The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep

Lore & Background

The game is set some two centuries after the original trilogy. The Church of the Sword, now the predominant religion in Caith, has become radically xenophobic, persecuting magic-users and non-humans such as dwarves, elves, and trow. The story begins with the execution of six people in Skara Brae, witnessed by the bard Melody. She meets another bard, Rabbie, who leads her through an escape tunnel to Skara Brae Below, where refugees have set up camps.

The player can build a custom character and gradually grow a party of up to six members. The plot uncovers that a primordial evil named Yadris, allied with resurrected villains Mangar, Lagoth Zanta, and Tarjan, seeks to open a rift under Skara Brae. Bishop Henric is revealed to be under Yadris's influence and is slain as the party races to stop Yadris.

Reader's Guide

The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep is significant as a revival of a classic 1980s RPG series after decades of dormancy. Developed by inXile Entertainment, it was crowdfunded via Kickstarter in 2015, surpassing its $1.25 million target in 12 days. The game uses Unreal Engine 4 and photogrammetry for textures. Its Director's Cut, released in 2019, added new dungeons and quality-of-life features.

Reception was mixed: critics praised its combat, puzzles, and music (including contributions from Julie Fowlis), but criticized technical issues, dated visuals, and repetitive mechanics. It received award nominations for Best Original Song and Best Sound Design at the 2019 G.A.N.G. Awards, and for Best Audio Design at The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards. The game's legacy lies in its attempt to honor the original trilogy while introducing modern crowdfunding and development techniques.

Did You Know?

• Scottish folk singer Julie Fowlis contributed to the game's music.