The Banner Saga 3

 PC
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 142 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 100 out of 142
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 142
  3. Negative: 12 out of 142

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  1. FuriousFernando
    Sep 26, 2018
    6
    The first one still the best. Ending choices of the second game dont matter. Canary betrayal plot is dropped. Ludin and Vognirs death plot is dropped. Alette is still a Rambo and wins battles duo with the scald. Ivers battles can give you a pause until you figure out that stonesinger and strength buff + mender and armor restore can net you 20/50 monsters. And with the heroics? An overkill.The first one still the best. Ending choices of the second game dont matter. Canary betrayal plot is dropped. Ludin and Vognirs death plot is dropped. Alette is still a Rambo and wins battles duo with the scald. Ivers battles can give you a pause until you figure out that stonesinger and strength buff + mender and armor restore can net you 20/50 monsters. And with the heroics? An overkill. Rivers of renown you dont know who to spend on because the rest dont matter. In the first game everyone mattered because you had not that many characters and after dealing with second waves and its randomness while being half dead, you could have injuries, possible limited supplies and had to rotate your squad.… Expand
  2. Underpants158
    Aug 23, 2018
    7
    The ending is somewhat disappointing and unless you played the two previous games recently you will feel a little out of the loop. Everything else is the same as the first 2 though. Really you should definitely not play this out of sequence.
  3. touchofheaven
    Jun 2, 2020
    6
    This game is much more weaker than the previous ones. I didn't even finish it.
  4. nickderpderp
    Aug 17, 2018
    5
    I'm confused. The first banner saga was fresh. The second one was good. But the third? I feel like it's made because of someone needed to milk this little brand. It's like going on a vacation trip only to see tired people trying to make your holidays pleasant but they actually don't care. Maybe if you don't want to make a certain game don't make that game? Such wise advice by me. II'm confused. The first banner saga was fresh. The second one was good. But the third? I feel like it's made because of someone needed to milk this little brand. It's like going on a vacation trip only to see tired people trying to make your holidays pleasant but they actually don't care. Maybe if you don't want to make a certain game don't make that game? Such wise advice by me. I probably won't buy banner saga 4 after this experience. (I know that it should be the end of the trilogy but with that brand milking to the death they may try with next one)… Expand
  5. michaelb1928
    Aug 22, 2018
    5
    The 3-rd part is a huge disappointment.
    1) Dialogues are written with the left foot. Boring, uncharismatic, with mistakes and, at times, with complete absence of the slightest sense.
    2) If you don't have save files from previous chapters, the authors formed the most disgusting version of the previous decisions for yo
  6. rogal5707
    Dec 2, 2018
    10
    I liked everything in the game! The main thing is that it is unusual and differs from many modern games.
  7. kamaroff
    Aug 13, 2018
    4
    The 3-rd part is a huge disappointment.
    1) Dialogues are written with the left foot. Boring, uncharismatic, with mistakes and, at times, with complete absence of the slightest sense.
    2) If you don't have save files from previous chapters, the authors formed the most disgusting version of the previous decisions for you. [spoiler] The bridge of the warls is blown up. We did not take    The 3-rd part is a huge disappointment.
    1) Dialogues are written with the left foot. Boring, uncharismatic, with mistakes and, at times, with complete absence of the slightest sense.
    2) If you don't have save files from previous chapters, the authors formed the most disgusting version of the previous decisions for you. [spoiler] The bridge of the warls is blown up. We did not take the child of the dredges in the first part. etc [/ spoiler]
    3) Backgrounds and music are mediocre. Music - background noise. The backgrounds are faded and unattractive.
    4) The final, though logical, but terribly banal. [spoiler] Say "Hello" to Prince of Persia (2008). [/ spoiler]

    Outcome:
    - We do not have a choice, we have to buy to find out the end of the story.
    - Developers know this too, and therefore we got what we got.
    - The third part gets 4 points out of 10. The first and second parts are 9 out of 10.
    - If you are not familiar with the series, definitely take the first part, and then decide for yourself shell you continue or not.    … Expand
  8. Allbrotnar
    Jul 27, 2018
    9
    What an incredible ending to an amazing story. This is how you finish a trilogy!

    Your decisions from two games weigh heavy, new mechanics complicate existing tactics and the visuals and soundtrack have been kicked up to 11.

    Stoic should be proud of this fantastic game.
  9. zodak
    Aug 6, 2018
    9
    Banner Saga series became very special to me. Sure, there are some minor weaknesses, but for me they don't really matter much because they don't disturb my immersion with this game.

    I love Banner Saga series for the characters and their development. And this development depends on your decisions in the game, some of them are very hard to make. Often there is no right or wrong because    Banner Saga series became very special to me. Sure, there are some minor weaknesses, but for me they don't really matter much because they don't disturb my immersion with this game.

    I love Banner Saga series for the characters and their development. And this development depends on your decisions in the game, some of them are very hard to make. Often there is no right or wrong because every character has a different story and, like in real life, their own truth in it.

    Banner Saga achieves to convey the message in a beautifully designed world and the matching soundtrack strikes in the heart to make you feel as a part of the journey that it takes you with.

    I love the game because I can grasp a bit of it for real life. Some decisions, not all, makes you think about ideas you normally wouldn't think about because you haven't been in a situation that required it.

    I'll keep Banner Saga in memory because it is a piece of art entirely and a figurehead as to what a video game can be instead of being dull and meaningless. It's the opposite and I am going to play this one again some time. The only thing that I would have wished for in approach to the maximum of immersion is dubbing the characters.    … Expand
  10. 0wn3df1x
    Feb 15, 2019
    7
    Неплохое завершение серии. Единственное, что концовка подкачала и очень не хватило качественного и красочного эпилога. Не совсем ясно, зачем нужно было ближке к концу отрисовывать раскрытый ранее и полностью понятный твист, и при этом никак не отрисовывать эпилог, да хотя бы текстом и картинками выдать. Но это такое.

    По технической части. Стоит дождаться патчей. Игра умудрилась вылететь    Неплохое завершение серии. Единственное, что концовка подкачала и очень не хватило качественного и красочного эпилога. Не совсем ясно, зачем нужно было ближке к концу отрисовывать раскрытый ранее и полностью понятный твист, и при этом никак не отрисовывать эпилог, да хотя бы текстом и картинками выдать. Но это такое.

    По технической части. Стоит дождаться патчей. Игра умудрилась вылететь 8 раз и в большинстве случаев после распределения уровней персонажей и битв с несколькими волнами врагов, что доставило определённые неудобства из-за необходимости делать всё заново.

    Что касается русской локализации. Ей занималась не отечественные локализаторы, а польская компания Testronic. Вышло средненько. Во-первых, в тексте встречается достаточно опечаток, ошибок и косяков с тэгами, попадаются даже строки с пометками локализаторов (в духе "Саня, что это, переведи", но более коротко и официально). Во-вторых, сложилось впечатление, что текст был очень криво разделен, либо переводился вразнобой, либо какие-то строки переводились гораздо позже уже другими переводчиками, иначе сложно объяснить, как в подряд идущем тексте сначала персонаж изъясняется вполне ясно, а во второй фразе уже так, будто переводящий фразу человек не понимал, что происходит, да ещё пол персонажей перепутал; туда же идут разорванные строки, когда предложения и куски текста повторяются в двух диалоговых окнах, словно текст обновлялся, строки видоизменялись (старый текст перемещался в новую строку), а в переводе и старый текст оставался, и новый переносился, в итоге получилась каша. Исходя из указанного ранее, можно предположить, что в переводе не было редактора и корректировщика. По итогу локализация всё ещё уступает первой части, но стоит признать, что гораздо лучше второй, где она была просто на уровне грунта.    … Expand
  11. Crimert
    May 18, 2020
    9
    I felt myself as if I'm inside of a fantasy novel... It was truly epic! I really advise this game! 9hrs on record.
  12. kezzyhko
    Jul 29, 2020
    8
    ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
  13. Shumkinvrode
    Dec 30, 2021
    2
    I have no complaints in the visual part, only a claim to the level of the developers' approach, why should I pay for the same thing that I met in the first part with the same money, very minimal innovations, the scale is not felt.
  14. Mandulum
    Dec 9, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Favorite Thing: A great end to an epic journey.
    Least Favorite Thing: (!!!!SPOILER!!!!) Alette, who has been with me for three games, gets killed almost as an afterthought and the game quickly moves on from her.

    Date Completed: 2018-11-24
    Playtime: 9h
    Enjoyment: 8/10
    Recommendation: If you played the first two you mostly know what to expect. If you haven't you should!    … Expand
  15. Stobek
    Jan 12, 2019
    6
    Had some fun.
    DIsappointment ending. Combat is completely unbalanced now. Too short. Not enough animation (they advertise their game with in-game hand drawn animation, but there is 1 minute of it total).
  16. kylemccoy131
    Jan 26, 2023
    10
    I played the whole trilogy back to back, so this is a review of all the games. There are some nitpicks I have such as the "maim strategy" limiting gameplay variety... but thats about it. Everything else I loved! I found that as the trilogy progressed, there were enough new challenges and moveset updates that it keeps you on your toes. The art style and soundtrack are unique and always aI played the whole trilogy back to back, so this is a review of all the games. There are some nitpicks I have such as the "maim strategy" limiting gameplay variety... but thats about it. Everything else I loved! I found that as the trilogy progressed, there were enough new challenges and moveset updates that it keeps you on your toes. The art style and soundtrack are unique and always a treat to experience.… Expand
  17. RagingPoet
    Nov 22, 2018
    9
    The Banner Saga 3 has less resource management and more impactful choices than previous games of the series. There are few bugs that cause crushes during loading, I personally had two in 10 hours of playthrough and they can be cured by reloading the last save.
    Overall, despite it's technical issues, it's a great finale for one of the best modern game series.
  18. Versetty2005
    Feb 26, 2023
    8
    Not all innovations were useful. Some of the characters seemed useless. The alternation of scenes in the close to the finale is rather boring, although the idea is interesting. The ending is not cathartic, but not disappointing either
  19. apeot2002
    Apr 19, 2023
    7
    The Banner Saga Three weaves a grand finale, but struggles to tie up loose ends. Seen in context with the prior two installments, it seems to me that the Banner Saga is less a series of three games and more one game chopped up into three parts. While it’s true that all three games find a definite climax to end on, in every aspect but the story, the Banner Saga games are almost identical.The Banner Saga Three weaves a grand finale, but struggles to tie up loose ends. Seen in context with the prior two installments, it seems to me that the Banner Saga is less a series of three games and more one game chopped up into three parts. While it’s true that all three games find a definite climax to end on, in every aspect but the story, the Banner Saga games are almost identical. That isn’t a bad thing when it comes to the production values: The art is its evocative self, switching between the haunting woodcut-like rendering of the lands and detailed and expressive depictions of the characters during combat and conversation, the former sporting impressive animations, the latter owing a lot to the style of the hand-drawn early disney movies. The music beguiles with haunting horns and overall excellence. The dialogue is sharp and yet relatable, which is a hard needle to thread. Less welcome is the lack of evolution of the game systems. There are a few more options for character growth, but in the end those just add additional options to increase the very same attributes and hit chances. There is a new class of enemy, but they basically behave the same as the other enemies. The involved numbers become greater, but the game experience stays the same. Especially now that all three installments are easily accessible, it really feels like the Banner Saga is one whole. So is it worth sticking around through the whole saga? That question hinges on the story sticking the landing. Has the landing stuck? Mostly yes in my opinion. The End of the World is addressed, how well is dependent on your performance and decisions. The great mystery of how the Apocalypse started is explained. I’m not exactly happy with a few of the turns the story takes, but overall, the finale is well worth witnessing. Only… a few of the crucial details of the plot remain frustratingly vague, and not in an intentional way. To me it feels like the writers had lost sight of these details at some point. It’s a bit of a shame, because some of these details were very intriguing. Especially the last race entering the ranks of playable characters remains quite underdeveloped. Still, if you have made it this far, you’ll want to get to the end, to see all the sights the saga has to show you. They are well worth the modest time investment the game asks of you. TLDR: If you’ve played and enjoyed the first and second Banner Saga, you owe it to yourself to experience the finale. Everybody else should start at the beginning or walk away.… Expand
  20. DinboNomad2z2
    Jul 5, 2023
    0
    This franchise is abandoned. I cannot recommend this to anyone if playing on steam. This one is full of bugs to the point it's unplayable. Game crash, Game save lost, UI being bugged, character soft locked. People seemed to have been pointing out these issues since release, but devs went on with their days by just typing acknowledgement and never fixing the issues.
    UI bugs seems to apply    This franchise is abandoned. I cannot recommend this to anyone if playing on steam. This one is full of bugs to the point it's unplayable. Game crash, Game save lost, UI being bugged, character soft locked. People seemed to have been pointing out these issues since release, but devs went on with their days by just typing acknowledgement and never fixing the issues.
    UI bugs seems to apply to some characters who are under leveled compared to the saves given by default. To be more clear, if you have a save from Banner Saga 2 and the character has movement/attack range of 3 while default save character have 4, it will show the movement capability as 4 while only having the ability to move 3. This is a deal breaker in these type of games where you need to plan ahead to fight enemies.    … Expand
  21. Jamesgary
    Aug 8, 2023
    10
    after the 2 the three is verry great and also the last chapter of the banner saga

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best PC Game of 2018
97
#97 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
22
#22 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 51
  3. Negative: 0 out of 51
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Dec 31, 2018
    80
    A successful ending to the trilogy, which is also the best game of the series. Stoics managed to finish the entire saga marvelously. [Issue#288]
  2. CD-Action
    Dec 4, 2018
    60
    With its dated, slow combat system, no intention to evolve the series, bugs, and no tension, The Banner Saga 3 is sadly just a game you tick off to get closure, not a spectacular finale. [10/2018, p.82]
  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Sep 26, 2018
    80
    It’s Part 3 of the trilogy, so if you’ve missed the previous two, there’s no reason to play this one first. But if you’ve been anxiously awaiting the finale of the story that began 4 years ago – The Banner Saga 3 won’t disappoint. [Issue#232, p.58]
See all critic reviews »