Hnefatafl is an ancient Scandinavian board game whose variants were played all over medieval Europe before chess was even invented. In those so called Tafl games two different sized armies fight each other. The invading black army tries to capture the white king, while the defending white army tries to protect their king and help him escape.

Often also called the Game of the Vikings Hnefatafl tells many stories, like the Moskowites invasion of Sweden or the Viking hordes pillaging Britain. But no matter what the story is one thing always stays the same: The hunt for the king.

Even though the rules aren't complicated the game offers fascinating strategies and rewards tactical play. Try to surround the enemy pieces, plan ahead, lay traps and force your opponent into surrender. Will you capture the king for gold and glory? Can the loyal guards hold back the invading forces and secure the flight of their king?

For offline and online play you can create your own custom variants -- with over 200,000 different variants possible!

The game features cross platform play with iOS, Windows and Linux and you can use a single account to access all your matches from any of your devices. The multiplayer is asynchronous so you can continue your matches whenever you want.

Valhalla awaits!

This game features the following 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 play for two humans on one device

- Offline play against various computer opponents

- Offline play with computer against computer

- Online play via Fellhuhn Gaming Service for two humans

- Ingame Chat for Online play

- Achievements via Fellhuhn Gaming Service

- Tutorial/Rules included

- Share matches with other players

- Annotate and review online matches

- Export matches to OpenTafl

- Match Browser to find the fitting match

- Match History to review your strategies

- Link your account with the Steam version to continue your matches anytime

- ELO rankings for rated matches

This app is supported by advertisement which can be disabled through a one-time purchase of IAP.

Permissions:

- Internet Access is required for the advertisements and online play

- In-App-Billing/Purchase is required for the optional removal of advertisements

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- Discord: https://discord.gg/dXMYNB8

Includes artwork created by Thomas Jacquin (http://www.thomasjacquin.com) which are part of the Tafl-Sets of Legend Board Games.

Hnefatafl is an ancient strategy board game that originated in Scandinavia during the Viking Age. It is played on an 11x11 board with pieces representing two opposing armies: the attackers and the defenders. The attackers aim to capture the defenders' king, while the defenders seek to protect their king and prevent the attackers from reaching it.

Gameplay

The game begins with the attackers placing their pieces on the board, followed by the defenders. The attackers typically have a numerical advantage, but the defenders have the advantage of occupying the center of the board.

Each turn, a player moves one of their pieces one space in any direction. Pieces can move along rows, columns, or diagonals. The king, however, can only move one space at a time in any direction.

If a piece lands on a space occupied by an opponent's piece, the opponent's piece is captured and removed from the board. The king cannot be captured, but it can be surrounded and rendered immobile.

Winning Conditions

The attackers win if they capture the defenders' king. The defenders win if they can prevent the attackers from capturing the king for a certain number of turns (typically 12).

Variants

There are several variants of Hnefatafl, each with its own unique rules and board sizes. Some of the most popular variants include:

* Tablut: Played on a 9x9 board, with 16 attackers and 12 defenders.

* Ard Ri: Played on a 7x7 board, with 12 attackers and 8 defenders.

* Brandubh: Played on a 7x7 board, with 24 attackers and 12 defenders.

Strategy and Tactics

Hnefatafl is a game of strategy and tactics. Players must carefully consider their moves, anticipating their opponent's responses and developing plans to achieve their goals.

Common strategies include:

* Centralization: Defenders aim to keep their king in the center of the board, where it is well-protected.

* Flanking: Attackers try to attack the defenders' king from multiple sides, forcing it to move.

* Sacrifices: Sometimes, players sacrifice their pieces to gain an advantage in position or mobility.

Historical Significance

Hnefatafl is one of the oldest known board games, dating back to the 6th century AD. It was widely played throughout Scandinavia and other parts of Europe during the Viking Age. Archaeological evidence suggests that the game was played by both men and women, and it was often used as a form of entertainment and strategy training.

Today, Hnefatafl continues to be enjoyed by players around the world. It is a challenging and rewarding game that tests players' strategic thinking and tactical skills.