The Banner Saga
Lead a caravan through a frozen fantasy landscape, choose its fighters and shape its journey through decisions. Tactical battles and conversations both influence outcomes, including the possible permanent loss of characters.
- AI score · out of 10
- 8.0 / 10
About this game
The Banner Saga follows a caravan through a frozen world inspired by Viking and Norse traditions. You guide the travelling group, make decisions in conversations and choose which characters will fight. Different classes provide their own abilities and upgrade options, making the selection of fighters part of your tactical preparation. The journey's outcome depends on choices made during travel, dialogue and combat. Battle selection and decisions afterwards can also lead to permanent character loss, so a confrontation has consequences beyond its immediate result. Caravan management remains part of the task between battles. This individual first game presents its journey through hand-drawn two-dimensional animation and a soundtrack by Austin Wintory.
Collected in series
The Banner Saga is a tactical RPG series whose main trilogy follows caravans struggling through a Norse-inspired world. You position fighters in turn-based battles, manage supplies and decide whom to trust, with choices that can follow the journey into the next game.
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Nintendo Switch
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A strong fit for players who want tactical choices tied to responsibility for a travelling group.
Choosing fighters and living with later consequences may give tactical preparation a personal dimension. Travel and conversation also affect outcomes, so the design is likely to suit players who value decisions between battles as much as the battles themselves.
Strengths
- Choices across travel, conversation and combat connect different parts of the journey.
- Distinct class abilities give fighter selection a tactical purpose.
Weaknesses
- Possible permanent character loss may be uncomfortable for players who want to preserve every companion.
Who it is for: Players drawn to party selection, consequential dialogue and leading a caravan through a fantasy story.
Play notes: Permanent loss is possible, but it should not be assumed that every battlefield defeat automatically kills a character.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Caravan management and consequential conversations give the journey between fights its own decisions, which may suit players comfortable shifting between story and tactics. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Choosing fighters with different abilities can make preparation meaningful, especially when subsequent decisions affect who survives. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Hand-drawn animation and Austin Wintory's music may appeal to players seeking a visually illustrated approach to the Viking-inspired setting. | Reviewed | 8.8 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Touchscreen support provides another input option on Switch; its availability alone does not establish interface comfort or measured responsiveness. | Reviewed | 7.0 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Stoic
- Publisher
- Versus Evil
- Release date
- 2018
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Tags
- FantasySolo-friendlyMain Story 20–50 HoursLong-term ProgressionExploration3D GraphicsThird PersonTurn-based CombatLevel ProgressionStory-driven
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single playerMultiplayer
- Perspectives
- Side view
Release editions
- Nintendo SwitchWorldwide2018
Game gallery
Sources
- versusevil.comSource revision: 1
- versusevil.com