United StatesHnefatafl 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?
You can create your own custom variants -- with over 200,000 different variants possible! The online multiplayer supports crossplatform play. Play on any supported platform with just a single account*.
This game features:
- Variant "Hnefatafl"
- Variant "Hnefatafl - Copenhagen"
- Variant "Hnefatafl - Historical"
- Variant "Hnefatafl - Berserk"
- Variant "Hnefatafl - Fetlar"
- Variant "Old Hnefatafl"
- Variant "Simple Tafl"
- Variant "Sea Battle 11x11"
- Variant "Sea Battle 13x13"
- Variant "Tablut"
- Variant "Tablut - Historical ("Saami")"
- Variant "Linnaeus' Tablut"
- Variant "Foteviken Tablut"
- Variant "Ard Ri"
- Variant "Historical Ard Ri"
- Variant "Brandubh"
- Variant "Historical Brandubh"
- Variant "Magpie"
- Variant "Tawlbwrdd"
- Variant "Historical Tawlbwrdd"
- Variant "Tyr 13x13"
- Variant "Tyr 15x15"
- Variant "Tyr 19x19"
- Variant "Coppergate 15x15"
- Variant "Alea Evangelii"
- Variant "Historical Alea Evangelii"
- Custom variants for offline and Online Play*
- Offline play for two humans
- Offline play against various computer opponents
- Offline play between two computer opponents
- Online Play*
- Ingame Chat for Online Play*
- Crossplatform Online Play*
- Achievements*
- ELO scores*
- Match Browser to find the right opponent
- Match History to review your past matches
- Annotate and share matches
- Tutorial/Rules included
*) These features require the creation of a free Fellhuhn account, valid on all supported platforms.
This app is supported by advertisement which can be disabled through an one-time purchase of IAP.
Not following rules??
I read that the king is captured when surrounded on all four sides unless it’s by a wall. Yet the game is taking my king when only surrounded on three sides and he has room to move. I’m new to this, so? Why am I losing when he’s not surrounded on all four sides?
United StatesWrong rules
the rules all wrong. For the king to be taken you need for pieces around him. Not this two thing. And the pieces also need to be right next to the other pieces to take the opposite person pawn.
United StatesCapturing King
I deleted this App after my very first game after it repeatedly captured the King with only 2 pieces. Farvel.
United StatesGreat game, but has easily fixable major flaw
I love this version of Hnefatafl. It is so refined and makes learning and playing this classic game easy and fun. However, there is a major flaw that could be easily corrected by the designer. For example, when playing in online matches, where one player fails to move, there should be an automatic feature that forfeits their game. I’ve had several matches where my opponents just stop playing in the middle of the match, and there is no way to end these games then. They’re basically paused forever. The designer should build in an automatic forfeiture feature if an opponent fails to move after maybe 2 weeks.
United StatesDoes not apply the same rules to both sides
I only play this game as a single player. When I make a move they should take the opponent’s piece by trapping it against the sides, it does not remove the piece. Yet when the computer makes the same move, it takes my piece. When I move my king to either the side border or to the corner, it does not show me as winning. But if the computer opponent makes the same move, it shows that I lost.
United StatesBest App
This is by far the best platform. The developer takes great care to provide feedback and has created a masterful platform to learn and play this amazing game. I teach my young children every day and they are so eager to play, I can get them to do their homework every night with the promise of a game! The online system is incredible. We eagerly anticipate seeing the next move. Ample and customizable times are given. There is a planning mode that allows you to play through various scenarios and replay past matches so you can learn where you went wrong and really improve your skill. Our family has become true devotees to the learning and sharing the game with colleagues and friends. Even sculpting and building our own sets and using the app alongside actual boards to take advantage of the planning mode to gain skill and practice. For those who are just discovering this game, it is a REAL historical ANCIENT game with a rich history. I would recommend to anyone lucky enough to chance upon it to do a little reading on the history and origins. The time spent doing this is far more valuable than just about any other activity we commonly use our phones for now a days. The game play has a simplicity which makes it easy to gain an adequate level of proficiency in a far shorter time than chess for example, but the strategies required are complex and exciting enough to satisfy ones intellectual needs. And knowing that this was played and developed by our ancient ancestors makes it even more amazing. The built in AI is excellent for learning winning patterns and strategies and are fully customizable. This particular app allows for all the possible multitude of historical variations. Online play is simple to navigate and takes the excitement to a high level even including rankings and tournaments.
United StatesGreat app
As an American, I just found out this game. I had to google the rules/game play. This game is a blast, but would be nice if there was a “rules” section for each of the games, as it seems each game has some variations and rules. Other wise, very nice. 5 stars for sure
United States
-Long Clicking (or right clicking) an offline match in the main menu will now offer the option to rename matches. - Added the option to always display the remaining time in an online match that has a timeout set. This was previously only available for quick matches. - Updated the translations. - When searching for opponents for new online matches the ignore button now also works. - When using the "Next Match" button it will now respect the selected order for online matches. - Tournament matches that timed out will now be shown in a different
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