Choose The Banner Saga 3
Choose The Banner Saga 3 if you want an Indie game with Steam Leaderboards. 1,319 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Banner Saga 3 vs The Beginning
The Banner Saga 3 and The Beginning both land in Strategy, 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 Strategy, RPG on Steam. The Banner Saga 3 (2018) is 5 years older than The Beginning (2023). The Beginning scores higher on Steam reviews (91.2% 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 The Beginning
Choose The Beginning if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. The Beginning launched in 2023.
Both The Banner Saga 3 and The Beginning sit in Strategy 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 |  The Beginning | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, RPG | Strategy, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 24.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 78.7% positive (1,319 reviews) | 91.2% positive (68 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Stoic | Grumpy Owl Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, RPG on Steam.
- The Banner Saga 3 (2018) is 5 years older than The Beginning (2023).
- The Beginning scores higher on Steam reviews (91.2% positive) than The Banner Saga 3 (78.7% positive).
- The Beginning is free; The Banner Saga 3 is paid (24.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: The Banner Saga 3 is Deck Unsupported, The Beginning is Deck Playable.
The Banner Saga 3 vs The Beginning — FAQ
- Should I play The Banner Saga 3 or The Beginning first?
- If you want chronology, The Banner Saga 3 (2018) came out before The Beginning (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 The Beginning similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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.
- Is The Beginning free?
- Yes — The Beginning is a free-to-play Steam title. The Banner Saga 3 is paid (24.99 USD).