Banished (2014): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 79 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 4

Runs today5 / 5
Design today3 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Very Positive

42,246 reviews90% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2014
Developer: Shining Rock Software LLC
Genre: Indie, Simulation, Strategy
Runs on: Windows, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Banished run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Expected to work. It is sold for Windows today and no problem is on record. SourceNo player reports yet
Mac (Apple Silicon)	No Mac version is sold.No player reports yet
Linux	Through Proton: ProtonDB rates it Gold (runs perfectly after tweaks). SourceNo player reports yet
Steam Deck	Playable, as rated by Valve: it works, but may need some manual configuration. SourceNo player reports yet

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Synopsis

A city-building survival game made by a single developer, Shining Rock Software, about a group of exiles founding a village in the wilderness. Players assign villagers to jobs, gather food and firewood and build homes so the town can survive harsh winters, disease and famine and slowly grow.

What people say

Critics in 2014 found it impressive for a one-person project and praised its web of linked survival systems, but many felt it loses steam once the town is no longer fighting to survive, and only about a third recommended it. Some reviewers also wanted the game to explain its numbers more clearly. Players today enjoy its calm, slow pace and its large library of community mods, which keep it alive. Common complaints are a weak tutorial, an unclear interface, a repetitive late game and slowdowns in very large towns.

Playability today

Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.

Runs today: 5 / 5

✓Sold today from an official store
✓Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
–Single-player works without an internet connection
–All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
–Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
–Full controller support or remappable controls
✓Steam Deck Verified or Playable
✓No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
–No known game-breaking bugs in the current version

Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked – are unknown and do not count until someone checks them.

Design today: 3 / 5

✓Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardIt is built for mouse and keyboard with configurable keys and no common control complaints, though it lacks controller support and evidence on this point is thin. Source: vaporlens.app, pcgamingwiki.com.
✗Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensPlayers call the menus unclear, and the text cannot be enlarged, which hurts on small or high-resolution screens. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressAs a city builder it lets players save their town freely, and no complaints about lost progress from saving turned up, though evidence on this point is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.
✗It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressPlayers widely describe the tutorials as weak or buggy and rely on wikis to learn how food and growth work. Source: vaporlens.app, opencritic.com.
✗Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingCritics and players agree the game turns repetitive once survival is secure, with a flat late game. Source: opencritic.com, vaporlens.app.
✓Camera and movement never fight the playerThe free overhead camera draws no common complaints, though evidence on this point is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.

Judged against games made today, from complaints that recur in recent Steam reviews and discussions, forums, PCGamingWiki and community wikis. Each reason links to where it comes from.