Banner Saga 3

Still a very good game. Original and very artistic. However, the story is so pessimistic. It's a downer.

Honest review: 8.5/10
I really like this game.
Good story line, great art, kinda addictive to play, the game has a good unique combat style, plus the skills and items are interesting too.
Combat is turned base, you have armor that deflects damage from others strength/hp. You do as much damage as you have strength/hp. Which for some reason I didn't notice until The Banner Saga 2, about half way through.
To get the most out of this game, you should start with The Banner Saga 1. It continues the story line, plus you get to keep your party. Your choices matter from all the games previously.
I think they could make a 4th one, but seriously doubt they ever will. It doesn't leave ya on a cliff hanger, but i just really enjoyed it.
Game is solid enough to play at least twice, which makes since why its kinda short in the scheme of things.
The worst part of this game is how it saves.
If you do find it crashing on you, which has happened to me twice, just turn off the steam cloud saves. That will fix the problem.
If you like honest reviews, hit that like button and have a great day!!!

This is the perfect conclusion for one of the most beautiful epic sagas ever.
The amount of choices and consequences is amazing, and the stakes are even higher. The last stretch is some of the most stressful and dramatic i've ever experienced. The stategic battles are even more addictive with some new enemies and the concept of "reinforcements" (after the battle is over, when can keep up against new enemies for extra rewards, but we can also replace our troops).
Thanks Stoic for the unforgettable experience.

This is for all Banner Saga games. Yes you ABSOLUTELY should play all 3.
Banner Sage stands unique among games I've played. It's hard to describe: a narrative "choices matter" adventure game with TBS battle elements completely undersells it. Banner Sage is a legend you get to write. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking story of loss, hope, and... well, the rest is up to you. When I first played it I really had no idea what I was in for, and I still can't exactly describe it, but it was beautiful to the point of tears.
The game does an INCREDIBLE job of immersing you in the world. Every backdrop, every interaction with a person feels real and it feels like you're participating. What is a simple supply meter in other games here is your lifeblood, and that number went DOWN because you made a choice you are now questioning. The people fighting next to you on the battlefield are not units, but your friends that you've toasted with, argued with, and care for deeply.
I'm honestly not sure where choices diverge except with immediate consequences. I would suggest you do not look up decision trees - don't treat this like a game, treat it like composing your hero's ballad of triumph, or perhaps tragedy. History and legend play a key role here - in fact that's the entire purpose of the banner mentioned in said saga - and you're literally weaving it as you move.
As for the battles, they can get tough (I played "Normal"), but are doable. Don't go in expecting the traditional X-Com progression of weak to overpowered. The battles take place as story elements and can have incredible consequences. Like all things in Banner Saga, they are an additive part to the whole, and their stakes makes everything more intense. I find the skills and such balanced and every battle ultimately achievable. You'll get the hang of it eventually but there's a moderate curve to understanding how to fight in this game than in others.
As for the presentation, the videos 100% display what it is. The whole game looks like that, a "Dragon's Lair" type smooth animation. I, personally, love it. And while it may not be your particular cup of tea, in honestly it's not usually mine, it works perfectly here. A game as unique as The Banner Saga needed a unique aesthetic and after playing it, I'm not sure the sharper lines of more traditional contemporary animation would have worked. The novel style sets you up mentally for the novel nature of the game.
It does slow down a bit during the second and (part of the) third games. In those, the world becomes more complex and it feels like it might have been dragged out a little bit too long - the give/take momentum of the first gives way a bit to largely give. Maybe a better way to put it is that external conflicts turn into internal conflicts, resulting in a slower burn. But that's a minor gripe, and might actually be a positive for you. And for what it's worth, I truly believe the experience of deceleration is in large part because of just how phenomenal the opening chapter was.
Listen, I'm biased. The Banner Saga hit me, and hit me HARD. I don't expect it to impact everyone the way it did me, but if you let yourself go on the ride, even just a little, you're going to find something real special. It's a gorgeous, compelling, challenging, heart-wrenching story which is ultimately yours to tell. There are not many experiences like this, and you owe it to yourself to try.

Obviously, if you played the previous games, you'll want to see the ending.
As of 2025, there are a lot of crashes and infinite loading screens.

This game is a masterpiece. It's an amazing trilogy, an artistic one with a great story and characters. I could not recommend it enough. I hope in the future to be a continuation of the story with a new trilogy.

The Banner Saga 3 stands tall as one of the most innovative turn-based strategy games of its generation. What sets it apart is its brilliant use of grid-based movement and positioning mechanics. Every tile on the battlefield matters — not just as a space to occupy, but as a tactical choice that can drastically change the flow of combat. It captures the spirit of classic board games with remarkable fidelity, where movement, placement, and timing carry as much weight as raw power.

Visually, The Banner Saga 3 is a masterpiece. Its 2D art style is richly painted, evoking the feeling of an animated epic more than a traditional video game. Every backdrop, character portrait, and battle sequence feels lovingly crafted, immersing the player into its world of myth and melancholy.

However, the game isn't without its shortcomings. One major criticism is the limited item system — players will find very few options to customize or enhance their units. Additionally, individual characters lack distinct weapon choices, which slightly undermines the otherwise deep and personalized feel of the roster. These limitations make progression feel a bit more rigid compared to other tactical RPGs.

Despite these flaws, The Banner Saga 3 remains a triumph of thoughtful design and storytelling, offering a uniquely challenging and emotionally resonant experience for fans of strategy and narrative-driven games alike.