5 Best Viking Games of All Time, Ranked

The success of popular Viking games such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla and God of War has set the stage for similar games to thrive. For this reason, Viking games continue to flood the market, and with that, continuous growth in the fan base. There is just a certain aspect of rush that comes with playing warriors on quests who are often propelled by honor. Let's not forget the hack and slash mechanisms most of these games feature, which make all the difference when it comes to exciting combat. 

The Vikings have always been admired for their strength and fascinating culture. So when you play any game featuring them, you have every right to expect to embark on a daring adventure involving some of the strongest warriors. The gaming industry provides a range of Viking titles to choose from, so if you too have succumbed to the Viking buzz, then this is about to be your best year as a gamer. This is because we have a lineup of the greatest Viking games to ever exist. Below are the five best Viking games of all time.

5. Jotun

If you've played Valheim, then you may be able to relate to Jotun as it features a similar plot. Here, you play as Thora, a dead Viking warrior trying to prove herself to the gods in order to enter Valhalla. You are armed with a two-handed ax, which is more than enough for the enemies lurking in this turbulent world. One of which includes the Jotun, elemental giants of nature located in different areas of the map, as well as a final boss fight with Odin himself. Puzzle-solving is also part of Thora's adventures, which sometimes also require applying a few ax moves to interact with certain objects in the environment. 

Each stage of the game features a rune, which you must reach for you to progress to the next event. Similarly, you may occasionally find a god shrine where you can upgrade Thora's god powers. There are up to nine realms to explore, and an additional expansion to venture into known as Jotun: Valhalla Edition. Here you get to face more fierce foes and an even stronger Jotun. Making it a suitable challenge for those who complete Jotun but are hungry for more battles. 

4. Northgard

Do what Vikings do best, which is to conquer new valuable territories in a tactical adventure dubbed Northgard. After a long period of dreary exploration, your tribe of Vikings arrives at the promising shores of a new land. The place is filled with danger and mystery, but that is not enough to turn back your brave sailors. Here, you control a clan of Vikings by assigning them different duties that aid in the community's survival. A crucial task since there are several enemies to look out for. From the Dire Wolves to the Undead Warriors and even other Viking clans scrambling for the same territories as you. 

Did we also mention the elements as one of the biggest threats? That's right, you must also prepare yourself by building shelters to survive the harshest winters to come. The game features dramatic seasonal changes. Therefore, you must be prepared if you want to keep your clan alive. One more threat to look out for in this chaotic land are the giants. However, in this case, you may choose to either befriend them or take them down. These types of games are often played as a party, and the online co-op Northgard features is what earns the game its rank on this list.

3. For Honor

Let's take a look at one of the best Viking projects from Ubisoft, known as For Honor. An action RPG that you may already be familiar with since it is also one of the most popular Viking games. Aside from providing a strong roster of Viking characters to select from, For Honor also gives you other types of warriors to explore. This is thanks to the game's unique division system, where you can play as one of five distinct factions. All these factions contain unique groups of fighters. For instance, the Warborn consists of Vikings, the Iron Legions are made up of knights, the Wu Lin are ancient Chinese, and the Dawn Empire is made up of Samurai warriors; the fifth faction is a recent addition dubbed Outlander, with just two characters so far.

That's not all. You also have access to the most tactical combat system, where you can select the faction you like based on the weapon you would like to use. Since you will be dueling opponents from other cultures, you have the opportunity to prove Viking superiority by winning battles against different warriors. Something else to look forward to when playing For Honor is the rewards. You gain feats, which are special points that allow you to either heal yourself or call upon special attacks on your opponents. If you haven't played the game yet, you are surely missing out on a whole lot of action.

2. Valheim 

Step into the shoes of a fallen warrior in Valheim and fight for his rightful place in Viking heaven. This is a survival RPG that takes place in the afterlife of a Viking who is in some sort of purgatory world. To survive, you must scavenge for resources, craft tools, and fight enemies throughout this world. The map is divided into five biomes, each with distinct environments and enemies. Whether you decide to go solo or form a party of warriors with other players, Valheim makes for a worthwhile experience whichever way you play it. 

The game also supports optional PVP, which creates an exciting competitive spirit among players. Since the game operates on a day and night cycle, you can rationalize your time between questing and other activities like mining, fishing, and hunting. These activities help you maintain your health and safety. For instance, finding something to eat helps restore your stamina and health. However, the quality of food you get determines how much sustenance you obtain. Valheim is one of the most popular Viking games on Steam and continues to receive more updates by the day. 

1. Assassin's Creed Valhalla

After the success of its predecessors, Assassin's Creed Valhalla had a lot to live up to, and it did just that. In fact, it surpassed the expectations of most; since this is more of a Viking game, which takes a different turn from the traditional Assassin's Creed script. Despite that, the game still received the reception it deserved. Assassin's Creed Valhalla is at the center of several story arcs, including a number of side-missions. Here, you play as Eivor Varinsdottir, a Viking rider; you can choose your main protagonist to be either a male or female avatar. Also, the game lets you customize your Viking down to the smallest details.

You can select the character's hair color, beard, clothing, tattoos, and even armor. As several great European forces are scrambling about the world, it is up to you and your fellow Vikings to put a stop to them. Assassin's Creed Valhalla offers a variety of weapons any Viking fan can appreciate; these include greatswords and flails. What's more exciting is the game's upgraded combat system that allows dual-wielding, which applies to almost all weapons and shields. Like in most previous games, you also get a companion, which in this case is a raven that helps you scan nearby areas for enemies.

Which video game from the list above do you think is the best Viking game of all time? Share your pick with us in the comments below or over on our socials here!