Ancient Moves: Hnefatafl (Viking Chess)

One king. Two armies. A path to freedom.

Command the siege or lead a royal escape in Ancient Moves: Hnefatafl, a Viking strategy game where two unequal armies face a very different challenge.

The attackers surround the board with superior numbers. The defenders hold the center, protecting a king who must reach one of the four corners. Every move can open an escape route—or close a trap.

Choose your side

Lead 24 attackers to capture the king, or command 12 defenders and their king to break through the siege. Learn to use each army’s strengths and see the battlefield from both sides.

Simple moves. Difficult decisions.

Pieces move in straight lines across an 11×11 board. Capture enemy soldiers by trapping them between your pieces, build shieldwalls along the edges, and turn the throne and corners into tactical advantages.

This corner-escape ruleset, derived from Copenhagen Hnefatafl, rewards careful positioning, patient defense, and well-timed sacrifices.

Play your way

• Solo play: Command either army against four computer difficulty levels.

• Shared-screen rivalry: Challenge a friend on the same device.

• Learn as you play: Follow an illustrated tutorial, display legal moves, request hints, and undo moves in offline games.

• Follow the battle: Review the move journal and compare both armies’ end-game statistics.

• Make it your own: Choose from five board palettes and adjust movement animations and sound.

• Build your saga: Unlock 39 achievements.

• Choose your language: Play in English or 29 additional languages.

Set against a Norse-inspired fjord, Ancient Moves: Hnefatafl brings a distinctive contest of siege and escape to your screen.

Will you close the ring—or find the way out?