At first glance, outside of the unpronounceable names and words, nothing special here. Just your classic AOE, Stronghold, Cossacks, etc., RTS type of games. Chop wood, harvest food, collect stones and iron, train soldiers, wash – rinse – repeat, until you vanquish your enemies (or until you die yourself if you play the Free Build mode into perpetuity).

But at the same time, the great graphics, the genuine Viking atmosphere, the addition of unique buildings (like the Elder’s guild, burial mount, runestones, etc.), the different clans you can join, and a rather deep ‘tech tree’ for each clan, are all elements that bring us to new lands and offer a new take on an old genre.

The way they incorporated water, with the ease to build and use ships, also brilliantly adds realism to the Viking-life without overburdening nor forcing us into using this aspect of the gameplay.

Therefore, it is somewhat strange that a game based on a very old (RTS) concept feels ‘refreshing’....and maybe it’s also just the cold crisp weather of the North....But I personally truly enjoy playing it and will certainly come back to it regularly, as the various game modes (from campaigns to free build, to an highly customizable squirmish mode, and the newly added Jarl's Tournament), really offer lots of replayability.

But anyway, since when a true Viking cares about a stranger's opinion?! So don’t take my word: Just gather your courage, a warm blanket, and a cup of mead. Then summon your inner 'Erik the Red' and try it for yourself! Even if only for a few hours, you won’t regret your very unique trip to these cold and hostile lands.

FOR VALHALLA!!!!

When I started game and looked at 100% GPU load I thought it was crypto miner :D
Set a Frame Limit in options or it will fry your PC alive.

Great game for a Fantasy Viking experience.