Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a big, ambitious medieval sandbox that gets a lot right, especially with its huge battles and the freedom it gives players. Still, it has some clear flaws that hold it back in its original form. After spending about 160 hours on the PC version, I can say the game offers some amazing moments, but it also has its share of imperfections.
What Bannerlord Is All About
Bannerlord is a sandbox RPG set in a medieval world where you begin as a nobody and gradually rise in power. You recruit troops, lead armies, fight real-time battles, manage your clan, and get involved in kingdom politics. There’s no strong story guiding you; instead, the game lets you shape your own adventure through your choices.
The Highlights – Where Bannerlord Truly Shines
The strongest part of Bannerlord, without a doubt, is its large-scale battles. Fights involving hundreds of units feel chaotic, intense, and incredibly cinematic, especially during sieges. Storming castle walls, defending choke points, and watching armies clash never really gets old, and these moments are where the game feels at its absolute best.
Commanding your army feels smooth and rewarding. Giving orders, moving your units, and reacting to the battle all work well and make you feel like a real commander, not just another soldier. When it all clicks, Bannerlord offers moments that few other games can match.
Another big plus is how easy it is to mod Bannerlord. There are already some great mods out there, and it’s clear the game was designed with modding in mind. The systems are flexible, and many mods already make the game deeper and more interesting. This extends the game's lifespan and makes it much better for players who like to customize their experience.
The Rough Edges
Still, Bannerlord isn’t perfect. I ran into several random crashes while playing. None of them broke the game, but they were annoying, especially during long sessions.
One of my biggest letdowns is the political system. Politics exists, but it feels shallow and underdeveloped. Kingdom decisions and diplomacy rarely feel interesting or make a big difference. Mods can help, but in the base game, this part could have been much better.
After many hours, the gameplay can start to feel repetitive. You usually raise an army, fight enemies, collect loot, sell it, and repeat, with some sieges in between. The sieges are fun, but the main loop doesn’t change much, so the late game can feel a bit repetitive.
Bannerlord Compared to Warband
Having played earlier Mount & Blade games, especially Warband, I can’t help but compare them. In Warband, companions had more personality and felt important, but in Bannerlord, they seem more like tools than real characters. I also really miss feasts from Warband—they brought nobles together and made building relationships more interesting. It’s too bad this feature didn’t make it into Bannerlord.
Warband is still ahead when it comes to total conversion mods, both in the number of mods and their quality. But to be fair, Warband has been out much longer. Bannerlord already has some impressive total conversions, and its future for mods looks bright.
In terms of multiplayer, I personally find Bannerlord’s vanilla experience lacking compared to Warband’s native multiplayer, which felt more engaging and memorable.
Who Will Enjoy Bannerlord?
Fans of the previous Mount & Blade games will likely feel at home in Bannerlord, even though it does some things differently. Anyone who enjoys medieval sandbox games, big battles, and open-ended play will find a lot to enjoy. But if you want deep politics, strong stories, or a tightly guided experience, you might be disappointed. €49.99, Bannerlord offers a lot of content and the potential for hundreds of hours of gameplay, especially with mods. That said, it goes on sale fairly often, so unless you’re eager to jump in immediately, waiting for a discount is probably the smarter choice. Either way, you’re getting a lot of playtime for the money.
Final Verdict
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a great medieval sandbox, but it has its flaws. The battles, sieges, and modding options are a lot of fun, but the shallow politics, repetitive gameplay, and some stability problems keep it from being its best in the base game. With mods, the game gets much better, and there’s still a lot of room for it to improve.
Score: 7.6 / 10
