Mount & Blade: Warband

 Xbox One
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 3 out of 10
  1. MondoXbox
    Sep 30, 2016
    75
    Thanks to its deep simulation and strategic features, Mount & Blade: Warband is a great game for every lover of the medieval age, provided that you're willing to create your own story as the game won't provide any.
  2. Xbox Achievements
    Sep 16, 2016
    75
    While Mount & Blade: Warband hasn't really gained a whole lot in the jump from PC to console, it's great that such a deep and sprawling game has found a home on new platforms after so many years. It looks dreadful, but scratch beneath the surface, and Warband is an enormously rewarding RPG/strategy/medieval warfare sim-type thing that's becomes more and more compelling the more you play.
  3. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Nov 1, 2016
    70
    The sweeping world map is brilliant, but married by subpar presentation and frustrating AI. [Dec 2016, p.91]
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  5. IGN
    Sep 22, 2016
    68
    Controls are awkward at best, making it tough to appreciate how good the combat is, but there's a lot of fun here, especially in the eight multiplayer modes for up to 32 players.
  6. GameSpew
    Sep 29, 2016
    60
    It’s surprising to see such little care done [in the console release], thanks to the age of the original PC version.
  7. Windows Central
    Oct 7, 2016
    50
    Mount & Blade: Warband isn't supremely polished and swanky, but it is enjoyable, and there is enough intrigue to keep anyone entertained if they can see beyond its datedness. The fighting mechanics and the horse-riding need overhauling entirely for it to be a great game, but in the meantime, Warband is a good game to spend a few hours at a time in.
  8. TrueAchievements
    Sep 17, 2016
    50
    Mount & Blade: Warband features some innovative ideas that many other games in the genre haven't explored. The focus on the political nature of warring countries as well as the actual combat gives players multiple ways to play. It is unfortunate that many of these features are left largely unexplained, though, and they require more than a small amount of trial and error to figure out exactly how to proceed. The steep learning curve and low production values may put many people off, although its open-endedness offers players far more replayability than many other games in the genre.
  9. ICXM
    Sep 19, 2016
    40
    Releasing a six-year old port onto the Xbox One without reworking the graphics will probably keep this title from any hope of success and the control scheme shows that this game still feels at home on PC, especially while on horseback.
  10. We Got This Covered
    Sep 16, 2016
    40
    There’s no doubt that some will be hooked and will find ways around the bigger problems but while Warband promises a lot and is truly ambitious in scope, this console version falls well before the battle is over.
  11. ZTGD
    Sep 23, 2016
    30
    I can’t overlook all the issues for the console versions of this game. It feels like very little was done to make it a more streamlined console version. From menus, to font size, controls, and more. It looks extremely dated, like something that somehow got shelved in the early 90’s. It’s got a lot of depth, at least more than expected for a game of this visual style and setting. Just everything that tries to shine is muddied with everything else.

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2016
53
#53 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 51
  3. Negative: 10 out of 51
  1. Callahan9119
    Sep 20, 2016
    8
    Amazing game. How do these reviewers dog a 20 dollar game for not redoing the visuals for a console release? Do classic games that getAmazing game. How do these reviewers dog a 20 dollar game for not redoing the visuals for a console release? Do classic games that get released on new generation consoles get the same treatment? They actually did up the visuals from the pc game.

    You can spend hundreds of hours on this game...there is just nothing like it in console. Yes it looks dated...it's a 7 year old game, but if you are willing to learn the mechanics of combat, economy, politics and war you will be rewarded with a game like no other.

    Controls take some getting used to. Feels kinda wonky until you get it down. But it was just as hard to learn on the pc to be honest.

    Multiplayer is a hoot. Watch some videos of people who actually play the game and decide if it's something you would be into. Not these half baked "official" reviews.    … Full Review »
  2. zsweat
    Sep 16, 2016
    10
    This game is in my top 5 games of all-time, and I have played it extensively on PC for years before it was released on consoles. That beingThis game is in my top 5 games of all-time, and I have played it extensively on PC for years before it was released on consoles. That being said, the console adaptation is a great way for newcomers to get into it, and at $20 (average price on Steam and most other places), I'd say it's well worth the measly 20 bucks.

    The only gripe I have so far is that issuing commands to units is kinda clunky, but after more time sunk into it, I'm sure I'll begin to memorize the patterns like I did on a keyboard. The combat is spot on though, maybe even better, and that's really where M&B Warband shines.    … Full Review »
  3. whalepudding
    Sep 25, 2017
    10
    The graphics are terrible. The controls are even worse. The combat mechanics are abysmal. The menu is from the 90'S. The politics isThe graphics are terrible. The controls are even worse. The combat mechanics are abysmal. The menu is from the 90'S. The politics is frustrating. Then why can't I stop playing it?!… Full Review »
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