Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

About Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

Taleworlds finally delivered Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord in March 2020 after years of early access waiting. This sequel arrives two centuries before Warband set the original tone. You step into a world called Calradia where empires crumble and new factions rise from the dust. The game launches on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, plus Xbox One and Series X|S. It blends adventure with heavy strategy elements while letting you control individual sword swings or command entire armies. Players can build secret criminal networks in city alleys or batter down mountain forts with siege engines. The core loop involves gathering troops, fighting for glory, and eventually establishing your own kingdom.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time on foot or horseback swinging weapons in real time during battles. The combat feels weighty as you parry, thrust, and block against dozens of enemies at once. Between fights you manage a party menu where you recruit soldiers, buy gear, and upgrade skills like chariot driving or smithing. Large scale battles let you issue orders to your troops while still participating in the melee yourself. You can lead cavalry charges from the front or sit back and direct archers from the sidelines. Siege warfare requires you to position ballistae and towers to breach walls before storming inside. Some players spend hours just running trade caravans or raiding villages for loot rather than fighting wars. The game offers both single player campaigns and multiplayer modes where you fight alongside friends in massive skirmishes.

What Players Think

Players rate this title around 79.4 out of 100 based on 141 ratings tracked by IGDB. Many users report spending over 200 hours mastering the complex systems. Community moods often shift between frustration with bugs and excitement when a battle goes well. Completion rates vary wildly since some people focus on story quests while others ignore them entirely for sandbox play. Review snippets frequently mention the steep learning curve regarding party management and troop morale. The multiplayer scene remains active despite the game being several years old now. Achievements are plentiful but difficult to unlock without grinding specific tasks repeatedly. Players appreciate the freedom to create their own stories even if the main narrative lacks polish.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best for strategy fans willing to tolerate technical issues and a long learning curve. You can find it cheap at $3.99 on Green Man Gaming which lowers the barrier to entry significantly. The achievement list is extensive and rewards patience with hours of grinding rather than quick wins. It suits players who enjoy managing large armies and making tough leadership decisions in real time. Those looking for a polished modern shooter will likely hate the clunky combat mechanics. You get what you pay for here since the depth of simulation is unmatched by other medieval games. Just be prepared to spend months learning how to keep your troops from running away during sieges.

Storyline

The horns sound, the ravens gather. An empire is torn by civil war. Beyond its borders, new kingdoms rise. Gird on your sword, don your armour, summon your followers and ride forth to win glory on the battlefields of Calradia. Establish your hegemony and create a new world out of the ashes of the old.