The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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You are the Bard, a selfish rogue weary of pointless sub-quests and rat-infested cellars. Now includes original classic games The Bard’s Tale 1, 2 & 3!
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is a rpg, adventure and comedy game
developed and published by inXile Entertainment.
Released on December 11th 2009 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux
in 7 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Polish and Russian.
It has received 1,352 reviews of which 1,015 were positive and 337 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 16.79€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7
- Processor: Pentium 4 2Ghz / AMD AthlonXP 2400
- Memory: 512Mb
- Graphics: GeForce FX5700 or better / ATI Radeon 9600 or better
- DirectX®: 9.0c
- Hard Drive: 6GB of free space
- Sound: DirectX 9 Compatible Sound Card
MacOS
- OS: OS X 10.6.0 or higher
- Hard Drive: 3.6GB Hard disk space
Linux
- OS: X11 enabled Linux distro
- Processor: Pentium 4 2Ghz / AMD AthlonXP 2400
- Memory: 512Mb
- Graphics: GeForce FX5700 or better / ATI Radeon 9600 or better
- OpenGL: 2.0 compatible video card and compatible drivers
- Hard Drive: 3.8GB of free space
- Sound: OpenAL compatible sound card and necessary drivers
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
I recommend this game very conditionally. If you have any nostalgia for it, it is pretty much exactly the same game as you remember. The biggest drawback is that it is pretty much EXACTLY the same game as you remember, flaws and all. That said, Cary Elwes as The Bard and Tony Rice as The Narrator are an absolute joy. The rest of the voice acting is fun, and lively, and silly as well. The music is of course pretty fun as well! The gameplay is clunky and dated and can be very frustrating. Watch a review on youtube if you can find one and if you're interested then grab it on a sale and I hope you enjoy it! If you have nostalgia for it, then still wait for a sale, and I wish you the very best with it because my time with it (on the PS4) was ROUGH. Great port, rough old game. 6.5 - 7/10
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The Bard’s Tale, developed and published by inXile Entertainment, is a humorous reimagining of classic fantasy RPGs that stands out for its irreverent tone and self-aware storytelling. Rather than the usual tale of noble heroes and world-saving quests, the game places players in the boots of a sarcastic, money-minded bard whose interests lie less in heroism and more in personal gain, drink, and the occasional romantic encounter. From the very start, it’s clear that this is not a traditional role-playing experience. The Bard’s self-serving attitude and the ever-mocking narrator who accompanies him create a distinctive dynamic that keeps the game’s personality front and center. The result is an adventure that constantly pokes fun at the conventions of its own genre while still managing to deliver an engaging, if lighthearted, journey. The narrative unfolds in a tongue-in-cheek style that contrasts sharply with the grandeur typical of fantasy RPGs. The Bard, voiced with charismatic wit by Cary Elwes, is not the chosen one destined to save the world but rather a reluctant adventurer motivated by greed and curiosity. His interactions with townsfolk, enemies, and even the narrator—played by the late Tony Jay—are loaded with sarcasm and irony. The interplay between these two characters forms the backbone of the game’s humor: the narrator condemns the Bard’s selfishness, while the Bard fires back with witty retorts, creating a constant comedic tension. This dynamic gives the game an almost theatrical quality, as if the player is participating in a satirical play that mocks the seriousness of traditional role-playing tales. The dialogue is well-written, filled with clever wordplay, and often breaks the fourth wall to remind players not to take anything too seriously. In terms of gameplay, The Bard’s Tale functions as a real-time action RPG with an isometric viewpoint reminiscent of titles like Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance or Champions: Return to Arms. Combat is straightforward, relying on melee attacks, ranged weapons, and, most notably, the Bard’s ability to summon magical companions through his music. Each song conjures a different creature—such as a knight, rogue, or healer—to assist in battle. This summoning system adds a layer of tactical variety to what might otherwise be a simple hack-and-slash loop. The Bard himself grows stronger by collecting silver, improving his charm or rhythm, and unlocking new tunes that expand his summoning repertoire. While the mechanics are relatively simple compared to deeper RPG systems, they complement the game’s humorous tone by keeping the focus on fast-paced action and witty banter rather than intricate stat management. Visually, The Bard’s Tale achieves a pleasant balance between style and simplicity. The environments, though not sprawling, capture the spirit of medieval fantasy towns, dark forests, and ancient ruins with solid detail for its time. The camera angle gives a clear view of the action while preserving a sense of immersion in the world’s rustic charm. The art direction reinforces the satirical tone—everything looks just authentic enough to fit within the fantasy genre while still feeling like it could be part of a parody. The soundtrack deserves special mention, blending traditional folk-inspired melodies with humorous vocal numbers that perfectly match the game’s irreverent spirit. In a memorable touch, even musical interludes and enemy encounters sometimes turn into comedic performances, showcasing the game’s willingness to treat its world as a stage for satire. Despite its humor and charm, The Bard’s Tale has its shortcomings. The combat, though serviceable, can grow repetitive over time, as the summoning mechanic does not evolve as deeply as it could. Enemies often rely on quantity rather than strategy to create challenge, and the linear structure limits opportunities for exploration or player-driven choices. Those seeking a rich, branching narrative or complex character development may find the experience somewhat shallow. Furthermore, while the jokes and commentary are sharp early on, the humor can feel repetitive as the adventure progresses. The novelty of the narrator’s banter and the Bard’s self-serving attitude may wear thin after several hours if the player is not invested in the comedic premise. However, for players who appreciate sharp writing and enjoy seeing RPG conventions playfully deconstructed, these flaws are minor compared to the game’s overall personality. In essence, The Bard’s Tale is a game that succeeds not by reinventing the RPG formula mechanically, but by mocking and celebrating it in equal measure. It is a love letter to fantasy tropes wrapped in sarcasm, where the hero is a scoundrel and the story mocks its own importance. inXile Entertainment delivers a world that feels familiar yet fresh, anchored by witty performances, strong voice acting, and an unforgettable sense of humor. While it may not provide the depth or replayability of more traditional role-playing experiences, its charm lies in its self-awareness and willingness to laugh at itself. The Bard’s Tale is best enjoyed as a comedic adventure—a spirited romp through the clichés of fantasy storytelling, carried by clever writing, entertaining performances, and the playful chaos of a hero who cares more about his next pint than the fate of the world. Rating: 7/10
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That game was my childood in between 2007/2008 we need a sequel. Even today it holds up remarkably well. The gameplay might not be groundbreaking, but the storytelling and satire are timeless.
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All of the characters are voiced very well, but Seamus just cracks me up every time he speaks. That was very well done. I never got around to playing this series, so I decided to give this one a shot and I am glad it is an improved version. It is very funny. I hope to get around to playing all of them, but I rarely go through all of the games in a series back to back.
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This is probably the most well written and perfected voice acting in any game. The game is just outright brilliant and the jokes makes the game one hell of an adventure. I highly recommend this game to any true player who want to get a kick out of listening to corny jokes and amusing bickering between the main character and the narrator. P.S: use dxvk-gplasync to get the game work using vulkan and enjoy lag free game.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is currently priced at 16.79€ on Steam.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 16.79€ on Steam.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled received 1,015 positive votes out of a total of 1,352 achieving a rating of 7.22.
😊
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled was developed and published by inXile Entertainment.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is playable and fully supported on Windows.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is playable and fully supported on Linux.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is a single-player game.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled does not currently offer any DLC.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled does not support Steam Remote Play.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled.
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 14 March 2026 22:30 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 10 March 2026 18:42 |
| Steam price | 15 March 2026 04:45 |
| Steam reviews | 14 March 2026 07:49 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled
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- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
4
Developer
inXile Entertainment
Publisher
inXile Entertainment
Release
11 Dec 2009
Platforms