Steam specs (min / recommended)
Minimum: Système d'exploitation *: Win XP SP3 / Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 Processeur : 2 GHz Intel Dual Core processor Mémoire vive : 512 MB de mémoire Graphiques : 512 MB DirectX 9.0c compatible card (shader model 2) DirectX : Version 9.0c Espace disque : 250 MB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : Any
Recommended: Système d'exploitation *: Windows 7 / Windows 8 Processeur : Intel Core i5 processor (or greater) Mémoire vive : 512 MB de mémoire Graphiques : 512 MB DirectX 10 compatible card DirectX : Version 11 Espace disque : 250 MB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : Any
Banished
Building a colony that never stops growing is what players love most—38 out of 40 mentions celebrate the city itself. Over 70% of gamers who spent more than 25 hours with it call it unforgettable, sealing the 90% very positive rating.
What it's about: In this city-building strategy game, you control a group of exiled travelers who decide to restart their lives in a new land. They have only the clothes on their backs and a cart filled with supplies from their homeland. The townspeople of Banished are your primary resource.
In-game
In players' words
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
Detailed data (table)
| Aspect | Mentions | Positive | Mixed | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | 165 | 138 | 12 | 15 |
| Content / longevity | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 |
| Graphics / art | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Interface / UX | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Performance | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Audio / music | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Stability / bugs | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Value for money | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Story / writing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 63 h on median; those who dislike it: 14 h.
Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time
% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).
💶 Price history
Steam price tracked automatically since Feb 19, 2014 · All-time low: €4.74 (Jun 17, 2015)
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 36 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 5,9 % of players.
What creators say (YouTube)
No indexed video for this game yet.
This game on Twitch
Popular clips — nobody live right now
Strengths
- The city-building core shines: 138 positive mentions out of 165 for gameplay, with players praising the depth of managing resources and survival challenges.
- Long-term engagement pays off: 96% positive feedback among players logging over 25 hours, showing the game’s addictive replayability.
- Aesthetic and sound earn quiet praise: 10 out of 13 graphics mentions and 7 out of 8 audio mentions highlight the game’s understated, immersive presentation.
Weaknesses
- The UI frustrates more than it helps: every single one of the 12 UI-related mentions is negative, with players struggling to navigate menus and track progress.
- Performance stumbles in spots: 5 out of 9 performance mentions are negative, though these remain a minority compared to the game’s overall success.
- Bugs bite newcomers: 5 out of 5 mentions about bugs are negative, though the issue doesn’t overshadow the game’s strong design.
Who is it for?
Fans of deep, slow-burn strategy games with uncompromising survival mechanics will find their match here. Those allergic to UI clutter or subtle technical hiccups may want to look elsewhere.
Is Banished worth it in 2026?
Yes — player reception is very positive: 90% of 43,211 Steam reviews are positive (player score 89/100). Most-praised strength: The city-building core shines. Current price: 18,99€.
Verdict
Banished thrives on patience and meticulous planning, rewarding long-term players with a sense of accomplishment few sims can match. Its flaws are narrow but vocal, while its strengths—especially the city itself—define the experience. A timeless classic in the genre, despite its age.
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