The Banner Saga: Factions

 PC
The Banner Saga: Factions Image
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 115 Ratings

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  • Summary: What is The Banner Saga? Short answer: role-playing meets turn-based strategy, wrapped into an adventure mini-series about vikings.
    Travel through stunning landscapes straight out of an animated film as your party escapes what could be the end of everything. Battle painstakingly    What is The Banner Saga? Short answer: role-playing meets turn-based strategy, wrapped into an adventure mini-series about vikings.
    Travel through stunning landscapes straight out of an animated film as your party escapes what could be the end of everything. Battle painstakingly hand-animated foes in strategic, turn-based combat. Make decisions with real consequences in conversations with people you'll actually care about.
    The Banner Saga is a mature game aimed at gamers who appreciate art, story and strategy. Hope you'll join the caravan.    … Expand

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The Banner Saga Announcement Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. IGN
    Mar 14, 2013
    78
    Proves that Stoic knows how to design one helluva combat system, and it's a great tactical experience even when played for free. The microtransaction system limits that fun, and it still needs a bit more technical polish, but this clever take on turn-based combat has me hyped to see what Stoic does with its planned single-player game.
  2. Destructoid
    Mar 8, 2013
    70
    While testing Banner Saga through Factions is not exactly social work, it's not what you've been waiting for, either. Call it a scenic detour that gives the dinner hosts at Stoic some extra time to cook more side dishes while testing out the current ones on guests. Don't worry: Factions is plenty of fun on its own and will only get better as updates roll out.
  3. Thunderbolt
    Apr 15, 2013
    60
    The Banner Saga: Factions’ slower pace and current lack of class variety will be enough to discourage many from trying this particular brand of turn-based strategy. But those who can look past these flaws will find a somewhat deep combat system that necessitates tactical awareness and forethought, and a rewarding experience for those who invest the time needed to learn its intricacies.
  4. CD-Action
    May 13, 2013
    60
    Factions is a teaser of a bigger game and does a rather lousy job at encouraging to check out the main dish. It’s simply boring. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.81]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. PC Gamer
    Apr 1, 2013
    59
    An accomplished and pretty strategy game, sadly hindered by a handful of questionable design choices.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 48
  3. Negative: 9 out of 48
  1. BillyBobBeavis
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    Don't pay attention to any negative reviews about this game. If you like turn based combat you're almost guaranteed to like it. The music isDon't pay attention to any negative reviews about this game. If you like turn based combat you're almost guaranteed to like it. The music is cool. The graphics are cool. Give it a try. And don't be a wuss and give it negative reviews because you couldn't understand the strategy and got your ass kicked. It is NOT in any way "pay to win."… Expand
  2. RobertTheScott
    Feb 27, 2013
    10
    Beautiful game; deep, thoughtful tactics based on the premise that strength is health AND damage. This is the most fun I've had withBeautiful game; deep, thoughtful tactics based on the premise that strength is health AND damage. This is the most fun I've had with competitive multiplayer games, bar none.

    Does have some network issues (at least so far--it is in its first week of existence.)    … Expand
  4. Dyskrasia
    Feb 27, 2013
    10
    The detail and work that was put into this game is amazing. If you enjoy tactical, turn-based multiplayer combat with stunning art then give it a try.
  5. SherlockHolmess
    Mar 1, 2015
    9
    Great game, great stoy, great chars, great soundtrack, great drawings, long duration, high replay value, great battlesystem, great journeyGreat game, great stoy, great chars, great soundtrack, great drawings, long duration, high replay value, great battlesystem, great journey system.
    Overall one of the best Games i've seen in the past decade.    … Expand
  6. masterblaster74
    Mar 11, 2013
    8
    I read complaints about server issues, but I downloaded the game and played 6 hours straight with no issues. This is a great turn-basedI read complaints about server issues, but I downloaded the game and played 6 hours straight with no issues. This is a great turn-based strategy game. Its FTP, but does not appear to be pay to win because the servers do a pretty good job of matching you with opponents of equal team value. Paying money only provides you with higher level toons, but won't necessarily give you an advantage over your opponents. Leveling up your team and other game perks require renown. The more you win, and the faster you play (Expert Mode) the more renown you gain, so leveling up your team is not too difficult. There are frequent tournaments, but I haven't entered any of those yet. Lots of talk about the graphics, but really I'm not too impressed. Sure its done in a classic handmade illustration style, but it just doesnt do much for me. My only serious complaint is that some of the class stats and abilities seem a bit unbalanced. However I'm sure this can be easily tweaked if it becomes a game breaking issue meaning all the tournament players end up using the same 2 or 3 cookie cutter teams. This is one of those classic 'easy to learn but difficult to master' type of games. Give it try. It's free, and if you enjoy chess-like strategy then you'll probably enjoy this game.… Expand
  7. rapturjesus
    Jul 3, 2013
    6
    While having a neat art style, the game has some fatal flaws.

    1. Paying makes you level up faster. I know this is a FTP game and they have    While having a neat art style, the game has some fatal flaws.

    1. Paying makes you level up faster. I know this is a FTP game and they have to make money. However the whole micro-transaction and just straight purchasing of renown makes the game a rich man poor man type of deal.

    2. Not many units to choose from and not many options to customize those units.

    3. Random misses. It seems like the game randomly throws you a cooked grenade to hold to help the other player. Chance to hit percentages seem completely off sometimes and don't make much sense.

    4. A few balancing issues with archers and some units dealing one shots with simple attacks when you're at full armor and full health.

    Despite this it is still a fun game. For a FTP its worth checking out so long as you can deal with some flaws.    … Expand
  8. MontyForester
    May 14, 2013
    0
    There's no a Game inside. It's a "social" game and It's all about dueling other players and paying for just everything. To be honest, IThere's no a Game inside. It's a "social" game and It's all about dueling other players and paying for just everything. To be honest, I haven't read the description carefully... I've just seen the adv video where warriors is moving somewhere and I've thought that the game has a story and campaign, but I was wrong there's nothing under it's flash-style graphics.… Expand

See all 48 User Reviews

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