The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep

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 1,477 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 298 reviews: 47.7h for positive, 19.2h 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 (62.4% 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 (58)

• Honor Thy Elders Prey to an Altar of Gratitude 100%
• Self Reliance Craft your first item 89%
• Ride the High Road Use standing stones for the first time 61%
• Who Said Money Can't Buy Friends? Hire a mercenary 60%
• Three times before Did evil's lords Descend on Skara Brae... Defeat the wraith of Mangar 58%
• That's the end of this Mage's Tale Discover the gloves of the dead mage's apprentice 57%
• They Grow Up So Fast Reach level 10 55%
• Am I the Good Guy? Slay a paladin 53%
• Conjurer Have a Practitioner attain the Conjurer class 53%
• Long Road Ahead Uncover the secret of sinister street 51%
• Elven Guile Unlock the magic within a puzzle weapon's pommel 48%
• And thrice did rise Brave heroes, wise To drive them all away... Defeat Gaufroi 42%
• Unchained Melody Keep melody as your starting character 42%
• Elven Trickery Unlock the magic within a puzzle weapon's grip 39%
• You Bard-er Believe It Create a bard as your starting character 39%
• Practitioner Makes Perfect Create a practitioner as your starting character 38%
• Defender Have a Fighter attain the Defender class 33%
• Vanguard Have a Fighter attain the Vanguard class 32%
• Archmage Have a Practitioner attain the Archmage class 32%
• Assassin Have a Rogue attain the Assassin class 32%
• Sword is my Favorite S-Word Create a fighter in the initial character creation level 31%
• Ready for War Reach level 18 30%
• Code Breaker Unlock the secrets of a code wheel statue 30%
• Divine Judgement Slay a corrupt paladin 29%
• Rabble-Rouser Have a Bard attain the Rabble-Rouser class 29%
• Savior of the Fichti Clear the corruption in the Forest of the Inchriach 28%
• Rockefeller Hoard 10,000 gold 28%
• Thief Have a Rogue attain the Thief class 27%
• Overachiever Reach level 20 26%
• Commander Have a Fighter attain the Commander class 26%
• Now comes a fourth To shackle the north And enslave the world of men... Defeat Mangar 25%
• Sorcerer Have a Practitioner attain the Sorcerer class 25%
• Secrets of the Sentry Tower Find the Strifespear 25%
• A Song of Only Fire Blow the Fire Horn 24%
• Brew Master Have a Bard attain the Brewmaster class 24%
• Shadow Have a Rogue attain the Shadow class 23%
• Dirty Fighter Have a Rogue attain the Dirty Fighter class 23%
• Elven Wisdom Unlock the magic within a puzzle weapon's hilt 23%
• Knife to Meet You Create a Rogue as your starting character 23%
• Veteran Have a Fighter attain the Veteran class 22%
• Minstrel Have a Bard attain the Minstrel class 21%
• Champion Have a Fighter attain the Champion class 19%
• Wizard Have a Practitioner attain the Wizard class 19%
• Magician Have a Practitioner attain the Magician class 18%
• Thus heroes bold As in songs of old Must take up sword again... Defeat Lagoth Zanta 18%
• Jester Have a bard equipped with both the Jesters Shoes and Jesters Cap 17%
• Saboteur Have a Rogue attain the Saboteur class 17%
• Savior of the Einarr Clear the Stronsea Isles of Miasma 16%
• Mystery Beneath Mangar's Tower Find the Spectre Snare 16%
• Troubadour Have a Bard attain the Troubadour class 16%
• In dungeons vast Do these evils past Their ancient secrets keep... Defeat Tarjan 15%
• War Chanter Have a Bard attain the War Chanter class 15%
• Get Smote! Kill Bishop Henred 15%
• So down we go To face the foes That lurk in Barrows Deep Complete the final dungeon 13%
• Savior of Skara Brae Save the world 13%
• Legend of the Siambra Dhu Lodge Find the Destiny Wand 13%
• Saint Have an adventurer attain the Saint class 9.8%
• Challenge Seekers Defeat the final boss with only 3 party members. 0.8%