Deal | Medieval freedom: Sandbox RPG with 130K+ reviews (97% positive) drops to $5 in Steam sale
In Mount & Blade: Warband, players step into the boots of a nameless adventurer in the fictional medieval continent of Calradia. Rather than following a linear story, the game offers complete freedom – whether you choose to amass wealth as a merchant, fight as a mercenary or rise through the ranks to rule your own empire. To succeed, you’ll need a strong following: recruits can be gathered from villages and towns, and with enough battle experience, they can be trained into a formidable army.
The world of Mount & Blade: Warband reacts dynamically to your actions. Kingdoms vie for dominance, castles and cities change hands and trade fluctuates based on the state of the realm. Your choices can tip the balance of power – shaping the outcome of wars and even determining the fate of entire kingdoms. A flexible leveling system lets you mold your character to suit your preferred playstyle. As you progress, you can invest points in skills like horseback riding, tactics, archery or first aid. Whether you become a strategic mastermind or a fearsome frontline warrior is entirely up to you.
Warband’s gameplay is divided into two main parts. On the world map, you move through Calradia in real time, handling exploration, trade, diplomacy and tracking enemies. When entering a town or engaging in combat, the game shifts to a third-person or optional first-person view. In battle, you’re not just a fighter but also a commander, leading your troops on foot or horseback. Depending on system performance and settings, up to 150 units can engage in combat at once. Multiplayer drops the strategic map and command system in favor of fast-paced skirmishes, with up to 64 players clashing in various modes, from classic deathmatch to full-scale sieges.
Reviews: Vast player freedom, but outdated technology
Mount & Blade: Warband was developed by the Turkish studio TaleWorlds Entertainment and released in March 2010. At launch, the German gaming magazine GameStar reviewed the game, praising its remarkable freedom, the nuanced combat system – which allows players to manually choose attack and block directions – and the intense, engaging multiplayer battles.
On the downside, GameStar criticized Warband’s dated graphics – which haven’t gotten better 15 years after release –, the lifeless game world and its high potential for frustration. Newcomers in particular may struggle, as the game offers little in the way of guidance or tutorials. The near-total absence of a structured narrative also drew criticism. Freedom in gameplay may appeal to some, but if you prefer a clear storyline to guide you through, this isn’t the game for you.
In the end, GameStar gave Mount & Blade: Warband a somewhat lukewarm score of 68 out of 100. The verdict on Metacritic is more favorable, with a Metascore of 78 and a strong User Score of 8.8. Steam users, on the other hand, tell a very different story: an impressive 97% of over 130,000 reviews are favorable. According to SteamDB, Warband still regularly draws over 5,000 concurrent players more than 15 years after its release – a clear sign of the loyal fan base the game has cultivated over time.
75% discount on Steam
Mount & Blade: Warband usually costs around $20 on Steam, but it's currently available for just $5 thanks to a 75% discount running until June 26. According to SteamDB, this is its typical sale price. However, the game received a deeper 90% discount back in February 2024. It's unclear if such a steep deal will return anytime soon, but for those willing to wait, it might be worth holding out.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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