Hnefatafl

The ancient Game of the Vikings – Forge your path to Valhalla!

Hnefatafl is an ancient Scandinavian board game with roots stretching across medieval Europe, long before chess made its way into history. In this classic Tafl game, two asymmetric armies clash on the battlefield. The attacking black forces aim to capture the white king, while the defending white army must protect their monarch at all costs and guide him to safety.

Often referred to as the Game of the Vikings, Hnefatafl carries tales of historic battles—such as the Muscovite invasions of Sweden or Viking raids across Britain. Regardless of the narrative, one element remains constant: the thrilling hunt for the king.

Despite its simple ruleset, the game offers deep strategic depth and rewards thoughtful, tactical play. Encircle enemy units, anticipate your opponent’s moves, set traps, and push for dominance. Will you seize the king for honor and glory? Or will the loyal defenders outmaneuver the invaders and secure their ruler’s escape?

With support for both offline and online gameplay, you can create your own custom variants—over 200,000 unique setups are possible!

Enjoy seamless cross-platform play across iOS, Windows, and Linux. Use a single account to access all your matches from any device. The asynchronous multiplayer system allows you to continue games at your convenience, anytime, anywhere.

Valhalla is within reach!

Available Variants:

• Hnefatafl
• Hnefatafl - Copenhagen
• Hnefatafl - Historical
• Hnefatafl - Berserk
• Hnefatafl - Fetlar
• Sea Battle 11x11
• Sea Battle 13x13
• Tablut
• Tablut - Historical ("Saami")
• Linnaeus' Tablut
• Foteviken Tablut
• Ard Ri
• Brandubh
• Magpie
• Tawlbwrdd
• Tyr 13x13
• Tyr 15x15
• Tyr 19x19
• Coppergate 15x15
• Alea Evengelii
• Custom variants for offline and online play

Feature Overview:

• Offline two-player mode on a single device
• Play against AI opponents of varying difficulty
• Watch AI vs AI matches for analysis or entertainment
• Online multiplayer via Fellhuhn Gaming Service
• Real-time in-game chat for online matches
• Earn achievements through the Fellhuhn Gaming Service
• Built-in tutorial and comprehensive rule explanations
• Share and exchange match data with other players
• Annotate and review online matches
• Export matches to OpenTafl format
• Match Browser to help find ongoing or past games
• Detailed match history for reviewing strategies
• Sync your account with the Steam version to continue progress seamlessly
• Track your performance with ELO rankings in rated matches

This app includes advertisements, which can be removed permanently through a one-time in-app purchase.

Permissions Required:

• Internet Access – required for online gameplay and ads
• In-App Purchases – optional removal of advertisements

Stay connected with us:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HnefataflGame/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FellhuhnDotCom
• Discord: https://discord.gg/dXMYNB8

Special thanks to Thomas Jacquin (http://www.thomasjacquin.com) for the stunning artwork featured in this game, part of the Tafl-Sets of Legend Board Games collection.

What's New in Version 3.91

Last Updated: November 24, 2022

• Long pressing (or right-clicking) an offline match in the main menu now gives the option to rename matches
• Added an option to always display remaining time in timed online matches (previously only visible in quick matches)
• Updated translations for improved language support
• The ignore button now functions correctly when searching for new online opponents
• The "Next Match" button now respects the selected order for online matches