RPG
The Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut
The first hour is a test
Gets good by 1h almost every game dips in hours 2–3
Fully opens up by 60h rated like by long-time players
Started playing 47% of owners
Steam reviews 77% positive of 1,308
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 2 reviews are negative (55%); after 60h it's 1 in 14 (7%).
- Fully opens up by hour 60.
- The opening is criticised more than in 83% of games we track.
- Few early reviews, so this is a rough estimate.
- Only 47% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 1,314 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 280 reviews: 50.8h for positive, 7.9h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (46.9% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
Story milestones aren't labeled yet; all achievements are listed below.
All achievements (59)
- Honor Thy Elders Pray to an Altar of Gratitude 100%
- Self Reliance Craft your first item 85%
- Ride the High Road Use standing stones for the first time 57%
- Three times before Did evil's lords Descend on Skara Brae... Defeat the wraith of Mangar 51%
- Who Said Money Can't Buy Friends? Hire a mercenary 51%
- That's the end of this Mage's Tale Discover the gloves of the dead mage's apprentice 51%
- They Grow Up So Fast Reach level 10 48%
- Long Road Ahead Uncover the secret of sinister street 47%
- Unchained Melody Keep Melody as your starting character 47%
- You Bard-er Believe It Create a Bard as your starting character 46%
- Conjurer Have a Practitioner attain the Conjurer class 46%
- Am I the Good Guy? Slay a paladin 44%
- Code Breaker Unlock the secrets of a code wheel statue 44%
- Elven Guile Unlock the magic within a puzzle weapon's pommel 44%
- Practitioner Makes Perfect Create a Practitioner as your starting character 42%
- And thrice did rise Brave heroes, wise To drive them all away... Defeat Gaufroi 40%
- Elven Trickery Unlock the magic within a puzzle weapon's grip 37%
- Sword is my Favorite S-Word Create a Fighter as your starting character 33%
- Defender Have a Fighter attain the Defender class 32%
- Vanguard Have a Fighter attain the Vanguard class 32%
- Divine Judgement Slay a corrupt paladin 31%
- Rockefeller Hoard 10,000 gold 30%
- Assassin Have a Rogue attain the Assassin class 30%
- Savior of the Fichti Clear the corruption in the Forest of the Inchriach 30%
- Rabble-Rouser Have a Bard attain the Rabble-Rouser class 29%
- Ready for War Reach level 18 29%
- Commander Have a Fighter attain the Commander class 27%
- Secrets of the Sentry Tower Find the Strifespear 27%
- Jester Have a Bard equipped with both the Jesters Shoes and Jesters Cap 26%
- Now comes a fourth To shackle the north And enslave the world of men... Defeat Mangar 26%
- Knife to Meet You Create a Rogue as your starting character 26%
- Thief Have a Rogue attain the Thief class 26%
- Brew Master Have a Bard attain the Brewmaster class 25%
- Elven Wisdom Unlock the magic within a puzzle weapon's hilt 25%
- Overachiever Reach level 20 25%
- Sorcerer Have a Practitioner attain the Sorcerer class 25%
- Shadow Have a Rogue attain the Shadow class 25%
- Champion Have a Fighter attain the Champion class 23%
- Minstrel Have a Bard attain the Minstrel class 23%
- Thus heroes bold As in songs of old Must take up sword again... Defeat Lagoth Zanta 21%
- A Song of Only Fire Summon a Pillar of Flame 20%
- Veteran Have a Fighter attain the Veteran class 19%
- Wizard Have a Practitioner attain the Wizard class 19%
- Archmage Have a Practitioner attain the Archmage class 18%
- Savior of the Einarr Clear the Stronsea Isles of Miasma 18%
- Dirty Fighter Have a Rogue attain the Dirty Fighter class 18%
- Legend of the Siambra Dhu Lodge Find the Destiny Wand 18%
- Mystery Beneath Mangar's Tower Find the Spectre Snare 18%
- In dungeons vast Do these evils past Their ancient secrets keep... Defeat Tarjan 18%
- Get Smote! Kill Bishop Henred 17%
- Infiltrator Have a Rogue attain the Infiltrator class 16%
- Troubadour Have a Bard attain the Troubadour class 16%
- So down we go To face the foes That lurk in Barrows Deep Complete the final dungeon 16%
- Savior of Skara Brae Save the world 15%
- War Chanter Have a Bard attain the War Chanter class 15%
- Saint Have an adventurer attain the Saint class 14%
- Savior of the Haernhold Put King Gaerwyn to rest and restored peace in the Haernhold 8.5%
- Magician Have a Practitioner attain the Magician class 7.9%
- Challenge Seekers Defeat the final boss with only 3 party members 2.8%
Steam page Updated: 2026-10-20.