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The Banner Saga 3 marks the end of a captivating trilogy, a story steeped in Norse mythology where survival is a constant struggle against a looming apocalypse. While the game maintains the series’ signature melancholic tone and stunning visuals, it unfortunately falters in its execution, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential and a bittersweet aftertaste.

The Banner Saga 3

A Narrative Hampered by Inconsistencies

The Banner Saga 3’s narrative suffers from a critical flaw: a tendency to introduce significant plot points and then either abandon them entirely or fail to explore their consequences meaningfully. Throughout the game, crucial situations are presented as mere side notes, ultimately having no tangible impact on the overarching story. Eywyn’s leadership struggles within the Valka and Bolverk’s possession by Bellower are prime examples of this narrative dissonance. These potentially compelling storylines are introduced with a sense of urgency, only to be brushed aside, leaving the player feeling unsatisfied and cheated of their narrative weight.

The Banner Saga 3

This inconsistency permeates the entire narrative structure. Plot developments often appear abruptly, character deaths are treated with surprising indifference, and seemingly important character traits ultimately lead nowhere. The dialogue, while effectively portraying the personalities and motivations of the characters, often serves only to reiterate redundant information in an already bloated and unsatisfying plot. The result is a narrative that feels hollow, despite its potential.

A Frustrating Lack of Clear Consequences

The Banner Saga 3 inherits a problematic element from its predecessors: a lack of consistent rules governing its consequence system. While the game’s overall structure is linear, its random encounters significantly impact the player experience. Unfortunately, instead of establishing clear cause-and-effect relationships, the game often leaves players feeling like they are at the mercy of arbitrary decisions.

The Banner Saga 3

Choices presented to the player frequently lack the necessary context or information to make informed decisions. The consequences of these choices can range from minor setbacks to character deaths, yet the game rarely provides clues as to the potential outcomes. This lack of transparency makes the decision-making process feel less like strategic planning and more like a game of chance with disproportionately high stakes. The example of choosing how to cross the bridge in Chapter 19 highlights this issue perfectly. The lack of foreshadowing or hints makes the potentially devastating consequences feel unfair and unearned.

The Banner Saga 3

While the game occasionally features compelling cause-and-effect scenarios, such as the impactful character death near the end of Chapter 20, these moments are too few and far between. The overall impression is one of a haphazardly designed consequence system that undermines the emotional impact of character deaths and trivializes the player’s choices.

A Stagnant Combat System

The turn-based combat in The Banner Saga series has always felt somewhat underdeveloped, and the third installment fails to address its core issues. The sequential turn order and the direct correlation between damage and health points remain significant flaws, hindering strategic depth. While the introduction of armor breaking and special abilities offers a glimmer of tactical nuance, these additions ultimately feel like band-aids on a broken system.

The Banner Saga 3

The new wave-based combat mechanic, intended to increase the pace of battles, is poorly implemented. The arbitrary nature of enemy reinforcements and the severe penalties for failing to eliminate them before the next wave arrives create frustrating and unwinnable scenarios. The fact that the game avoids displaying a “Game Over” screen, even after a crushing defeat, further underscores the disconnect between the narrative’s emphasis on consequences and the actual gameplay experience.

A Missed Opportunity

The Banner Saga 3 is a disappointment. While its stunning visuals and melancholic atmosphere retain the series’ charm, its flawed narrative, inconsistent consequence system, and stagnant combat mechanics ultimately undermine its potential. The game feels like a missed opportunity to deliver a truly satisfying conclusion to a promising trilogy.

The Banner Saga 3

Developed by Stoic and published by Versus Evil, The Banner Saga 3 was released on July 26, 2018, for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.