Choose The Banner Saga 3
Choose The Banner Saga 3 if you want a Strategy game with Steam Leaderboards. 1,319 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Banner Saga 3 vs Empire Chronicles
The Banner Saga 3 and Empire Chronicles both land in Indie, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Indie, RPG on Steam. The Banner Saga 3 (2018) is 5 years older than Empire Chronicles (2023). Empire Chronicles scores higher on Steam reviews (91.7% positive) than The Banner Saga 3 (78.7% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Empire Chronicles
Choose Empire Chronicles if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Empire Chronicles launched in 2023.
Both The Banner Saga 3 and Empire Chronicles sit in Indie and RPG on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Banner Saga 3 |  Empire Chronicles | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, RPG | Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 78.7% positive (1,319 reviews) | 91.7% positive (24 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Stoic | Cris Litvin, Hoang Le |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, RPG on Steam.
- The Banner Saga 3 (2018) is 5 years older than Empire Chronicles (2023).
- Empire Chronicles scores higher on Steam reviews (91.7% positive) than The Banner Saga 3 (78.7% positive).
- Empire Chronicles is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than The Banner Saga 3 (14.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- The Banner Saga 3 is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Empire Chronicles has no Deck rating yet.
The Banner Saga 3 vs Empire Chronicles — FAQ
- Should I play The Banner Saga 3 or Empire Chronicles first?
- If you want chronology, The Banner Saga 3 (2018) came out before Empire Chronicles (2023). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Banner Saga 3 and Empire Chronicles similar?
- They overlap on Indie, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.