Hnefatafl

400
(Uncredited)
BGG Geek Rating
6.0
based on 1,848 ratings
BGG Average Rating
6.7
community average
BGG Ranking
#3159
all board games
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Players
2-2
Weight
2.53/5.00
Playtime
20 min
Age
7+
🎮

Play Online

Available on multiple platforms

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⚙️ Game Mechanics

How this game works - core systems and player actions

Variable Player Powers Grid Movement Square Grid

📂 Categories

Abstract Strategy Ancient

🎨 Artists

David Masnato Dieter Zander Nathan Morse Vlad Korniuk

🏢 Publishers

ABRA Alga Arxon ASS Altenburger Spielkarten Belleville (Бельвіль) Brybelly CMK Partners Cyningstan D-Toys Fratelli Fabbri Editori (Fabbri Editore) Gamestorm Oy Handfaste Historische Spiele Zander History Craft House of Marbles Invicta Games Joker KOZAK Games Krealudik L. P. Septímio Lyng MacGregor Historic Games Marbles: The Brain Store Milda Matilda Games Mitra MP Juegos nestorgames Norse America Oficina do Aprendiz Origem Past Times Professor Puzzle Games (Public Domain) Ragnarök Games Regionalia Verlag GmbH ROMBOL Running Press SevenOaksGrove Shannon Boardgames Sources and Methods Games Spin Master Ltd. Tactic Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) The Regency Chess Company (Unknown) Wood Expressions

📖 About This Game

Hnefatafl, also known as The Viking Game, The King's Table or simply Tafl, is one of those two-player games where the opposing sides are not equal in number. The defending side comprises twelve soldiers and a king, who start the game in a cross formation in the center of the board. Their objective is for the king to escape by reaching any of the four corner squares. The attackers comprise 24 soldiers positioned in four groups of 6 around the perimeter of the board. All pieces move like the Rook in chess and pieces are taken by "sandwiching" i.e. moving your piece so that an opponent's piece is trapped horizontally or vertically between two of yours. There is a host of information on the Internet about Hnefatafl, including many rule variations that are worth experimenting with. A copy of the game was published in issue #128 of Dragon magazine, Dec 1987 (later republished as part of a boxed set: The Best of Dragon Magazine Games in 1990). One of the oldest games in the world - traced in various versions to the Vikings, Welsh, Saxons, and Irish. The origins of this game can be traced through Petteia, played by the Romans, to the even older versions played by the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Derivatives of Hnefatafl include Breakthru, Break Away, Seikkailu Merellä, Tablut and Thud.