Battle of Banners - Play Online
Imagine Risk meets Civilization on a tight hexagonal battlefield where every move decides the war. Battle of Banners is a pure turn-based strategy duel where you command knights, capture territory, and choke out your rivals through economic warfare and tactical positioning. Your goal? Expand faster, claim more income tiles, and crush every enemy house and soldier before they do the same to you.
Key Features
- Hexagonal Tactical Combat: Every tile matters—forests block lines, crossings create bottlenecks, and hills offer no mercy.
- Multiple Play Modes: Duel your friends locally on one device, sharpen skills against AI bots, or dive into online multiplayer matches.
- Dynamic Economy System: Income grows with connected territory chains, but neglect your upkeep and your soldiers will desert—starting with the most expensive.
- Minimalist Retro Aesthetic: Clean low-poly 2D pixel art that runs flawlessly on any device, keeping the focus on pure strategy.
How to Play Battle of Banners
Getting started is simple, but mastering the economy-combat balance will test your tactical brain.
Claim Territory and Build Your Economy
You start with a house and a few soldiers. Each turn, you move units onto neighboring hexes to capture them. The key is connecting income tiles back to your house—every linked tile adds +1 gold per turn, and each house adds +2. Spread too thin and you'll starve; cluster too tight and enemies will outflank you.
Destroy Enemy Forces Through Smart Combat
Combat is ruthless and instant: moving onto an enemy tile triggers a fight. Your soldier wins if its level is higher than the defender's. A level 4 knight can crush anyone. Houses fall immediately to any attacker. You'll need to position high-level units on the front line while protecting your economy tiles behind them. Lose a critical soldier and your entire flank collapses.
Manage Gold and Upkeep to Survive
Every soldier costs upkeep. If your income drops below your expenses, units die automatically—starting with the priciest. You can recruit new soldiers (10 gold) or build camps (100 gold) anytime you have the cash, but timing is everything. Overextend early and you'll bleed gold. Play too safe and rivals will swarm you. The winner is the one who balances aggression with sustainable growth.
Who is Battle of Banners for?
This game is perfect for strategy fans who want zero fluff and maximum brain-burn. If you loved Antiyoy, Into the Breach's puzzle-tactics, or classic board games like Risk, this delivers that same "just one more turn" addiction. It's also ideal for office breaks or quick mobile sessions—matches last 10-20 minutes, and you can pause anytime. Competitive players will appreciate the online duels where only skill matters, no pay-to-win nonsense.
The Gameplay Vibe
Battle of Banners feels like playing chess on a living map. The minimalist art style strips away distractions, focusing all tension on the tactical puzzle. Every hex you capture feels like a small victory; every ambush you spring near a forest crossing feels brilliant. The stylized retro visuals give it that authentic indie war-game charm—think classic board games translated into pixels. Matches stay fair and tight: no random crits, no hidden stats, just you versus your opponent's brain.
Technical Check: Saves & Performance
The game saves your progress automatically in the browser cache, so you can close the tab mid-match and resume later. Thanks to the clean, optimized pixel art, it stays buttery smooth even on older laptops or budget smartphones. No lag, no stutters—just instant response when you drag a unit or end your turn. The hex grid rendering is rock-solid, and the UI never clutters the battlefield.
Quick Verdict: Pros & Cons
A brutal, fair strategy duel that respects your time and intelligence.
- ✅ Pro: Pure skill-based combat with zero randomness or pay-to-win mechanics.
- ✅ Pro: Runs perfectly on any device with instant load times and stable performance.
- ❌ Con: The economy death-spiral can feel harsh for new players—one bad turn and you're toast.
Controls
Responsive and precise. Clicks register instantly, and the hex selection highlights clearly.
- Desktop: Click to select units, click neighboring hex to move/attack. Use sidebar buttons to recruit or build camps. Hit "End Turn" when done.
- Mobile: Tap units, tap adjacent tiles to act. Pinch-zoom works smoothly on larger maps. All UI buttons are thumb-friendly.
Release Date & Developer
Developed by Potato corporation and released on February 3, 2026. The team focused on delivering a no-nonsense strategy experience that honors the genre's tactical roots while staying accessible on modern web browsers.