If you love medieval games that reward careful planning, Battle Brothers is a title worth putting on your radar. Set in a gritty Middle Ages-inspired world, this turn-based RPG has earned a strong reputation among strategy fans thanks to its demanding combat, unpredictable encounters, and deep mercenary-company management.
Originally released on March 24, 2017, Battle Brothers puts you in command of a mercenary band trying to survive in a procedurally generated open world. You choose where to travel, which threats to take on, and how risky you want your next move to be. Along the way, you’ll accept contracts to bring in money, recruit new fighters, and build a roster capable of handling everything from routine skirmishes to brutal, high-stakes battles. If you prefer playing as a ruthless commander, the game also allows hostile actions like looting—opening up more ways to fund your company, with consequences to match.
Combat is fully turn-based, and the details matter. Winning isn’t just about having more soldiers—it’s about outfitting each character with the right gear, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and making smart choices with the weapons and tools you bring into a fight. Enemy variety is a big part of what keeps battles tense: different opponents behave in distinct ways and come with their own skills, meaning the strategy that worked in one encounter can fall apart in the next. The main goal is simple to say and hard to master: win while keeping losses to a minimum, because every fallen mercenary can be a setback you genuinely feel.
The game’s reception reflects that depth. Battle Brothers sits at 88% positive user reviews on Steam from more than 26,800 reviews, and it also holds an 80 score alongside a 7.8 user score on Metacritic. Many players highlight the complex combat system and the number of tactical options available, along with the gritty atmosphere and characters who can develop unique traits over time—helping each campaign feel personal rather than generic.
That said, it isn’t universally praised. Some players report that the gameplay can start to feel repetitive after many hours, with familiar mechanics showing up again and again. Others point to balance concerns, particularly around enemy difficulty and whether certain rewards feel worth the risk. It’s also worth noting that the discount mentioned has appeared multiple times in recent months, with this price point first showing up on March 20, 2025.
As of now, Battle Brothers is discounted by 70% on Steam, priced at $8.99 instead of $29.99, with the offer running until March 13, 2026. If you’ve been looking for a medieval turn-based tactics RPG where every decision can mean the difference between profit and disaster, this is one of the best-known options in the genre—especially at this price.
