The Banner Saga 2 is a turn-based strategy RPG that continues the story of a caravan struggling to survive in a Viking-inspired world threatened by encroaching darkness. Players lead groups of humans, Varl, and later Horseborn through a series of narrative decisions and tactical battles, managing limited resources while facing consequences that shape both the journey and the roster of survivors.
Gameplay
Core gameplay revolves around caravan travel across hostile lands, where daily choices determine how many supplies remain for the group and which characters stay alive. These decisions often lead directly into grid-based combat encounters. In battle, units take turns moving and acting on maps that include barriers and variable objectives beyond simple elimination of foes. Combat emphasizes positioning and targeting, with larger Varl units occupying multiple spaces and all fighters possessing separate strength and armor values that players must manage carefully to maximize damage output while minimizing losses.
Resource allocation extends beyond supplies to include the development of individual characters through experience gained in fights. New unit types appear as the story progresses, introducing fresh abilities that alter tactical options on the battlefield. The system rewards careful planning, as losing key fighters permanently removes them from future encounters and alters available dialogue paths.
Game Modes
The primary experience is the single-player campaign, which picks up directly from events in the first game and allows import of prior choices to maintain continuity in character states and story branches. A separate survival mode lets players assemble teams from unlocked characters for extended wave-based challenges that test endurance across dozens of increasingly difficult encounters without the narrative layer.
Both modes share the same underlying combat and management systems, though survival strips away story elements to focus purely on tactical survival against successive enemy waves. No multiplayer components exist in either mode.
Narrative and World
The setting features distinct factions including humans, the horned Varl giants, the invading Dredge, and the centaur-like Horseborn introduced later in the journey. Interactions between these groups drive much of the tension, as alliances form or fracture based on player decisions during caravan stops. The overarching threat of a world-ending darkness forces constant movement toward a rumored safe haven, with each stop presenting moral dilemmas that can result in deaths, new recruits, or shifts in group morale.
Hand-drawn animations bring combat and key story moments to life, supported by an orchestral score that underscores the grim atmosphere throughout the campaign.
Soundtrack
Composer Austin Wintory returns with an expanded orchestral approach performed by the Colorado Symphony. The music incorporates vocal performances from Taylor Davis, Malukah, and Peter Hollens, alongside contributions from the Icelandic band Árstíðir. The full track list includes pieces such as An Oath, Until The End; The World is Breaking; Faces to the Wind; Minds like Streams and Streams like Minds; A Path through the Skies; Under the Black Banner; Only Snow can Shield the Sun; Blades Yearn for Courageous Blood; Promises of Sanctuary; The Endlessly Grasping Bogs; Descended from Fire; Dragons in the Mud; Deep into the Rocks; Even the Trees can Smell your Blood; To the Skies; Children of the Fallen; Broken Shells; From the Shouting Rocks, His Eyes finally Opened; Paths Part; The Twilight Flight; With Eyes to the Endless Sun; Walls like Mountains; More Stars Tonight than Last Night; Threads Unweave; and Our Steps, To the Night.
Is It Worth Playing?
The Banner Saga 2 receives consistent praise for its integration of meaningful choices with tactical combat and its distinctive visual style. Recent user feedback on major platforms remains very positive, highlighting the refined battle systems and emotional weight of the narrative for those who enjoy story-driven strategy experiences. The game stands as a complete, self-contained sequel that builds on its predecessor without requiring external updates or seasonal content. It suits players seeking deliberate pacing, permanent consequences, and grid-based tactics over fast action or competitive multiplayer. Those who appreciate the first entry or similar tactical RPGs with strong writing will find the most value here, while newcomers may benefit from starting with the initial game to fully appreciate the carried-over decisions.
