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The Banner Saga 3 similar games & best alternatives

The Banner Saga 3

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, Nintendo Switch • 2018

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Quick resume

Banner Saga 3 is the epic conclusion to a sweeping viking saga six years in the making. This strategic RPG, acclaimed for its strong story and compelling characters has won over 20 awards and been nominated for 4 BAFTA awards.

Global score

79/100

Genres

Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Simulator, Tactical

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep and impactful story with meaningful choices
    • Beautiful art style and music
    • Engaging turn-based tactical combat
    • Strong emotional and atmospheric immersion
    • Character progression and customization

    Cons

    • Technical issues including crashes and bugs
    • Some players find combat repetitive
    • Story ending feels abrupt or incomplete to some
    • Lack of full voice acting and occasional translation issues
    • Additional content behind dlc paywalls

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players make meaningful choices affecting story and gameplay outcomes, with freedom to decide actions and strategies."

      Capsule for March of the Living March of the Living

      "Players make meaningful choices affecting story and character fates, with freedom to direct actions and decisions."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Turn-based tactical combat with skill progression and strategic use of abilities offers a satisfying challenge, though some find it easy or repetitive."

      Capsule for Shadowrun Returns Shadowrun Returns

      "Turn-based tactical combat with skillful use of abilities and strategic planning, though some find it repetitive."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -1

      "Focus is mostly on single-player progression and personal skill improvement; multiplayer is local only and limited, with no online ranked modes."

      Capsule for Dodgeball Academia Dodgeball Academia

      "Focus is primarily on story and personal progression; some online arena mode exists but is optional and separate."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      4

      "Players express strong attachment to the trilogy and spend many hours immersed in the game, often replaying it."

      Capsule for Goodbye Deponia Goodbye Deponia

      "Players often binge the trilogy and replay to explore different choices; strong attachment to story and characters."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -3

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player with party members controlled by player; no multiplayer or cooperative modes."

      Capsule for Jesus Christ RPG Trilogy Jesus Christ RPG Trilogy

      "Gameplay is mostly single-player focused with individual party management; limited multiplayer modes are DLC."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Some customization in hero development and strategic choices, but mostly structured gameplay."

      Capsule for My Lands: Black Gem Hunting My Lands: Black Gem Hunting

      "Players customize character builds and choose heroic titles; limited world-building but strong narrative creativity."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -4

      "Interactions emphasize shared narrative and balanced combat rather than exerting superiority or control over others."

      Capsule for The Banner Saga 2 The Banner Saga 2

      "Interactions emphasize shared story and balanced combat rather than exerting control over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Immersive fantasy world and emotional storytelling provide a strong escape from real life."

      Capsule for Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons

      "Immersive fantasy world and story provide strong escape from reality and emotional engagement."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest in story and gameplay, not obligation."

      Capsule for SANABI SANABI

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story and gameplay; no sense of obligation reported."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      2

      "Game introduces new mechanics and abilities progressively, encouraging players to try different strategies."

      Capsule for Oozi: Earth Adventure Oozi: Earth Adventure

      "Players explore different choices and combat tactics; some routine elements but also new mechanics introduced."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      1

      "Exploration is narrative-based, discovering story secrets and timelines rather than physical environments."

      Capsule for Season of 12 Colors Season of 12 Colors

      "Exploration mostly narrative and strategic rather than physical; some discovery of story secrets and lore."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      2

      "Some character choices and building customization allow for personal expression, though limited."

      Capsule for Feel The Snow Feel The Snow

      "Character customization through titles and builds allows personal expression within defined parameters."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      5

      "Strongly rooted in Norse-inspired fantasy world with mythical creatures, gods, and epic storytelling."

      Capsule for The Banner Saga 2 The Banner Saga 2

      "Strongly rooted in a mythological fantasy world with Vikings, giants, and supernatural elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      1

      "Some community engagement noted but primarily a single-player experience with limited social features."

      Capsule for RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army

      "Community engagement exists but gameplay is primarily single-player; some social features in DLC modes."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Skill tree progression and learning combat tactics provide opportunities for player development."

      Capsule for Invincible Presents: Atom Eve Invincible Presents: Atom Eve

      "Character progression and learning combat strategies provide opportunities for skill development."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

      Capsule for World of Tanks Blitz World of Tanks Blitz

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires sustained attention during story and combat; not designed for background or casual play."

      Capsule for Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception

      "Requires sustained attention during combat and story; not designed for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      2

      "Emotional engagement with characters and story fosters a sense of connection."

      Capsule for The Rewinder The Rewinder

      "Emotional connections with characters and narrative relationships foster deeper engagement."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      3

      "Player leads and manages a party with strategic decisions impacting group survival"

      Capsule for Curious Expedition Curious Expedition

      "Players lead and manage a party and make strategic decisions affecting group survival."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Strong emphasis on leveling up characters, acquiring abilities, and collecting items and upgrades."

      Capsule for KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

      "Strong emphasis on leveling characters, acquiring titles, and collecting items to enhance abilities."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      -1

      "Atmosphere is tense and eerie, but some players find it immersive and engaging rather than stressful."

      Capsule for Layers of Fear Layers of Fear

      "Tense and stressful atmosphere with survival pressure; some players find it immersive rather than relaxing."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

      "Music, art, and emotional story provide strong sensory and emotional stimulation."

      Capsule for Demons Roots Demons Roots

      "Beautiful art and music provide rich sensory experience; emotional highs and lows in story."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -2

      "Recognition mostly within community; no strong emphasis on social status or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Windward Horizon Windward Horizon

      "Recognition mostly internal or within community; no strong social status or leaderboard focus."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Narrative-driven game with deep story, character development, and meaningful player choices."

      Capsule for Vampyr Vampyr

      "Narrative-driven game with deep lore, character development, and impactful player choices."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      4

      "Turn-based tactical combat and resource management require planning and problem solving."

      Capsule for Terminus: Zombie Survivors Terminus: Zombie Survivors

      "Turn-based tactical combat and resource/time management require planning and problem solving."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      2

      "Emotional suspense and narrative tension create a sense of thrill."

      Capsule for In Stars And Time In Stars And Time

      "Tension from survival stakes and difficult choices creates suspense and emotional thrill."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      3

      "Players report good value for time invested, especially on sale, with many hours of gameplay."

      Capsule for Phantom Doctrine Phantom Doctrine

      "Players report good value for time invested, especially when playing the full trilogy."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat involves defeating enemies with various weapons; violence is stylized and integral to gameplay."

      Capsule for Bastion Bastion

      "Combat involves tactical battles with enemies; violence is stylized and integral to gameplay."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      4

      "Strong survival theme with players avoiding death, managing resources, and overcoming threats."

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      "Strong survival theme with resource/time management and pressure to keep characters alive."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Cooperation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Last update: 30/04/2026