A sprawling mercenary RPG does not usually look like impulse-buy territory, but Wartales is now 60% off on Steam, dropping the open-world tactical game to $13.99 from $34.99.
Wartales drops 60% on Steam as open-world RPG deal goes live
Wartales, developed and published by French studio Shiro Games, is discounted until June 9, 2026, according to Notebookcheck, which cited SteamDB for the sale price. The game has been available on Steam since April 12, 2023.
The hook is not just the price cut. Wartales currently carries a “Very Positive” Steam rating, with 86% of its 34,842 reviews marked positive.
Steam users currently rate Wartales “Very Positive,” with 86% of 34,842 reviews positive.
The premise is blunt. Players lead a band of mercenaries through a medieval world hit by plague and banditry, taking contracts, exploring ruins, chasing hidden stories and fighting enemies in tactical turn-based battles.
That setup explains why the discount lands differently from a quick weekend sale on a shorter game. Wartales is built around campaign commitment: building a crew, planning fights, improving equipment and upgrading a camp for advantages over time.
The caveat is the usual one with Steam deals. Notebookcheck’s report says the discount was available at the time of writing and may be subject to retailer price changes, time limits or limited availability. Buyers should still check the live Steam page for regional pricing and final checkout price.
Why the Wartales Steam discount stands out for RPG and strategy fans
The expectation with a heavily discounted RPG is often compromise: an old game, a mixed reception or a narrow audience. The reality here is sharper. Wartales combines an open world, turn-based combat, contracts, exploration and co-op support for up to four players, while still holding strong user sentiment on Steam.
Players are not just moving from quest marker to quest marker. The loop, as described in the source material, is built around choosing missions, exploring a large world, uncovering ruins and stories, then surviving tactical battles where character use, equipment and weapons matter.
That makes the 60% discount relevant for a specific buyer: someone who wants a mercenary-management RPG with tactical fights rather than a purely cinematic fantasy campaign.
Best-fit players include:
- Tactical combat fans: Battles are turn-based and require planning around characters, equipment and weapons.
- Open-world explorers: The game includes mysteries, ruins and hidden stories across a medieval setting.
- Co-op groups: Up to four players can play together.
- Progression-focused RPG players: Camp upgrades and equipment decisions feed into the broader campaign.
The strongest counterweight is not the core idea. It is polish. Notebookcheck reports that players have flagged several bugs, including some described as unfixed, and that the game’s DLCs are not well liked because they “lack novelty.”
Metacritic’s numbers also show solid but not universal approval. Wartales has a Metascore of 79 and a user score of 7.6, based on 137 reviews.
A related Notebookcheck report on For The King gives useful context for the turn-based RPG deal space without turning this into a direct ranking. That game was described as 80% off earlier in May, with 87% positive Steam reviews from more than 43,200 reviews and the same Metascore of 79.
| Game | Discount in supplied reports | Steam reception | Metacritic data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wartales | 60% off, $13.99 from $34.99, until June 9, 2026 | 86% positive from 34,842 reviews | 79 Metascore, 7.6 user score from 137 reviews |
| For The King | 80% off, $3.99 from $19.99, until May 18, 2026 | 87% positive from more than 43,200 reviews | 79 Metascore, 6.9 user score |
For readers comparing PC strategy and simulation purchases, MLXIO has also covered 70% Steam Deal Drops Tropico 6 to Its $12 Record Low and Native macOS Launch Ends Age of Empires II's Long Wait. Those are separate stories, but they sit in the same practical zone: whether timing changes the value equation for a game people were already considering.
How long the Wartales Steam sale may last and what buyers should check before purchasing
The reported sale window runs until June 9, 2026, but buyers should treat the Steam store page as the final source before purchasing. Regional pricing, edition availability and storefront timing can shift before checkout.
The more important check is whether the current version matches your tolerance for friction. The source material points to praise for the story, open world and number of activities, but also to complaints about bugs and DLC reception.
Before buying, scan the most recent Steam reviews rather than only the lifetime score. The lifetime 86% positive rating is useful, but recent reviews are more likely to reflect the game’s current update state, bug situation and DLC sentiment.
Also compare the base game against any edition or bundle visible on Steam. Notebookcheck notes that several DLCs exist, but also reports that they are not appreciated and are criticized for lacking novelty. That makes bundle math less automatic than the headline discount suggests.
The practical read is simple: the $13.99 price lowers the barrier for players who already wanted a tactical open-world mercenary RPG. The risk is not whether Wartales has an audience — the Steam review count answers that — but whether its reported bugs and DLC criticism matter to your version of a good RPG campaign.
Before June 9, the smart move is to verify the live Steam price, check recent player feedback, and decide whether the base game alone delivers enough of what made Wartales popular in the first place.
Key Takeaways
- Wartales is significantly cheaper during the Steam sale, dropping from $34.99 to $13.99.
- The game has strong player validation, with 86% positive reviews from 34,842 Steam users.
- RPG and strategy fans get a large open-world tactical campaign at a lower entry price.
