The Banner Saga

The Banner Saga follows the plights of several main characters living in a world resembling that of Norse myth. Humans and the large, horned Varl inhabit this world as precarious allies, but they are threatened by the armor-like, mysterious Dredge descending from the north. The Dredge aren't the only threat, however; something darker and far more menacing approaches as well.

Notable characters include an elderly Varl who is tasked with recording events, a haughty human prince, a villager who must take up the title of leader in order to protect his people, a powerful widow who is sidelined because of her gender, a young girl growing into her own, and a Varl whose tormented past is catching up to him. In essence, the Banner Saga is a story about people, and these are only some of the well-rounded characters who appear in its telling.

The Banner Saga's themes include the cruelty of war, the meaning of right and wrong, sacrifice, and the incredibly difficult decisions leaders must make in times of strife.

The game autosaves between screen changes.

Banner Saga has a spin-off title called Banner Saga: Factions which features multiplayer online play.

• Were you ever at a point where you truly didn't know what the right decision was? Why did you choose the path you did at that time?
• Many games have an obvious system of "right" and "wrong," where individual decisions are either good or evil, even when characters might exist in a moral gray area. The Banner Saga doesn't take this route, instead opting for a more nuanced decision-making mechanic. Do you prefer this kind of gameplay? Is it more realistic this way? Was it harder to make decisions when you didn't know what was the "right" choice?
• At first the Dredge seem like straightforward enemies, but by the end it's clear that there's more to them than meets the eye. Do you suppose this might reflect real life struggle between peoples?
• There aren't very many female characters in Banner Saga, and those that are there—despite being interesting characters—are all relegated to support roles. There aren't any female Varl at all. Keeping in mind that writers made those decisions, despite there being in-story reasons for them, is this still problematic? Does it bother you?