Battle Brothers Review: The Mercenary Tactics RPG Where Every Loss Hurts
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Short answer: Battle Brothers is a hard, turn-based tactical RPG about running a medieval mercenary company. You pick contracts on an open world map, hire and equip men with their own backgrounds, and lose them for good when a fight goes wrong. Players rate it Very Positive on Steam (88% of about 29,000 reviews) and it holds a Metascore of 80 on PC. Critics praise its tense battles and real trade-offs, and warn about a steep learning curve and clunky menus. If you want a long-lasting tactics game with high stakes, it is a strong pick at $29.99.
What is Battle Brothers?
Battle Brothers is made by Overhype Studios, a small studio from Hamburg, and is now published on Steam by Hooded Horse and Overhype Studios. The game has two layers: a procedurally generated world map where you travel, take contracts, loot ruins and resupply in towns, and a tactical map where every fight plays out as detailed turn-based combat. It left Early Access on 24 March 2017 after almost two years of development in public.
| Developer | Overhype Studios |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Hooded Horse, Overhype Studios |
| Release | 24 March 2017 (PC) |
| Platforms | Windows; also on Switch, PlayStation and Xbox |
| Genre | Tactical RPG, strategy |
| Steam rating | Very Positive (88% of about 29,000 reviews) |
| Metascore (PC) | 80 |
| Price | $29.99 |
What players and critics love
Battles where every loss hurts
Death is permanent. A veteran you have kept alive for dozens of fights can fall to one bad turn, and injuries can stay with a character for the rest of the campaign. PC Gamer described the fights as tense because of this, and RPGFan wrote that the stakes are what the whole game is about. Many Steam reviewers say the stories that come out of these losses are why they keep playing.
Weapons and builds with real trade-offs
There is no fixed class system. Each recruit has a background, traits, attributes and a perk tree, and the weapon he carries decides his skills: axes split shields, maces stun, spears form a spearwall and hammers crush armour. Terrain, height, fatigue and morale all count. PC Gamer and TechRaptor both praised how many approaches are viable, and RPGFan liked how careful formation building pays off.
A world that lets you go anywhere
You decide where to travel, which towns and noble houses to work for and which enemies to chase. Late in a campaign one of three crises can change the world: a war between noble houses, a greenskin invasion or an undead rising. PC Gamer liked the freedom of the open map, and TechRaptor praised how money, food and equipment tie into the strategy.
Hundreds of hours of play
Steam reviews often mention hundreds or even thousands of hours played. Players point to the replay value of new companies, the DLC that adds depth, an active modding scene and updates that kept coming years after release. TechRaptor also praised the orchestral soundtrack and the dark, low-fantasy writing.
What to know before you buy
- It is hard and does not explain much. PC Gamer said there is almost no tutorial, so rules like zone of control are learned by losing men. RPGFan found the tutorial videos did not teach the early game, and Steam players often turn to outside guides.
- Clunky menus. PC Gamer called the inventory and shop screens clunky and noted that useful options such as formation setup are tucked away. Some players also miss key rebinding.
- Luck plays a part. Hits and misses are rolled, and some Steam reviewers feel randomness can outweigh good play. TechRaptor and RPGFan also found contracts and travel repetitive over time.
- Thin story. The game is about your own company’s story; RPGFan noted the written story is light and dialogue repeats.
- DLC. Two DLCs are free (Of Flesh and Faith, Lindwurm). Paid expansions are Beasts & Exploration, Warriors of the North and Blazing Deserts, plus a soundtrack and supporter banners.
- Platforms. On Steam it is Windows only.
Who should buy Battle Brothers?
Buy it if you like XCOM-style tactics, enjoy managing a roster you can lose, and do not mind learning through failure. If you want hand-holding or a big story, it may frustrate you. If you like the studio’s style, its newer sci-fi game is covered in our MENACE review, and fans of fantasy strategy can also read our Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era review.
Sources
- Steam store page and user reviews for Battle Brothers
- PC Gamer: Battle Brothers review
- RPGFan: Battle Brothers review
- TechRaptor: Battle Brothers review
- Metacritic and OpenCritic: Battle Brothers
- Battle Brothers developer blog (console releases)
- Nexus store page for Battle Brothers
Last checked against sources: 12 November 2026.
