The Banner Saga cover

The Banner Saga

Critic score14 critics
First release
Jan 14, 2014
Developer
Stoic
Publisher
Versus Evil
Engine
Adobe AIR
Genres
Role-playing (RPG), Indie, Tactical, Simulator, Strategy · Fantasy, Historical

The Banner Saga is a Viking-themed tactical role-playing video game.

Also known as Banner Saga 1

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
The core of the game is a single-player campaign of turn-based combat engagements inspired by games such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Shining Force, with the player controlling and being able to build up a party of characters with complementing abilities. According to the developers, their aim was to create a "mature game for adults in the vein of Game of Thrones or The Black Company". They intend to engage players emotionally by allowing them to build relationships with the game's characters and shape the outcome of the story through an array of conversation choices.[8] The game eschews certain conventions of action-oriented computer role-playing games such as the focus on a young lone hero's story, looting and buying items, or reloading a saved game state after defeat. Instead, the developers intended to tell the story of the player's caravan as a whole, and encourage players to accept and deal with the consequences of any defeats they may encounter.[9] The first game in the Saga centers on the return of the Dredge, a warlike race that despises humans led by the Bellower, a nigh invincible Dredge who leads them on a warpath on human and Varl. As a wandering army sent to fight against the Dredge and find a weakness for the Bellower, many difficult decisions are made by the caravan that would shape the fate of both man and Varl.Read more

The core of the game is a single-player campaign of turn-based combat engagements inspired by games such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Shining Force, with the player controlling and being able to build up a party of characters with complementing abilities. According to the developers, their aim was to create a "mature game for adults in the vein of Game of Thrones or The Black Company". They intend to engage players emotionally by allowing them to build relationships with the game's characters and shape the outcome of the story through an array of conversation choices.[8] The game eschews certain conventions of action-oriented computer role-playing games such as the focus on a young lone hero's story, looting and buying items, or reloading a saved game state after defeat. Instead, the developers intended to tell the story of the player's caravan as a whole, and encourage players to accept and deal with the consequences of any defeats they may encounter.[9] The first game in the Saga centers on the return of the Dredge, a warlike race that despises humans led by the Bellower, a nigh invincible Dredge who leads them on a warpath on human and Varl. As a wandering army sent to fight against the Dredge and find a weakness for the Bellower, many difficult decisions are made by the caravan that would shape the fate of both man and Varl.

Release dates
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Jan 14, 2014
Mac
Jan 14, 2014
Linux
Jan 14, 2014
All 8 release dates
iOS
Oct 02, 2014
Android
Nov 19, 2014
PlayStation 4
Jan 12, 2016
Xbox One
Jan 12, 2016
Nintendo Switch
May 17, 2018
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main + Extras
11h
Game modes
Multiplayer, Single player
Perspective
Side view
Keywords
bloody, medieval, turn-based, viking mythology, death
… All 52, mythology, vikings, bird, achievements, multiple endings, steam trading cards, dialogue trees, snow, grid-based movement, crowdfunding - kickstarter, giants, copyright infringement, crowdfunding, boss fight, explosion, digital distribution, playstation trophies, tactical turn-based combat, leveling up, voice acting, mind control, bow and arrow, ea app, cartoon cutscene, original soundtrack release, non-player character, descendants of other characters, corpse, moral decisions, morale, recruitable characters, crowd funded, unbeatable enemies, betrayal, shielded enemies, pax prime 2013, recurring boss, game with chapters, boss assistance, scripted events, severed limbs, restoration, status effects, game developers choice awards 2015, prince, secret past, previously on - origin access

At a Glance

Critic Score
82
Main + Extras (IGDB)
11h

Overview

Steam review summary

Steam users rate this Very Positive, 13,487 reviews in all languages, recorded 16 October 2026

Valve's summary of Steam user reviews. Valve counts only reviews from purchases on Steam, not key activations, and leaves out review periods it has marked as off-topic. It isn't part of the CritScore score.

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About storefront and compatibility information

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