Mount & Blade

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 569 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 471 out of 569
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 569
  3. Negative: 32 out of 569

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  1. Person99hasnoname
    Nov 21, 2008
    4
    Decent gameplay, sadly mixed with mediocre graphics and annoying aspects. Starting with the graphics, the terrain itself is a bit bland, nothing special, but the characters, while high-poly, are badly detailed. Be prepared for textureless skin, wood that looks like carpet, and wounds that look like someone spilled mountian dew on the victim. The animations are amusingly bad, the horses Decent gameplay, sadly mixed with mediocre graphics and annoying aspects. Starting with the graphics, the terrain itself is a bit bland, nothing special, but the characters, while high-poly, are badly detailed. Be prepared for textureless skin, wood that looks like carpet, and wounds that look like someone spilled mountian dew on the victim. The animations are amusingly bad, the horses run in an unrealistic toy-like way, the characters walk like they were pulled out of Extreme Paint Brawler 2. The fighting style is definitely fun once you get the hang of it, but rather glitchy and annoying. There are several very annoying aspects of the game, here are a few: -When you get in a fight with looters, the sequence before the fight makes it seem like the enemies are up close mugging you, until you get in the game, realizing they were threatening you through a loud speaker, and are actually a couple miles away on the other side of the mountain, forcing you to locate them. I suppose they could be slightly honorable and say "Alright, we'll go to the other side of the mountain, you step back a couple hundred feet, and we'll settle this." Overall, the game is fun, maybe for a rent, but don't buy it.… Expand
  2. GoosemanGamer
    Jan 6, 2013
    5
    I want to like Mount and Blade. The idea is great. Simulate being a feudal knight or lord. Manage a fiefdom or kingdom and lead your troops to battle. And Mount and Blade can be fun. However, this game really fails in single player and pushing your campaign forward. I understand some will stick with it and be rewarded. But having to go to a city to ask where someone is located every timeI want to like Mount and Blade. The idea is great. Simulate being a feudal knight or lord. Manage a fiefdom or kingdom and lead your troops to battle. And Mount and Blade can be fun. However, this game really fails in single player and pushing your campaign forward. I understand some will stick with it and be rewarded. But having to go to a city to ask where someone is located every time is quite tedious. You're forced to move inventory one at a time. I've often wandered the map and not known what to do. Graphics suck but it's not important compared to the aimless direction. This is in the category of could be great but just mediocre.… Expand
  3. Cereal_Killa
    Aug 8, 2012
    0
    I got Mount and Blade in a Steam sale, and it was so bad and so unplayable that it prompted me to come here and sign up just to say how bad it is. Now I like Strategy, RPG and 4x games as much as the next person, and plan to make my own one day (hence the purchase), but right from the start, this game is so unpolished, and the graphics are so bad that it really puts me off. But despiteI got Mount and Blade in a Steam sale, and it was so bad and so unplayable that it prompted me to come here and sign up just to say how bad it is. Now I like Strategy, RPG and 4x games as much as the next person, and plan to make my own one day (hence the purchase), but right from the start, this game is so unpolished, and the graphics are so bad that it really puts me off. But despite this I struggle through to find the good Sandbox Strategy gameplay that I've heard about..
    I enter a battle and can either look for them or run away cause enemies are miles away (but somehow upon leaving I still must surrender to them???); so I re-enter and eventually find them. I gallop towards them firing off one arrow then my crossbow stops working - literally nothing is happening when I'm pressing fire (the arrow hits the ground several meters below the targeting reticule anyway), so I run them down with my horse which does 0 damage, and they beat the crap out of me, meanwhile I'm trying desperately to turn my horse or run through them; anything (nothing is happening of course as the controls are unresponsive to say the least). I die and immediately uninstall the game.

    The game is beyond poor.

    Ignoring the poor graphics, abysmal animation, terrible controls, and complete lack of a decent tutorial, underneath it all.. the game is just plain bad.    … Expand
  4. Meevious
    Oct 22, 2013
    10
    A truly original, well thought out and polished game. Gameplay is solid, deep and engaging. Combat is visceral and makes sense. The tutorial doesn't cover anything but the basics, so there are a lot of nice surprises. I played for a year before I realised it was possible to control my troops.

    The graphics are barebones, but the design is good. The character generator is without    A truly original, well thought out and polished game. Gameplay is solid, deep and engaging. Combat is visceral and makes sense. The tutorial doesn't cover anything but the basics, so there are a lot of nice surprises. I played for a year before I realised it was possible to control my troops.

    The graphics are barebones, but the design is good. The character generator is without parallel. The weather is well executed. The randomly generated maps are a pleasure to explore and to strategically exploit. There is a lot going on on the campaign map and the battle map, but load times are virtually nonexistent.

    The mod community is the best you'll find anywhere, producing countless excellent full conversions. If you have any minor problem with the game, they've probably fixed it.

    I got this game expecting a low budget Elder Scrolls, but it's original, it's huge and it's brimming with kinds of satisfaction that no other game can offer.    … Expand
  5. promethium
    Jul 15, 2014
    2
    Quite disapointing. On paper, it has good user reviews, is an innovative tactical game, and support linux... I jumped in too fast. While i can confirm all those pros, it is not enough to compensate various limitations.

    First, the graphics seems as old as the game theme ;) With every option activated, think about an engine like an high res quake 3 (1999), with low poly count, worse    Quite disapointing. On paper, it has good user reviews, is an innovative tactical game, and support linux... I jumped in too fast. While i can confirm all those pros, it is not enough to compensate various limitations.

    First, the graphics seems as old as the game theme ;) With every option activated, think about an engine like an high res quake 3 (1999), with low poly count, worse lightmaps and a lot more repetitive texture. I'm not usually very judgmental about graphics, and I can play most retro roguelike games or "smartphone 3D" games but M&B fail to provide the minimum imersiveness that i can tolerate for 3D.

    Then, the controls and activities are neither newbie-friendly (I could not complete the TUTORIAL without using google), and character combat is clumsy without giving any depth to the gameplay in my humble opinion. I'm not saying it's hard, I like hard tactical games (XCOM...) or TES series action-oriented combat but I dont like them frustrating.

    I had unrealistic expectations when I saw the regular price and reviews. The regular price is quite extreme for an indy game with flaws that only medieval combat fanatics will be able to overlook. Any one else will find more value and fun in AAA games on sale or less ambitious but more polished and reasonably priced indy games.    … Expand
  6. Broyax
    Apr 14, 2020
    0
    Un "jeu de rôle" (entre grosses guillemets) bricolé par un bande de crevards qui n'avaient aucune idée de qu'ils étaient en train de faire ou de qu'ils voulaient faire... Du coup, on se retrouve avec un merdier affreux qui a bel et bien l'air de n'être jamais sorti de sa phase beta (et de sa bêta attitude).

    Tout est fait à l'arrache ici, tout est si mal fait qu'on se demande comment ils    Un "jeu de rôle" (entre grosses guillemets) bricolé par un bande de crevards qui n'avaient aucune idée de qu'ils étaient en train de faire ou de qu'ils voulaient faire... Du coup, on se retrouve avec un merdier affreux qui a bel et bien l'air de n'être jamais sorti de sa phase beta (et de sa bêta attitude).

    Tout est fait à l'arrache ici, tout est si mal fait qu'on se demande comment ils ont fait... ni fait ni à faire, ils auraient mieux fait de faire autre chose ! descendre les poubelles par exemple ! ainsi, le combat est injouable, le canasson est tellement con qu'on ne le jouerait même pas comme tocard dans la troisième et graphiquement, ça se traîne quelques générations de retard.

    Une daube irrécupérable donc qu'il ne faut certainement pas toucher, même avec un bâton. Une plaisanterie pas drôle, une mauvaise farce qu'il faut vite évacuer en tirant la chasse bien à fond !    … Expand
  7. VereWolf271
    Nov 27, 2019
    0
    Hello I boycott the game therefore Turkey govermant behave as terroristic organisation. And I will not support anything what can support the goverment.
  8. aralath
    Aug 7, 2018
    8
    Very good and addictive game for its time. I do not know how many hours I spent playing it.
  9. apokalipto
    Aug 9, 2023
    8
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  10. AnonymousMC
    Jan 3, 2009
    8
    I have to just say, this game has the charm of old school games that were made with love and passion.Yes it has old graphic, but it doesn't distract you from playing, it has some anoying limitations, but rational ones due to the power of nowdays PC and complexity of the game.The freedom of roaming the world and kick anybody's butt is paid with no story at all, but itsI have to just say, this game has the charm of old school games that were made with love and passion.Yes it has old graphic, but it doesn't distract you from playing, it has some anoying limitations, but rational ones due to the power of nowdays PC and complexity of the game.The freedom of roaming the world and kick anybody's butt is paid with no story at all, but its understandable.Mods are really great ones you get bored with the native game.Combat is really fun, not seen in nowdays games.I finish this saying" buy the game and support developers with fresh ideas and original gameplay and we can be awarded with greater game in future!"… Expand
  11. LukeP.
    Oct 16, 2008
    9
    This game, now that it is finished is amazing. The roleplaying and combat aspects of it are way better than any of the critics give it credit because they critique the beta version. In an ingenious and still morally positive marketing scheme they sold it cheaper as a beta with the promise of free updates. I bought this game at 12 dollars and now I am rewarded with a complete game that This game, now that it is finished is amazing. The roleplaying and combat aspects of it are way better than any of the critics give it credit because they critique the beta version. In an ingenious and still morally positive marketing scheme they sold it cheaper as a beta with the promise of free updates. I bought this game at 12 dollars and now I am rewarded with a complete game that allows me to play as a medieval type fighter in an extremely fun environment. Pay no attention to these old reviews. If you missed out on mount and blade when it first started it isn't too late. If you got it a long time ago and haven't returned, you should. A lot has changed.… Expand
  12. PeterR
    Jan 28, 2009
    8
    I bought this on sale on Steam a week ago and it turned out to be much better than I expected. From the screenshots the game looks incredibly unpolished, and while this is still true to a degree, it runs well and seems almost completely bug-free. This is the sort of game that has no main quest, no predetermined story to speak of, but merely throws you into a savage, war-torn land with I bought this on sale on Steam a week ago and it turned out to be much better than I expected. From the screenshots the game looks incredibly unpolished, and while this is still true to a degree, it runs well and seems almost completely bug-free. This is the sort of game that has no main quest, no predetermined story to speak of, but merely throws you into a savage, war-torn land with nothing but a "Mount and Blade". The game loses points because, while there is plenty to occupy you, the game can be a little boring at times. The epic battles in which you get to lead dozens of troops are great fun, but once you look past this, there isn't much you haven't seen before. But if you like what the game gives you, you will get tens or hundreds of hours of fun out of such a dynamic game. A great bargain buy.… Expand
  13. AlexP
    Mar 11, 2009
    9
    This game, although lacking in some of the graphical effects large studio games have, is immersive with its endless campaign and great mounted combat. the combat in this game easily beats most other medieval RPGs, with its directional attacks and the ability to command your troops. this is one of the most underated games by official reviews. if you haven't played this game you are This game, although lacking in some of the graphical effects large studio games have, is immersive with its endless campaign and great mounted combat. the combat in this game easily beats most other medieval RPGs, with its directional attacks and the ability to command your troops. this is one of the most underated games by official reviews. if you haven't played this game you are missing out on a great RPG experience.… Expand
  14. AnonymousMC
    Jan 24, 2009
    10
    After reading many of these, most people mention the graphics and how "old" they are. I just want to say it was made by an indie developer and not you mega studios. Gameplay is amazing, both horse combat and foot combat is great. Being able to capture forts, and cities and having to fight for them is a massive plus. This game is like no others and even though its an indie game, it stillAfter reading many of these, most people mention the graphics and how "old" they are. I just want to say it was made by an indie developer and not you mega studios. Gameplay is amazing, both horse combat and foot combat is great. Being able to capture forts, and cities and having to fight for them is a massive plus. This game is like no others and even though its an indie game, it still rivals those of the bigger game studios.… Expand
  15. DrCola
    Nov 23, 2011
    10
    This game has a unique expierience, hard to get going and learn, a large learning curve, but once you get it going its REALLY COOL. but the problem arises that you can kill entire armys with just an axe and a ladder, then you realize the game consists of the same missions, the same content, the same invasions, but for some reason it never gets old and you continue to massacre endless enemy armys.
  16. roboticsun
    Oct 15, 2011
    7
    Mount & Blade is a hybrid of RPG elements and real-time strategy gameplay. It has all the elements of a fun game: character personalization,massive variety of weapons, armor, and horses, and also engaging large-scale mounted combat later on. Yeah it does not have even good graphics in the standard of current generation but that does not make it a bad game. the game play makes its wayMount & Blade is a hybrid of RPG elements and real-time strategy gameplay. It has all the elements of a fun game: character personalization,massive variety of weapons, armor, and horses, and also engaging large-scale mounted combat later on. Yeah it does not have even good graphics in the standard of current generation but that does not make it a bad game. the game play makes its way around to finally be executed wonderfully in a video game. Couple this with the medieval-like battlefield element of combat and you have truly memorable skirmish experiences--perhaps even stories to tell when defending or besieging keeps and cities. Despite the lackluster quality, it is still a solid fun game. A definite recommend if you enjoy RPG and strategy game play.… Expand
  17. Koo
    Jan 31, 2011
    10
    Excellent game, easy to get in to. Mount & Blade had me hooked from the beginning - with its classical hand-drawn artwork and rousing classical music. Also, unlike most games, the training section of the game is superb and well worth playing through. Mount and Blade is a fairly compact game (604 MB download from Steam) and runs stable in 64-bit Windows (e.g. Windows 7 x64 or Vista x64).Excellent game, easy to get in to. Mount & Blade had me hooked from the beginning - with its classical hand-drawn artwork and rousing classical music. Also, unlike most games, the training section of the game is superb and well worth playing through. Mount and Blade is a fairly compact game (604 MB download from Steam) and runs stable in 64-bit Windows (e.g. Windows 7 x64 or Vista x64). While the graphics in M&B are a bit pedestrian, the gameplay and music are thrilling and addicting. If you can look beyond the screenshots, give the demo a try (it's free and a fairly quick download). If you like Strategy RPG's, this might be your new favorite.… Expand
  18. DeGreZet
    Sep 29, 2011
    8
    Very good RPG strategy, nice fight system. M&B is very extended game and you can play as you want. Battles in game is no bad bat can be better because sometimes is too boring. I really like this because i like good RPG and goo strategy game, M&B is great connection. Game play is great but game have too many bugs and this have too ugly graphics. I advice this game RPG fans and my rate is 7,7/10
  19. Merz
    Oct 6, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My Character was the best, xbow skills, bow skills, 2 handed sword skills, riding skills, Reached level 40 and have conquered all but 10 castles/town(s). I only wish one thing, I want a bodyguard that I can customise, but hey they added that kinda stuff in fire and sword so hey.… Expand
  20. James9075
    Apr 26, 2012
    8
    this is a great game. the graphics are sub-par even for '08, but the fighting system is so well done it was almost exactly copied by skyrim. the game goes in depth letting you interact with lords and own land, also letting you siege castles, and take prisoners later to be sold. there is a matter of unrealism and finnicky controls to deal with, along with the grinding nature of certainthis is a great game. the graphics are sub-par even for '08, but the fighting system is so well done it was almost exactly copied by skyrim. the game goes in depth letting you interact with lords and own land, also letting you siege castles, and take prisoners later to be sold. there is a matter of unrealism and finnicky controls to deal with, along with the grinding nature of certain quests. the horses simply refuse to speed up/slow down properly and can ride up 60 degree slopes though not without a speed disadvantage which plays a heavy role in the combat system, and one of the quests involves taking 5-7 men at the lowest level and grinding their stats until they become high level seargants. it took me 16 days game time, which is only counted inbetween every 3 sessions, which IRL was about 3-4 hours. it is worth it though if you are trying to become a vassal or gain the favor of a lord.… Expand
  21. 5hassay
    Jun 13, 2012
    8
    Really entertaining sandbox fantasy game for around $10 USD. Sandbox fun. Epic first-person battles. Castle seiges are decent. The persisent aspect is good. Battles with mounted soldiers can be severely annoying and makes you want to turn the game off. One annoying combat bug. Nice RPG aspects. Although a novelty game, its distributed long enough to keep you entertained long enough.Really entertaining sandbox fantasy game for around $10 USD. Sandbox fun. Epic first-person battles. Castle seiges are decent. The persisent aspect is good. Battles with mounted soldiers can be severely annoying and makes you want to turn the game off. One annoying combat bug. Nice RPG aspects. Although a novelty game, its distributed long enough to keep you entertained long enough. Patience is required. Some system bugs (ex. occasionally crashes on exit). Supposedly there are a lot of good mods.… Expand
  22. TheGamer31
    Aug 7, 2013
    8
    While this game is a masterpiece, Warband does everything better. But I'm not here to talk about Warband, this game is very addicting and fun in every way from the micromanagement and trade to the fighting and strategy.
  23. Warfororks
    Mar 2, 2013
    7
    The original Mount Blade is amazing. Although outdated by it's successors, Mount Blade continues to amaze new players. However, it becomes repetitive quickly on into the game. There is not a lot of variation to it's missions. To compensate a bad campaign, combat is revolutionary. Simply amazing combat, in melee, ranged, or mounted.
  24. Rem
    Jul 15, 2013
    6
    Mount and Blade has alot of problems, but that doesn't stop it from being a deeply engrossing and addicting games that I've played in a while. It has technical problems and is graphically very unimpressive. But the medieval combat is simple yet greatly entertaining and strategic. In the world you do tedious tasks such as delivering message and cargo, but once you join an appropriateMount and Blade has alot of problems, but that doesn't stop it from being a deeply engrossing and addicting games that I've played in a while. It has technical problems and is graphically very unimpressive. But the medieval combat is simple yet greatly entertaining and strategic. In the world you do tedious tasks such as delivering message and cargo, but once you join an appropriate faction, things get cooking. It is a great feeling to watch 150+ units clash with each other onscreen all at once.… Expand
  25. Baconluver25
    Jun 7, 2013
    5
    Mount & Blade is fun in small battles for me, since you get to be more in the action at that point rather than sitting by watching swordsmen slaughtering each-other. Another good part is that it matters what your sword goes through, it's not like swinging cardboard around, you can actually hit something in the way. The fun ends there for me, the game is repetitive and gets boring reallyMount & Blade is fun in small battles for me, since you get to be more in the action at that point rather than sitting by watching swordsmen slaughtering each-other. Another good part is that it matters what your sword goes through, it's not like swinging cardboard around, you can actually hit something in the way. The fun ends there for me, the game is repetitive and gets boring really quick. It had so much potential but they ruined it by not having a variety of quests and when I played they usually ended up being the exact same cattle quest at every village, which is the most frustrating quest in the game. The game is also full of bugs that ruin game-play. The game is partially saved by the modding community but it still comes short.

    Overall, this game is only worth your money in a very large sale and doesn't offer much game-play.    … Expand
  26. KebabRemover
    Sep 27, 2013
    10
    This game is so addicting! it's hard to get bored when you have a world, not to mention all of the mods avaliable for free(there are are of mods to improve gameplay, improve graphics, etc.). This game is fresh, there are not many games to compare this with. Wether you are a RTS or FPS fan, this game is definately worth.
  27. HectorofTroy
    Feb 6, 2014
    10
    Mount and Blade played with some of the best mods is insanely fun! Undoubtedly, one of the best games I have played to date.. This game is a hidden gem of gold. If you like the genre and still don't have it, make no mistake and grab it right now.

    Can't wait for Mount and Blade 2 to come out!
  28. XxATDxX
    Nov 15, 2013
    7
    This game is pretty good and i find it weird me saying that.
    I downloaded the demo at first and after about half an hour i quit it uninstalled it and quite ignorantly just passed it off as a bad game. Something happened to me that doesn't usually happen to me though, i felt this urge to play it again and i decided i would try it again, The second time playing the demo i started to like    This game is pretty good and i find it weird me saying that.
    I downloaded the demo at first and after about half an hour i quit it uninstalled it and quite ignorantly just passed it off as a bad game. Something happened to me that doesn't usually happen to me though, i felt this urge to play it again and i decided i would try it again, The second time playing the demo i started to like it, before i knew it i'd wasted 8 hours going on the demo and creating new characters once my time was up (hehe i am not so rich)
    I decided if the demo had taken 8 hours of my time, I'll buy it, that was my justification, i did and i'll never regret it. Absolutely brilliant game from what looks terrible in terms of graphics and interface.
    The thing is... you can spend hours, training your men, making peasants turn to knights, to take on a HUGE city, so you can have it as your faction, You'd think, after beating the city with an army you'd raised from scratch that you'd be able to have that city. Nope, If you take over territory you get a small chance of owning it, the king of your faction ultimately decides and he usually offers you compensation of 900 Dennars (The Ingame currency), which wouldn't even be able to buy you a new sword, horse or piece of Armour, taking into the account the men you have lost, and the wages you've paid for said men in training you make a considerable loss and you see some other poncy lord sitting in the castle that he had (probably) tried and failed to take for himself.
    Now, you may say i ranted a little bit there but it's a core game play mechanic and i think it should have had a little bit more thought put into it.
    Oh combat, i have to tell you about this because you use the mouse to control your swings (which direction etc) and i was a little bit unsure of this method, It isn't brilliant but it REALLY isn't as bad as i thought it would be, and with a bit of practice you do in most cases get the sword swinging the way you want too, mounted combat is awesome too, especially with a long weapon it's so fun riding past someone at high speed and then slicing them up before they even get chance to swing, it's so satisfying!!
    Graphics i would say aren't bad, I've seen worse and in certain lights the game does actually look really good.
    I gave this game a seven because of un-immersive character conversation, bad weapon selection system and the occasional bug.
    If your thinking of getting it, play the demo, you'll get a really good idea of what the game is about and how it is played.    … Expand
  29. paradoxon
    Nov 30, 2013
    8
    just recently discovered this diamond amongst indie games and i love it. The by far best mounted combat sim (not RPG) i have ever seen. Don't expect pretty graphics or a compelling storyline, but if you're into realistic medieval combat this is the Game you are looking for.
    I would give it a 10/10 but M&B:Warband is even better and i'm missing a multiplayer mode which allows you not only    just recently discovered this diamond amongst indie games and i love it. The by far best mounted combat sim (not RPG) i have ever seen. Don't expect pretty graphics or a compelling storyline, but if you're into realistic medieval combat this is the Game you are looking for.
    I would give it a 10/10 but M&B:Warband is even better and i'm missing a multiplayer mode which allows you not only to play the combat but also a campaign in coop.    … Expand
  30. Harlehus
    Jan 30, 2014
    10
    Best medieval open-world RPG there is. With a little imagination and love for the Dark Ages you'll play this game for hundreds of hours. There's also an extensive modding community, the best one i've ever encountered.
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Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Best PC Game of 2008
19
#19 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
13
#13 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    88
    A Medieval action RPG with a great battle system, and there are many ways you can play the game. The game doesn't have a storyline, which is why it becomes a bit boring and pointless after a while, but it does have many good mods and they will keep the game fresh. [Sept 2008]
  2. Boomtown
    70
    A fantastic game. It's hampered by a few problems, but nothing major. It provides ground breaking gameplay that I am sure will be imitated by others.
  3. GamePro
    100
    For a game with such a heavy emphasis on medieval combat, Mount & Blade is just shy of perfection.
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