Summary
The age of Vikingshas always been a popular destination in media, and gaming is no exception. With plenty of recognizable hallmarks, close connections to myths and divine presences, and the natural ruthlessness and brutality of such tales,Viking stories have fascinated audiences of all ages.Classic heroes standing strong against all odds, familiar themes of survival, deception, and revenge, the calming atmosphere of snow and desolation with the promise of unseen riches from upcoming raids, and the adventure of traveling to new lands have all attracted massive followings for Viking games across various genres.
Viking-themed games have peaked in popularity over recent years, with titles likeGod of WarandAssassin’s Creed Valhallastanding as some of the biggest andmost influential in the industry.These games have inspired many smaller studios to produce Viking-related games as well, resulting in true indie gems likeValheim. While we are yet to see more upcoming triple-A games utilizing this fan-favorite setting, here we’ll be ranking some of the best games for Viking lovers that have been released over the past decade.
Jotun, by Thunder Lotus Games, offers one of the simplest premises on this list: players control as Thora, a female Viking warrior who has been denied entry to Valhalla. To regain her lost honor, she must defeat loads of giants across the many realms. With heart and effort poured into this indie passion project,Jotunshowcases a unique hand-drawn visual style and exceptional art direction. It is an action-adventure title deeply rooted in Norse mythology, unafraid to immerse players in its darkest aspects.
Players will journey across all Nine Realms and back, experiencing a great sense of scale and engaging in boss fights against truly massive foes. To make these encounters even more exciting, Thora can bring special godlike powers into battle. Although some may find the gameplay loop simplistic,Jotunis primarily a story-focused adventure, and in that regard, it truly delivers.
The Banner Sagatrilogy by Stoic Studio is a great destination for any Viking lover who prefers their games to leave some room to breathe and think. These Scandinavian-infused games feature tactical turn-based combat, plenty of dialogue, and tough decision-making that will shape each playthrough’s story, making the characters that players meet either their allies or their foes. With rich lore, a unique world, and many fleshed-out characters to grow attached to, some twists of the story will shatter players' hearts.
Another detail worth mentioning isBanner Saga’sunique visual style, which is akin to hand-drawn animated films. Coupled with great music, this style enhances the game’s rich storytelling, transporting players into a legendary tale full of intense encounters and fights for the survival of their people.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, developed by Ninja Theory, stands out as a unique Viking game that tells its story through the lens of mental illness. For Senua, reality, gods, myths, feelings, and her own inner demons are so interconnected that players will find it difficult to distinguish where truth ends and her trauma begins. This unique narrative is combined with a thorough exploration of Norse mythology, retelling its legends and faithfully recreating the environment, lifestyle, and pressing issues of the time.
While the sequel,Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, may not be as compelling and cohesive as the original, it’s aworthy addition to Senua’s story. It places emphasis on previously unexplored topics and explores her relationships with new characters. The Viking and mythological components are even stronger in the sequel, as Senua travels to her enemy’s homeland, where she finds unexpected allies and must deal with threatening giants. The sequel also features arguably the most technically-perfect in-game graphics seen to date, providing another reason to play it.
One of the greatest soft reboots in gaming history,God of Warmanaged to beatRed Dead Redemption 2for Game of the Year in 2018, which is quite an achievement for Santa Monica Studio. Placing Kratos amid the Norse pantheon was a decision few expected to result in such a brilliant final product. The game not only delivers a deep and personal story with new challenges for the well-known protagonist, but also immerses players in its Viking setting to the fullest.
Its sequel,Ragnarök, while not as perfectly balanced, doubles down on the Scandinavian setting, shuffling memorable episodes and characters and never slowing down. Fighting against Thor, playing as young Loki, starting Ragnarök, and defeating Odin the All-Father are just a few highlights of what these games have to offer. Without a doubt, these are some of the finest titles for Viking lovers in recent years and can be easily recommended to almost anyone.
Assassin’s Creed Valhallamanages to surpass evenGod of Waron this list due to its all-inclusive Viking experience, packing everything players could possibly expect from such a game and delivering it with a previously unseen scope and scale.Valhallais much more of a Viking action-RPG than a traditionalAssassin’s Creedgame,featuring several enormous territories(Norway, England, Francia, Ireland, and Vinland) that players can explore. They can raid settlements, discover huge cities, and encounter real historical figures like Ivarr the Boneless, King Harald Fairhair, and King Aelfred the Great, among many others.
On top of that,Valhallaoffers a perspective change by allowing players to live through Scandinavian myths through the eyes of Odin himself, as opposed toGod of War Ragnarök. Players can explore nine mythical realms, like Asgard and Nidavellir, and fight legendary Norse creatures such as Suttungr and Fenrir. The scope and ambition ofAssassin’s Creed Valhallaare simply unmatched, making it the ideal choice if players are looking for a Viking action-RPG that can consume hundreds of hours of their life.
On the surface,Valheimmight not be as extensive or visually impressive asAssassin’s Creed ValhallaorGod of War, but it’s comparable to these colossal games in its impact. One of the most-played games on Steam,Valheimoffers acooperative survival experiencewith a Nordic twist. Set in a procedurally generated purgatory inspired by Viking culture, players must gather resources, build ships and houses, craft weapons, hunt, raid, survive, and conquer to shape their own saga worthy of the greatest warriors.
After three years,Valheimis technically still an Early Access game, so it may yet see a huge rise in popularity sometime later on following a full release. However, it’s already a well-polished, incredibly fun experience, as evidenced by the game’s explosive launch back in 2021. Since then,Valheimhas received numerous content updates from its small team and is improving daily, making it feel almost like a complete game today.
