A few indie developers have found continued success via crowdfunding over the last several years. Stoic’s Banner Saga series is a prime example. The extra-long 40-day Kickstarter campaign for sequel Banner Saga 3 raised $416,986, more than twice its initial goal of $200,000. A little over 8,000 backers contributed.
“The support from backers and the community has been amazing, and it’s humbling to know that RTS fans around the world really want to support us,” said John Watson, co-founder at Stoic. “The additional funds will be invested into bringing as much of our intended vision to the final game and rewarding our backers’ support with an unforgettable experience to conclude this epic tale.”
Banner Saga 3 will represent the final journey of the harrowing tactical series. The series is set in a world based on Norse viking myths. It’s also a world on the bleak of apocalyptic destruction. The story features many tough moral choices and decisions you make during your journey, many of which decide who lives, who dies, and who joins your party of warriors.
The original Banner Saga was among the first wave of video game crowdfunding successes on Kickstarter, back in 2012. It raised over $700,000 from over 20,000 backers. The tactical-strategy game brilliantly combined Oregon Trail-like structure with grid-based tactical turn-based battles within its uniquely dark setting. It won Best Debut from the GDC Awards in 2014.
Banner Saga 2 launched last year and was similarly critically acclaimed. Funding for that sequel was made possible by the over-funding and sales from the first game.
A number of Stretch Goals were unlocked during the Banner Saga 3 campaign. Stretch Goals include playable Dredge, Survival Mode, “Ubin Lives,” and an all-new Eternal Arena game mode. Note that the Eternal Arena will be added post launch.
Banner Saga 3 is listed with an Estimated Delivery of December 2018. As always, consider that the extreme earliest date possible.
