Introduction
Battle Brothers, released on March 24, 2017 by Overhype Studios, is a turn-based tactical RPG that puts you in charge of a rough medieval mercenary group wandering a randomly generated open world. As such, you pick contracts, hire and gear up your men, manage supplies, and fight in tough, unforgiving battles. Moreover, for fans of deep strategy and stories that emerge from gameplay, Battle Brothers offers a rich playground—but it can feel overwhelming for those used to gentler, more relaxed games.
Storyline and Setting
Rather than a fixed story, Battle Brothers lets your tale grow on its own. Furthermore, every new recruit has a unique background—ratcatchers with shaky nerves, fallen nobles, battle-scarred witch hunters—and traits that affect how they fight. Meanwhile, random events and regional crises (feuding noble houses, orc raids, undead outbreaks) add urgency to your journey. Consequently, there’s no single “hero’s path,” only a web of small setbacks, victories, and close calls that feel personal to your campaign.
Gameplay Mechanics
- Strategic Layer: Travel a hex-based map to take jobs, loot ruins, trade, and recruit new fighters. As a result, keeping enough food and gold is crucial—run out, and your squad may break apart.
- Tactical Combat: Fight turn by turn on grid maps. Meanwhile, where you place your troops, their facing, armor penetration, and battlefield control decide who lives. Permadeath is real: when a fighter falls, they’re gone (or might rise again as undead).
- Character Growth: No fixed classes—experience points go into a wide perk tree. Moreover, weapons grant special moves (spear walls, shield bashes, crushing warhammer swings), so trying new gear pays off.
- Dynamic Events: Roaming bandit camps, escort missions, or ambushes force difficult choices. Consequently, you weigh risking a night raid for extra loot against playing it safe.
In comparison to X-COM’s sci-fi tension or Jagged Alliance’s squad management, Battle Brothers leans into historical grit and emergent narrative. At the same time, it’s slower paced than Darkest Dungeon but rewards patient, methodical play.
Visuals and Audio
Battle Brothers favors functional pixel art over flashy graphics. Armor dents, splintered shields, and blood-spattered tiles convey brutality without demanding high-end hardware. The two-hour orchestral soundtrack underpins the medieval atmosphere with stirring horns and mournful strings. While not as immersive as fully voiced RPGs, the ambient sound design—clashing steel, distant horse hooves—draws you into each encounter.
User Reviews and Community Feedback
On Steam, Battle Brothers holds a “Very Positive” all-time rating (88% of 22,419 reviews) and “Mostly Positive” recent reviews (76% of 176). Players praise:
- Depth & Replayability: Procedural maps and permadeath mean no two campaigns feel the same.
- Emergent Storytelling: Fans love recounting narrow escapes, heroic last stands, and memorable character losses.
- Customization: The ability to mold each recruit’s skills and gear keeps progression fresh.
Common criticisms include:
- Steep Learning Curve: Newcomers often feel overwhelmed by menus, mechanics, and the relentless difficulty.
- Pacing & Grind: Travel can feel slow and repetitive, especially in early campaigns.
- Randomness: Occasional swings of luck—both enemies and loot—can frustrate completionists.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: High replay value, satisfying tactical depth, emergent narrative moments, meaningful choices.
- Weaknesses: Harsh difficulty spikes, slow world travel, minimal hand-holding for new players.
Comparison with Peers
In the tactical RPG space, Battle Brothers strikes a balance between Jagged Alliance’s mercenary management and Darkest Dungeon’s grim permadeath. Unlike X-COM’s tight, mission-based structure, it offers open-world freedom akin to a strategic roguelike. If you crave systemic depth over scripted drama and don’t mind a challenge, it stands out. However, those seeking a more guided or narrative-driven experience might prefer titles like Divinity: Original Sin II or even the newer Gloomhaven adaptation.
Overall Impact and Final Thoughts
Battle Brothers revitalized interest in hardcore medieval tactics, inspiring mods and spinoffs that expand its world and mechanics. It’s an uncompromising experience that rewards perseverance with memorable tales of survival against overwhelming odds. While it won’t replace your favorite cozy sim, it scratches a particular itch for players who enjoy methodical planning, heroes who bleed and die, and stories that emerge organically from systems rather than cutscenes.
For anyone willing to embrace its punishing learning curve, Battle Brothers offers one of the richest tactical playgrounds available. Strap on your steel, muster your company, and prepare to write your mercenary legend—one brutal battle at a time.
