Viking video games are one of the best ways to explore the world of Norse mythology first-hand. Although many of the top titles on the market aren’t entirely historically accurate, most provide an insight into some of the most famous myths and legends of the Viking people.
After all, the Vikings, their exploits, and even their Norse gods have captured the attention of countless people over the years. Just as there are countless movies, books, and television shows dedicated to these long-lost warriors, there are also various games worth exploring too.
Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the most compelling Viking video games worth checking out if you want a unique look at Norse landscape.
God of War
God of War is one of the most popular Viking video game franchises in the world. First entering the market back in 2005 on the PlayStation 2, the series has quicky become one of the top sellers for PlayStation. In the early games, the title focused primarily on Olympian Gods.
However, in later productions, which follow Kratos’ son Atreus as a secondary protagonist, the attention shifts to the Norse gods. Perhaps the most exciting entry to the franchise for fans of Norse mythology, is the recent “God of War: Ragnarök”, which was introduced in November 2022.
While this game is only based loosely on Norse mythology, it does provide a unique insight into the Ragnarök event commonly mentioned in Norse prose. Alongside some fantastic storytelling, players will enjoy incredible fight scenes, amazing graphics, and a host of clever runic puzzles.
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Like God of War, Assassin’s Creed is one of the better-known franchises in the gaming landscape. There have been numerous iterations of the Assassin’s Creed series over the years, including “Valhalla”, which was released in 2020, with a strong focus on Norse mythology and the Vikings.
In this title, players can choose to play as a female or male Viking, who leaves Norway to start a new clan in England. The game may not be entirely accurate from a historical perspective, but it does offer an interesting look at the Viking expansions into the British Isles.
Throughout the game, players have a chance to explore an incredible open world, raiding and sailing with their clan to gain power and complete missions. Valhalla had one of the biggest launches of the Assassin’s Creed series to date, and it’s one of the more popular choices for gaming fans.
Skyrim
Although it takes place in an entirely fictional world, complete with dragons, giants, and other mystical creatures, Skyrim still pays homage to the Norse landscape. Snow covered mountains, Scandinavian-inspired characters, and other story points all link the game to the Norse. Even the leaders of cities are known as “Jarls”, like they were in medieval Norway.
Similarly, there are various points throughout the game where you’ll encounter clear reference to Vikings and Norse mythology. However, the game rarely dives too deeply into the Nordic landscape, focusing instead on constructing its own unique environment. Still, it’s a fun game well-worth playing if you have an interest in both fantasy, and the Norse culture.
Jotun
An adventure-focused video game with some charming graphical elements, Jotun focuses heavily on massive boss battles, built around Viking lore. In the title, you’ll play as a Viking woman who died outside of battle, and therefore can’t enter the gates of Valhalla.
The Norse gods have chosen to give your character, Thora, a second chance, by challenging her to slay Jotunn – giant elemental creatures which are inspired heavily by Norse mythology. While there are some slow parts to this game, it’s easy to fall in love with the hand-drawn animation and interesting combat sequences.
Each boss battle has its own challenges to overcome, forcing the player to learn important patterns and demonstrate incredible reflexes.
The Banner Saga
If you’re looking for something a little simpler, the Banner Saga could be the perfect choice for you. Similar to Jotun, it features a hand-drawn aesthetic, and a strong focus on the Viking landscape. The game challenges players to explore a frigid landscape, looking for Nordic people to save.
There’s a lot of storytelling in this game, alongside numerous difficult decision-making tasks which can make the title quite challenging at times. However, the game does focus a lot on conversations and building relationships with other characters. Combat also takes place on a turn-by-turn basis, connected to a grid, which makes it quite similar to some other popular titles like Persona 5.
This could be an excellent Viking game for you if you’re looking for a strategic, thoughtful game, which you can play in short bursts.
Valheim
One of the most highly rated Viking video games, Valheim generated a lot of buzz when it entered early access in 2021. At the time of writing, it’s still awaiting a full release date, but many players have already fallen in love with it’s stunning aesthetic and unique mechanics.
To progress through the Norse-inspired landscape, players need to craft weapons, collect supplies, and defeat a range of different creatures. The more time you spend working on your character’s development, the stronger they’ll become, providing you with access to new challenges and foes.
A unique, and compelling aspect of Valheim is the multiplayer element, which allows players to join forces with their friends to take down bigger enemies plucked from Norse mythology.
The Lost Vikings
Get ready for a touch of Nostalgia. If you’re looking for something a little more old-fashioned for your gaming adventure, the Lost Vikings 1 and 2 are a great choice. This puzzle platform game belongs to Blizzard Entertainment, and was originally released for the Super NES.
Today, it’s available to play as part of the Blizzard Arcade Collection, on Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Throughout the title, players will have a chance to play as three Vikings, navigating a range of puzzle-style levels. The game is far from historically accurate, but it’s still a lot of fun, and it requires some clever strategy in places.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
One of the most compelling story-driven Viking video games on our list, Hellblade places players in the hands of a warrior named Senua, as she fights to free her lover’s soul from damnation. Inspired by both Celtic culture and Norse mythology, the game sends players on a quest to Helheim, forcing them to fight against a range of complex otherworldly bosses and characters.
The title earned some critical acclaim for not only providing a fantastic blend of puzzle solving and psychological horror, but also offering an insight into the challenges of mental health conditions. Throughout the title, you’ll be plagued by voices in your head known as Furies, which also create a range of visual and auditory hallucinations.
The video game developers even worked with mental health specialists, neuroscientists, and people living with psychosis to create a more accurate description of the condition.
Expeditions: Viking
With excellent ratings from critics and players alike, Expeditions: Viking provides players with control over a Viking who inherits the role of leader over their father’s clan. The game is highly strategic, borrowing mechanics from popular games like the Civilization series. Similar to many games of the same style, the choices you make will affect the story.
This means you need to be careful about how you progress, but it also ensures there’s plenty of replayability within the title. You can choose whether you want to be a violent warrior, slaying everyone in your path, or whether you want to take a more peaceful approach.
Northgard
Another highly rated game based on Norse mythology, Northgard features six different playable clans, all from the Viking landscape, with their own unique weaknesses and strengths. With compelling graphics and interesting storytelling, this title has earned excellent acclaim on Steam.
Northgard is similar in a lot of ways to the World of Warcraft franchise, and prompts players to find innovative ways of conquering the land around them, slaying various mythological creatures and human enemies alike. You’ll need to construct buildings, deploy different units, and manage your resources as you progress throughout the levels.
Munin
While many players love Viking video games for their approach to combat, not everyone has a bloodthirsty side. If you’re hoping for something a little less battle-focused, Munin is a great choice. The protagonist is named after one of Odin’s ravens, so the game clearly has a strong reference to the Viking and Norse landscape.
Within the game, you play as Odin’s messenger, who has had their wings removed by Loki. To succeed, you’ll need to navigate a variety of different challenging puzzles on foot. This requires you to experiment with the positioning of each level, to create new paths.
While there aren’t a lot of clear references to authentic Norse mythology here, the game is an excellent choice for anyone who loves the theme, and wants to put their brain to the test.
The Frostrune
This compelling Viking video game clearly took a lot of inspiration from Norse mythology. One of the most historically accurate titles on this list, The Frostrune follows a shipwreck survivor attempting to uncover the mysteries of a deserted island.
The developers conducted some pretty extensive research into Norse mythology before getting started with this game, and they haven’t diluted the title with any references to other cultural resources. The title is a point-and-click adventure game, so it won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s a relatively short and fast-paced title, worth checking out if you’re a lover of Norse tales.
Part of what makes this title so compelling is how it approaches graphics. There are various hand-painted images included throughout the game which are truly phenomenal.
Kari: Stranded On The Shores Of Vanaheim
Another combat-free adventure game, focused heavily on puzzles and strategic challenges, Kari is an excellent game for those with a love of solving problems. You’ll play as a young Viking woman named Kari, as she’s left marooned on the shores of Vanaheim, after her ship is destroyed by an unexpected storm.
For those who don’t know, Vanaheim is one of the nine Norse worlds often referred to in Viking sagas. It belongs to a group of gods connected to wisdom and nature. Kari needs to explore this strange land to find parts so she can rebuild her ship and get back home.
There are numerous references to Norse narratives here, including the introduction of the goddess Freya. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a compelling tale.
The best Norse mythology games
Above, we’ve covered just a handful of some of the most compelling Viking video games worth exploring on your console or computer today. While many of these titles stray away from direct historical accuracy, they do provide a unique way to explore some of the unique elements of Norse mythology in a fun, action-packed, and engaging format.
If you’re looking for a new way to expand your love of all things Norse and Viking, then loading up one of these games could be a great way to spend your afternoon.
Scandification: Discovering Scandinavia.
