Out of all of the many fascinating periods in history, the Vikings seem to exert a particular pull on the culture. This era has inspired the creation of hit novels, movies and television shows – not to mention games. A gaming fan who was also interested in the Vikings would have no trouble finding all kinds of games based on them. The options range from video and board games to casino ones that can be played at online casino Ontario sites.
Of course, some of those games are better and more realistic than others. We are going to take a look at various Viking themed games and assess their quality.
A Feast for Odin
Board gaming remains surprisingly popular in this digital age and one title that has taken off with the public is A Feast for Odin. What you actually get with this game is a Viking saga in board game format.
That is an ambitious thing for the manufacturers to undertake, but no one could accuse them of not taking it seriously. The materials that come with this game show just how dedicated its creators were to exploring Viking history.
To begin with, there are three booklets that are dense with information about the period. One of them acts as an almanac of everything Viking related.
Then we come to the different components of the game. You will find pieces related to crafting, hunting and trading, as well as livestock and food. In addition to embarking on daring raids to secure plunder, this game also deals with the day-to-day lives of the Vikings.
That means building up the resources and stocks of food needed to rise in that society. A Feast for Odin works on a points basis, with the winner being the player who has amassed the most food for their feast table.
It is an outstanding and in-depth game that should delight anyone interested in the period.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Going from the physical to the digital; this one is a video game. What that means – among other things – is high grade graphics that really immerse you in the world of the game.
That world is one heavily influenced by Norse mythology. This is not a game that is directly about the Vikings, but that era was clearly a major inspiration for its creators.
If you want an example of that influence, look at the depiction of the Nords – who live on the planet Skyrim. Everything from their afterlife to their day-to-day culture draws directly on Norse mythology.
The parallels are made clear in many of the names and titles used for the game. For example, Nord is very close to Norse, while the Hall of Valor sounds a lot like Valhalla.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a fantasy game, not a historical depiction of the Viking period. That means it often prioritizes action over realism. It should still entertain Viking fans who want a bit of quality escapism though.
Age of Asgard
One thing that you will find if you invade an online casino is that there is a lot of slot game treasure to be found. Age of Asgard is a very good example of that – as it is among the smartest Viking-themed slots.
At the heart of it is Norse mythology and the game works hard to bring that world to life. Behind the game grid, you will find a scene of mountains capped with snow and statues of Viking heroes.
Meanwhile, the audio provides stirring music that is influenced by the soundtrack to the television show Vikings. With reel icons that include female warriors, dragons and wooden huts, creators Yggdrasil Gaming have put a lot of thought into it.
Perhaps we should not be surprised by that, given the name of the company. In the Old Norse language, Yggdrasil is the name of the mythological tree connecting the Nine Worlds.
Clearly this is a game developer with a serious interest in the subject. That is further supported by the fact that it has created a number of other slots with the Viking theme.
If there is a weakness to the Age of Asgard game, it is that the slot mechanics are still more important overall than the theme. The ultimate goal is to win money, not to immerse yourself in the beliefs of the ancient Norsemen.
Playing it will give you the chance to test your Viking mindset though, because casino games are all about going on an adventure in search of potential riches.
The games that are featured here are far from being the only ones inspired by Viking folklore, but they do represent a cross-section of different genres. They are also all games that take the subject seriously.
