Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 84 | 27 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 88 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 79% | 73 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 84 | 18 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 67% | 65 | 8 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 23 reviews sampled · 23 total reviews in window · weighted 12.7 up / 6.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (93)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
- 80
“The Banner Saga 3 doesn't offer real innovations or unexpected elements, but, nevertheless, it's a great concluding of an interesting and thoughtful tactical RPG series that will please all fans of dramatic fantasy stories.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“The game comes down to two rival parties blandly lumbering toward each other on largely identical stages.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“More of the same from Stoic: small tweaks improve the variety of skirmishes, and the outstanding visuals, sound and narrative make this a saga long to be remembered.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“From the beginning, this series has very much been about the journey to the destination in both a literal and figurative sense, and now we've arrived at the end, it's clear that this was the strongest point all along. The development of characters and the gradual progression of the story naturally have less emphasis this time around, as this is the end of the saga, but what you do get is multiple endings with fitting outcomes. Now all that's left is for you to decide whether or not this game and series are for you, much like the many choices present within the games themselves.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There aren't many games out there that do such a good job of emotionally tugging at your heartstrings the way this particular series does, and Banner Saga 3 is no exception.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Banner Saga 3 is a great finish to a saga with very few mistakes in its execution, showing us a solid, but simple combat system, a strong plot and lore in a fantastic world, delivered with a writing that can immerse the player in its story even though the interactivity between the characters is somewhat missing - possibly due to the absence of voice acting -, complemented with an excellent musical score and amazing visuals.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Banner Saga 3 is a very fitting conclusion to the great Nordic fantasy story that began in the first Banner Saga. With the ability to transfer save data between all three game’s you’ll see your choices and their impacts carry on throughout the 35 hours or so it will take you to play through all three games in the trilogy. While it does take the experience of the first 2 games to fully enjoy, you’ll be glad you did play them when you do get around to jumping into and concluding The Banner Saga 3.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The only people that shouldn't play The Banner Saga 3 are those that haven't played the first two instalments yet. However, if you have been waiting until now, this is absolutely the time to get on-board The Banner Saga bandwagon. This is one of the best strategy games in years, with engrossing combat and a fantastic story. The difficulty is almost perfect, making the battles rewarding without being trivial and players may find themselves actively seeking out more fights. It is entertaining from top to bottom, and the only real negative is that the adventure has finally come to an end. This is the conclusion the saga has been waiting for, though, so if the saga had to finish, it could have hoped for no better way to do it.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Banner Saga 3 is a fantastic tactical role-playing game that confidently concludes the overarching storyline of the series in a manner entirely befitting with what has come before. Little has changed on the combat front - although this game does perhaps feel a mite easier than first two Banner Saga titles - but it's the storytelling where the release truly excels. The stakes are high, and after two and a half games spent getting to know dozens of wildly different characters, watching their fates unfold during the superb finale can be both exhilarating and soul-destroying.”
read full review ↗ - 96
“The moving, fitting climax of a true epic. The Banner Saga took four years to complete and is living proof of what a strong vision, flawless artistic direction and well-tuned game mechanics can achieve when working in perfect synergy. If the screenshots speak to you, you will find here a game that is truly in a league of its own. ”
read full review ↗ - 85
“This vibrant, gorgeously animated tale feels as alive as the top live-action fantasy worlds, even more so with the knockout Austin Wintory soundtrack. The battle system reaches a rewarding crescendo and the story hits a lot of excellent beats as it hurtles towards its thrilling conclusion. From the opening moments of the first game to the finale of the third, this is a trilogy worth playing and this is a great close to an excellent narrative-driven turn-based tactics game.”
read full review ↗
Fintendo
GameMAG
Slant Magazine
Jump Dash Roll
Nintendo Life
RPGamer
Fun Factor
ani-game.com
Cubed3
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport…and 81 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Banner Saga 3 - 2.60.22 Patch NotesDec 18, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Banner Saga 3 - Eternal Arena has launched!Dec 12, 2018
- Banner Saga 3 UpdateNov 1, 2018
- Banner Saga 3 Japanese UpdateOct 8, 2018
- New Build Including Survival Mode for Banner Saga 3!Sep 25, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Banner Saga 3 2.56.03 Bug Fix UpdateAug 6, 2018