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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Towerborne is no longer an Early Access game. It launched as a complete premium action RPG on February 26, 2026, ending its Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview periods. Its side-scrolling brawler combat is built around combos, classes, gear, and companion abilities—but those systems alone do not prove the combat is “spicy.” That judgment depends on how they feel in play, so this review separates what the game offers from what its official materials can establish.
What is Towerborne?
Towerborne is a cooperative side-scrolling action RPG brawler from Stoic, the studio behind The Banner Saga. Players take the role of Aces defending the Belfry and humanity in a ruined world. The game combines brawler-style combat and exploration with RPG progression, loot, character builds, and a story campaign. Umbra companions add distinct abilities to a character’s toolkit. Xbox’s game overview describes the premise and systems.
That combination is the game’s central promise: quick, readable action alongside enough build choices to give missions a longer-term progression loop. Stoic’s original description emphasized intricate button combos with accessible pick-up-and-play controls; the launch description called the combat fast and responsive. Those are the developer’s claims, not independent findings. To judge the combat, pay attention to how clearly attacks communicate, whether weapons change your moves in meaningful ways, and whether timing and enemy variety keep repeated encounters engaging.
How combat and progression are structured
Classes, skills, and companions
The launch overview lists four classes, each with class mastery skills, alongside universal skills that become available across classes after unlocking. Skill points can be redistributed, so experimenting with a build does not have to mean committing permanently to one skill path. Umbra companions bring their own abilities, and aspects can modify those abilities.
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These systems give a reviewer concrete questions to test: Do classes feel distinct in their basic attacks and combos? Do mastery and universal skills change decisions in combat, or mainly add incremental bonuses? Does an Umbra meaningfully alter how a build plays? The published system descriptions establish that these choices exist, but not how much they affect moment-to-moment play.
#1 Best Overall
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Gear and the Forge
Gear comes from ventures and bosses. Equipment can carry set bonuses and weapon perks, while the Forge supports upgrading gear, fusing unwanted items, reforging stats, and refining values. In practice, the important test is whether those tools help players make a build feel intentional—and whether the rewards justify repeating missions.
Difficulty and playing with friends at different levels
Mission selection offers Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulties; Brutal unlocks later. Level Sync can scale a higher-level character down when joining a lower-level mission, and the setting can be turned off. These options could help groups with different progression histories play together, but a review should still assess whether the scaling and difficulty choices produce a satisfying challenge.
Campaign, solo play, and co-op
The February 2026 launch announcement describes a complete story-driven campaign with new biomes, enemies, bosses, hundreds of missions, bounties, and side quests. “Hundreds” is the publisher’s description of the overall mission and quest offering; it does not establish the length of the main story. The full release also supports offline story play, so an internet connection is not required for the solo campaign.
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Rank #2
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Online co-op is optional and supports groups of up to four, according to the official launch overview. Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions also list couch co-op for up to four players. Online adventures are host-driven, and difficulty scales with party size. Platform-specific features can change, so check the current store listing for the version you plan to play.
Those modes make solo-versus-group play an important part of the value question. A useful review should establish whether mission pacing and combat remain enjoyable alone, and whether additional players make encounters more varied or simply busier. The official feature list does not answer that experiential question.
What changed from Early Access
Towerborne began Steam Early Access on September 10, 2024, and entered Xbox Game Preview on April 29, 2025. Stoic originally presented Early Access as a way to gather feedback and iterate on a core loop of missions, combat, and exploration. The original announcement also described the game as free-to-play, but that was an earlier plan—not the model for the finished release.
Rank #3
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When Game Preview began, Stoic said feedback had shaped mission flow, weapon feel, and party-finder tools. That update added Class Mastery, dozens of handcrafted missions, a new Umbra, legendary gear, and a new foe. The final release arrived on February 26, 2026. These are documented changes, but the announcements do not independently show whether every concern raised during the preview period was resolved.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThere is also a significant multiplayer change: the April 2025 Game Preview announcement described cross-play and shared progression, but the official FAQ says cross-play is no longer supported after full launch. Xbox Play Anywhere continues, according to that FAQ. Do not assume a friend on another platform can join your session.
The FAQ says the world-map progression reset for the new campaign, while character progression carried forward. It also describes retained Curio progress and Writs, with founder items transferring under the new economy. Early Access players can import a legacy Ace or start fresh; the launch overview lists four save slots.
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Is Towerborne free-to-play? Price and monetization
No. The finished game is a premium, one-time purchase. Stoic’s FAQ says the team moved away from free-to-play after listening to feedback during Early Access and Game Preview. That is the studio’s stated reason for the change, not an independent measure of what players wanted.
At launch, Xbox Wire listed US prices of $24.99 for Standard and $29.99 for Deluxe. Those are February 26, 2026 launch-date prices, not guaranteed current prices; check the store for your region before buying. Xbox Wire also listed the game for Game Pass Premium and Ultimate at launch, but subscription availability can change.
The launch overview says cosmetics can be earned through play, including mission rewards, the Writs Store, and Curios, and that the full game adds more than 50 armor sets. The official FAQ says the premium cosmetic store and Belfry Bucks were retired at launch on February 26, 2026; the new Writs currency is earned through play. Founder Belfry Bucks have a separate Stepstones transition mechanism. These are publisher-described systems, so confirm the current in-game economy if it affects your decision.
Best Value
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For value, compare the current regional price with the campaign and repeatable content you actually expect to play, whether you prefer solo or co-op, and whether a subscription you already have includes the game.
What player ratings say—and what they do not
When accessed on October 8, 2026, Steam showed an all-time rating of “Mixed,” with 69% of 1,058 user reviews positive. That is a changeable Steam storefront snapshot, not a critic score, representative survey, or explanation of why reviewers rated the game as they did. Check the live Steam page for the current figure.
Who should consider Towerborne?
Towerborne is worth a closer look if you want a side-scrolling action game that pairs combo-focused fighting with classes, gear, and a campaign, especially if you plan to play with friends locally or online. The official feature set is substantial, but it cannot settle whether the combat feels satisfying or the mission loop stays fresh. Those are the questions to answer through your own play—or through a hands-on review that identifies its platform and build.
If you played an Early Access or Game Preview version, treat the full release as a changed product: it is now premium rather than free-to-play, offline story play is available, and cross-play is no longer supported. Check the current platform listing for price, subscription access, and co-op details before purchasing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
