Mount & Blade: Warband review

Mount & Blade: Warband is the low-cost way into the series that Bannerlord continues. TaleWorlds sells it as a standalone expansion to the original game, which it says brought medieval battlefields to life with realistic mounted combat and a detailed fighting system. The campaign lets you become the ruler of a faction, persuade lords to become your vassals, grant lands to companions and marry for romance or political gain. Soldier morale matters, since troops break and run when it drops, and you can pick up arrows and javelins from the field. Online, it supports battles with up to 64 players in modes such as Siege, Conquest and Battle. At $19.99 it ties for the cheapest game here, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and lists a minimum of 512 MB of RAM. 97% of 55,115 English Steam reviews are positive. The 2010 graphics and fictional setting are the trade-offs.

Who it is for

Players with older PCs or a tight budget

Price

$19.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

and claim the ultimate prize: the throne of Calradia! $19.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Multiplayer battles with up to 64 players in modes including Siege, Conquest and Battle
• Campaign where you can rule a faction and grant lands to companions as vassals
• Soldier morale: troops break and run when morale gets too low
• Pick up projectiles from the battlefield as extra ammunition
• Motion-captured combat animations

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 97% of 55,115 English Steam reviews are positive, the highest share on this list
• Strength: $19.99, tied for the cheapest game here
• Strength: Minimum spec lists 512 MB of RAM and 100 MB of storage
• Weakness: Released in 2010, so graphics are far older than Bannerlord's
• Weakness: Calradia is fictional, not a historical map
• Weakness: No controller support listed on Steam

Key facts

• Developer and publisher: TaleWorlds Entertainment
• Released on Steam: March 31, 2010
• Minimum RAM: 512 MB
• Multiplayer: Up to 64 players
• English Steam reviews: 97% positive of 55,115

Where it ranks

Mount & Blade: Warband is No. 8 in our Best Realistic Medieval Games verdict.