The Banner Saga

The Banner Saga is a tactical role-playing game from Stoic, with Versus Evil handling publication. Its story unfolds in a Norse-mythology-inspired setting, following two protagonists whose paths eventually converge; the plot shifts based on choices the player makes. The title first launched on personal computers and mobile phones in 2014, later arriving on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016, and finally on Nintendo Switch in 2018.

Stoic Studio was founded by three designers who previously worked at BioWare. The project received funding through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. Its hand-drawn visuals take inspiration from the art of Eyvind Earle, Ralph Bakshi, and Don Bluth. Austin Wintory composed the music, performed by the Dallas Wind Symphony. Before the main game’s release, a free standalone multiplayer component called *The Banner Saga: Factions* was made available. Critics praised the game for its art style, combat, and story. Two sequels followed: *The Banner Saga 2* in 2016 and *The Banner Saga 3* in 2018, which wrapped up the series.

The game functions as an interactive story, where events occur or are skipped based on player decisions. Two groups of characters each have their own narrative that eventually merges into one. The core campaign uses turn-based combat, influenced by games like *Final Fantasy Tactics* and *Shining Force*. Players build a party of characters with complementary abilities. The developers deliberately avoided common role-playing game conventions—such as focusing on a young lone hero, looting items, or reloading after defeat—choosing instead to tell the story of the entire caravan and encourage players to accept the consequences of any losses.

The story centers on the return of the Dredge, a warlike race that despises humans, led by the nearly invincible Bellower. A wandering army sent to fight the Dredge and find a weakness for Bellower must make difficult decisions that shape the fate of both humans and the giant-like Varl. Meanwhile, a darkness spreads across the world as a giant serpent causes massive earthquakes and breaches in the land.

The world is stuck in perpetual twilight, the sun having stopped moving weeks before the game begins. It is populated by humans, Varl, and the Dredge—an ancient race thought extinct, now returning to kill everyone.