CRPGs of all time, this remastered version of the Bard's Tale classic enhances the graphics to a more modern fidelity and adds a few quality of life features — like the journal and built-in manual — that let you focus more on the adventuring and less on the note-taking/charting.”
    • “The graphics are nicely updated to be easy on the eyes while still retaining the old-fashioned charm.”
    • “The improved visuals and interface go a long way to breathing new life into a game over one-third of a century old.”
    • “Heck, barely any graphics.”
    • “Sure, the graphics are lacking, but what more can you ask for for an RPG experience?”
    • “Without the soft glow of nostalgia hanging over everything, you're likely to find the combat boring, the visuals uninteresting and the navigation confusing.”
  • gameplay190 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Bard's Tale Trilogy" is a nostalgic homage to classic RPG mechanics, featuring exploration, character creation, and strategic combat, though many find its core mechanics to be simplistic and somewhat dated by modern standards. While the remaster introduces quality-of-life improvements like auto-mapping and enhanced graphics, some players feel that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks the depth expected from contemporary titles. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit unbalanced, experience that appeals to fans of the original games while potentially alienating newer players.

    • “The depth and complexity of the gameplay mechanics are a testament to the golden age of RPGs, offering intricate character creation, challenging puzzles, and strategic combat that harkens back to the era of exploration and discovery.”
    • “This remaster/remake remains very faithful to the gameplay style of the originals, but makes just enough modernization to make them pleasant to play even now.”
    • “The updated interface and gameplay elements breathe fresh air into the 80s experience, without ruining the old school D&D dungeon crawl fun.”
    • “Make no mistake, this gameplay is old and does not hold up in any way, shape or form to modern standards.”
    • “Having played the original Bard's Tale 1 on the ZX Spectrum (yes, I am that old!) and on the PC around 30 years ago without completing it, I really wanted to bask in the nostalgia and enjoy this game, but I just found the gameplay too primitive, too repetitive, and just too much of a slog.”
    • “Honestly, I simply could not adapt to some of the archaic mechanics, most especially the lack of mapping (sorry, I know some people love that, but I have no interest in making my own maps personally).”
  • story116 mentions

    The story of "The Bard's Tale Trilogy" is often described as simple yet engaging, serving primarily as a backdrop for the dungeon-crawling gameplay. While some players appreciate the nostalgic and classic storytelling elements, others criticize the lack of direction and depth, noting that the narrative can feel minimalistic and at times confusing without external guidance. Overall, the game offers a blend of memorable quests and a rich fantasy atmosphere, appealing to fans of traditional RPGs despite its linearity and occasional grind.

    • “The immersive world and engaging storyline of 'The Bard's Tale Trilogy' allow players to embark on a grand adventure filled with memorable quests, diverse characters, and a rich fantasy lore.”
    • “The story is simple but effective: basically you go in 'blind' and unarmed as a party of newly created adventurers to battle an evil wizard, who has turned the city you are in into a right mess, with monsters and marauders running rampant.”
    • “What it may lack in today's graphics, the story and gameplay is second to none.”
    • “Very little hand holding regarding story and where to go at what time, so expect to get lost.”
    • “The grind is brutal, very little story, lack of NPCs or dialogue, fiendish traps, and awkward, repetitive keyboard controls.”
    • “On the other hand, note that the plot is pretty much non-existent.”
  • grinding114 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as tedious and repetitive, reminiscent of classic RPGs from the 80s. While some appreciate the nostalgia and find enjoyment in the grind, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, especially with modern gaming standards in mind. Quality of life improvements have made the grinding somewhat less burdensome, but it remains a core element that may not appeal to all players.

    • “Everything in the game is super tedious.”
    • “It is still a tedious and boring experience.”
    • “Bard's Tale games are tedious grinds with a very repetitive gameplay loop because it had to fit in 64k of memory.”
  • music96 mentions

    The music in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the nostalgic 8-bit tunes and the unique bard mechanics that allow for a dynamic soundtrack based on the bard's instrument and song choice. However, many reviewers noted the repetitive nature of the music, particularly the looping tracks during combat, which can become tedious over time. While the updated sound effects and additional bard songs are welcomed improvements, some players still long for the charm of the original compositions.

    • “The bard's tale trilogy magical/medieval/fantastic atmosphere is nice, and it's cool to set the music of the game according to the instrument the bard carries and the effect of the song you desire.”
    • “Giving the player control of the soundtrack is a neat feature and I liked it a lot.”
    • “The music is a pleasant little surprise; the bard's instruments actually matter and become the main background song for the entire game.”
    • “The worst part is that you’ll need to rely on bard songs for damage, but unlike spells, there is no convenient 'recently used' category to make casting/singing easier.”
    • “So this becomes a huge drain on your hands to have to select the same song every turn of combat, for multiple turns, for each combat.”
    • “-music doesn't really exist, you get it in the menu, and when your bard plays music that loops forever.”
  • atmosphere24 mentions

    The atmosphere of "The Bard's Tale Trilogy" is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the magical, medieval essence of the original games while enhancing it with modern graphics and sound effects. Reviewers note that the game successfully balances quality-of-life improvements without compromising the classic feel, making it a compelling experience for both longtime fans and newcomers. Overall, the developers are commended for their ability to recreate the iconic atmosphere that defined the series in the 80s.

    • “The Bard's Tale Trilogy evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, faithfully recreating the classic gameplay, graphics, and atmosphere of the original games, providing a genuine retro experience for fans and newcomers alike.”
    • “A remake of the original Bard's Tale Trilogy, managing to keep the atmosphere of the original while bringing it into a modern world.”
    • “The developers did a fantastic job of capturing the atmosphere and story of one of the most iconic computer games of all time.”
    • “A lot of the QoL changes in the non-legacy versions do simplify the game for sure, but they don't affect the atmosphere.”
    • “The Bard's Tale Trilogy has the same atmosphere as the originals from the 80s.”
    • “This is a great reissue, with just the right amount of QoL to cure some of the bad ways of the old days, without ruining the nostalgic atmosphere.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is enhanced by significant visual and quality of life improvements, making it more playable than many modern SRPGs. However, many users feel that while it offers a satisfying initial experience, it lacks substantial replay value, often leading players to wait years before revisiting it. New features like an auto-map and easier inventory management contribute to its playability, but re-runs may not provide the same engaging experience as the first playthrough.

    • “The visual and quality of life improvements are exceptional and well-thought-out that somehow maintain the spirit of the original games while making them infinitely more playable.”
    • “The options offered and coming in legacy mode look to extend replayability.”
    • “Krome added just the right amount of updates to the game to make it much more playable in 2018 while still retaining the feel of a classic decades-old RPG.”
    • “I would not say it has much replay value beyond a run through.”
    • “Replayability: something that you will finish then take a couple of years before playing it again.”
    • “Re-runs did not have the same replayability because of this.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as charming and nostalgic, with players appreciating the hilarious character portraits and clever nods to early tabletop RPGs. Many find the humor genuinely funny, highlighting the contrast between characters' mellow personalities and their later developments in the gaming industry. Overall, the game successfully blends nostalgia with lighthearted humor, making it an enjoyable experience.

    • “The game is also genuinely funny at times, with a clear wink to early tabletop dungeon crawling of the 70's and 80's.”
    • “It's also funny that the Commodore 64 seems to have lived on.”
    • “Graphics are nice and the portraits are actually kind of hilarious and charming.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while upgraded graphics and quality-of-life improvements enhance efficiency and enjoyment, some players report significant issues with poor controls and game-breaking bugs. On newer systems, it runs smoothly, but the overall experience can be hampered by its optimization flaws.

    • “The game is much more enjoyable with the upgraded graphics, and with optional UI optimizations such as auto-mapping, a bestiary log, pooled gold and inventory, etc., it's much more efficient to play, without sacrificing any of the charm or fun of the original.”
    • “It runs smoothly on a newer system and the quality of life improvements take away some of the need to have a notebook and graph paper at your side the whole time you are playing.”
    • “Badly made, badly optimized, bad controls, full of game-breaking bugs.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, user feedback on stability is mixed; while some players report issues with their computers rebooting during gameplay, others praise the game for being largely bug-free compared to other recent ports.

    • “I have had multiple problems with my computer rebooting during the game, so it seems quite buggy.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about their youth and the joy it brings, particularly through its nostalgic gameplay and map-making elements. Despite dated graphics, the game is praised for its wholesome experience, appealing to both older and younger audiences.

    • “For the younger players, this was the bomb in the eighties. Try it, you might even enjoy it. The graphics aren't what you're used to, but it's wholesome, pure gameplay with plenty to offer if you give it a chance.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game tends to stagnate after a certain point, leading to a lack of progression and depth in the characters as the story unfolds.

    • “Character development hits a wall after a while.”
    • “Character development hits a wall after a while.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The Bard's Tale Trilogy is praised for its lack of modern monetization practices such as loot boxes, microtransactions, and unnecessary DLC, appealing to players who feel overwhelmed by contemporary gaming trends that prioritize control and immersion over profit-driven mechanics.

    • “If you feel the way I feel about modern-day gaming - not being in control; a lot of hand-holding; tutorial after tutorial; today's games talk down to me; too many automatic cutscenes; enemies and loot scale to my level; publishers rushing developers; loot boxes, microtransactions, and pointless DLC - then I guarantee you are going to love Bard's Tale Trilogy.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

129hMedian play time
113hAverage play time
80-145hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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