The Banner Saga 2

NoobFeedSarwar Ron

90/100

With the beautiful aesthetics that made this game so appealing, as well as the music some people actually listen to outside of game due to its epicenes and delight, The Banner Saga 2 is an actual testament to what a great game can achieve, regardless of its precedence. If the game mechanics are well crafted and, on top of that, the game feels extraordinarily well written, actions actually do matter, decisions carry on and the graphics and music are amazing, then you’re in for an actual treat. So put on that that horned helmet, lace your cloak around your body and make your way to the icy lands...

TechRaptorPatrick Perrault

9/10

The Banner Saga 2 is a worthy sequel and succeeds in propelling the series to new heights.

GamingBoltShubhankar Parijat

9/10

The Banner Saga 2 improves upon the original in almost every way possible and is, as a result, one hell of an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

DestructoidNic Rowen

8.5/10

Too often RPGs and turn-based tactical battle games are the domain of knock off Middle-earths. Of poor fantasy pastiches stitched together with wizards sporting wispy gray beards, dwarves slurring cheap Scottish accents, and knights brandishing impractical shoulder pads. It is a joy and a treat to spend time with a world so different, so unique and intriguing. Even if it is a dying and depressing one.

Impulse GamerJamie Kirk

The Banner Saga 2 picks up right where its predecessor left off, with an unrelentingly bleak story where decisions made by the player are often to mitigate

Press StartToby Berger

8/10

Much like its predecessor, The Banner Saga 2 finds an excellent spot in the Switch’s library. It’s a sequel that refines rather than evolves any of the key gameplay elements, but still manages to feel like an important piece of the series’ narrative puzzle.

GamingTrendAbram Buehner

80/100

The Banner Saga 2 is a stunningly animated game that sets a new standard for both presentation and narrative outside of the AAA sphere. The game does stumble with a poorly designed combat UI, and a claustrophobic battle system that doesn’t offer much breathing room for different strategies. While monotonous, combat is serviceable, and doesn’t greatly detract from what is otherwise a defining narrative tale.

COGConnectedAnthony Bacchus

80/100

The Banner Saga 2, the second game in developer Stoic’s trilogy of tactical role-playing games, is out now on Nintendo Switch. That’s great news, but it’s clear from the get-go that your overall enjoyment of the game will vary greatly depending on whether you have a completed save file from the first Banner Saga game (also now on Switch) to import from. That may seem fairly obvious to most people, especially when there’s a big fat ‘2’ in the name, but just like other choice-based games like Mass Effect 2 and Telltale’s The Walking Dead, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve played the first...

Nintendo World ReportNeal Ronaghan

8/10

It might be four years later than its debut, but I’m glad I was able to experience The Banner Saga. I’m anxious for its sequel to arrive on Switch so I can continue my adventure through this Norse mythology-inspired land. If your favorite aspects of Fire Emblem games were the story and you’re antsy waiting for the series to arrive on Switch, sitting down with The Banner Saga might be a good way to sooth your tactical RPG desires. And hey - the next two entries will be out on Switch in the next two months.

Push SquareJohn Cal McCormick

8/10

Few games are as relentlessly bleak as The Banner Saga 2. It begins right after the climax of the previous game, but regardless of your prior choices, the story will play out largely the same; the dredge (a relentless horde of warriors) are hunting down the remaining humans and varl (hulking, horned giants), in the wake of past events, and a massive serpent god seems hell-bent on bringing about the end of the world.

Game RantGR Staff

8/10

In the end, Stoic has more than delivered on the promise of the first installment of the series. The Banner Saga 2 maintains the same level of surface quality, and underneath lie the same intriguing combat mechanics for players to mull over. Best of all, the game's story is second to none, meaning that fans will no doubt be eagerly awaiting further iterations of this stunning saga.

Because this is the second of three games, I am very much looking forward to the next one. The formula here is excellent and the inescapable hardships of being a leader making the tough choices gave me a real sense of ownership over the duration of the game. If you enjoy a weighty narrative and a challenging turn-based strategy system, there is no reason not to give this Nordic themed title a chance.