Bannerborn is a fantasy strategy auto-battler developed as an indie title for PC. Players recruit troops, arrange formations, and watch battles unfold automatically while shaping powerful combinations through card upgrades and fusions. The core loop centers on turning a small group of recruits into an overwhelming force by mixing units from different races and supporting them with buildings and siege engines.
Gameplay
The gameplay revolves around building and refining an army before each fight. A player selects a leader and then assembles a roster from cards representing humans, goblins, orcs, dwarves, undead, and beasts. Three matching cards can be combined to increase their star level, boosting strength and unlocking further potential. Formations place squads in positions where they receive support from adjacent units or structures, ensuring each group contributes effectively to the overall strategy.
During combat the troops operate independently. Reinforcements arrive on the field, siege engines deliver ranged attacks, and special units such as dragons breathe fire across the melee. The camera can be moved and zoomed to observe the action, helping players identify strengths and weaknesses for the next formation. Upgrades from forges and army-wide doctrines add layers of customization that persist across encounters.
Fusion at the Soulforge allows different army cards to share abilities and carry over upgrades. This system encourages experimentation, such as granting wings to siege engines or turning skeletons into sources of additional troops. The result is a focus on discovering synergistic builds rather than direct control during fights.
Game Modes
Bannerborn supports both solo and cooperative play. An expedition can be tackled alone or with up to four friends in online co-op. In co-op each participant builds their own army, inspects allies' formations, and can send cards to help complete builds. Surviving troops from a victorious battle can reinforce teammates, linking individual successes to the group's overall survival.
Single-player runs follow branching paths through battles, training camps, forges, and random discoveries. Players choose doctrines that alter army behavior and prepare for one of three final bosses. Four difficulty levels range from Easy to Nightmare, with an Endless mode available for those who want to continue with a successful army after the main expedition.
The structure emphasizes replayability through randomized elements in each run. Different routes and rewards push players to adapt their approach rather than relying on a single fixed strategy.
Army Building and Customization
Recruitment draws from a pool of units across multiple races, allowing mixes that create unusual synergies. Buildings and siege engines integrate into formations to provide support or firepower. The star-level system rewards focused investment in favorite units while still permitting broad experimentation.
Doctrine choices and forge upgrades further shape how the army performs. These elements stack with fused abilities to produce distinctive playstyles. The emphasis remains on planning ahead and refining the roster between fights rather than reacting in real time.
Additional Features
Achievements unlock cosmetic companions known as critters. There are 11 in total, ranging from tiny adventurers to a potato-tossing catapult. These companions appear on the field during battles but do not participate in combat. Visual effects can be applied once unlocked, adding variety to repeated runs without altering core mechanics.
Is It Worth Playing?
Bannerborn suits players who enjoy auto-battler mechanics combined with roguelike progression and strategic formation building. The solo expedition offers a complete experience for those who prefer single-player runs, while the co-op option adds a layer of teamwork where armies support one another. Multiple difficulties and Endless mode provide ongoing challenge for those who master the systems.
The game rewards thoughtful combination crafting and adaptation to branching encounters. Fans of card-based army building and watching emergent battles will find the loop engaging, particularly when experimenting with fusions and doctrines. Its indie scope keeps the focus tight on core systems rather than expansive narratives or frequent updates.
