In the strategy game “Northgard,” you fight as a Viking clan in a harsh world for survival. Gather resources, expand your territory, and forge alliances with other clans. The game has received very good reviews on Steam and is currently on sale with a 70% discount.
What kind of game is Northgard? Northgard is a strategy game with real-time and construction elements, released in 2017 by the French developer Shiro Games. The game has sold over 3 million copies and had up to 20,000 simultaneous players in 2022 (via steamchart.com).
The game incorporates elements from Norse mythology. You control a Viking clan and fight for control of an unknown, mysterious continent: Northgard.
The gameplay of Northgard follows the well-known formula for strategy games:
- You start with a handful of units and sparse shelters, which you must steadily expand throughout the game.
- To do this, you must explore the map to gather resources.
- With these resources, you can build new buildings that allow you to recruit more units.
In the base version of the game, there are 6 different clans, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Northgard offers the right clan for every playstyle. No matter if you prefer to achieve victory aggressively and militarily or aim for your goals through trade and alliances.
If that’s not enough, you can download more clans via DLC on Steam.
Single Player, Online Coop, and Multiplayer
Does the game have a campaign? Yes, there is a single-player mode in which the story of Northgard is told. It begins with the assassination of the Viking high king by a rebellious clan. You play the king’s son, who is the only one to survive the conspiracy.
You must seek allies and then hunt down the rebellious Raven clan to the shores of the unknown continent Northgard. There you will meet other clans who will support you in holding the conspirators accountable. However, you soon discover that Hagen, the leader of the Raven clan, has much darker goals. He has stolen a mythical artifact, the Gjallarhorn, and intends to bring about Ragnarök, the end of the world.
Along your journey, besides hostile Vikings, there are other dangers: giants, wolves, the undead Draugr, and even Northgard itself, the land, want to claim your life.
More on new games on Steam can be found here on MeinMMO:
Can you play Northgard in coop? If you want to dive into life as a Viking with friends, you can play Northgard online in coop.
Is there a multiplayer? There is an online multiplayer where you can compete against one or more opponents. Matches can also be supplemented by bots. However, keep in mind that while Northgard is available on various platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC, the option for crossplay between platforms is not available.
Northgard Scores with Players and Critics
What are the players saying? Northgard is quite well-received by players. They praise the setting, the story, and the mechanics. These are complex enough to develop elaborate strategies, yet also understandable so that newcomers are not overwhelmed.
The best strategy game of the last 10 years, a lovingly crafted mix of The Settlers, Heroes of Might and Magic, and Warcraft 3.
Steam review by the user ByggeMan
Northgard also impresses with great graphics. The comic style gives the game a unique charm. The color palette may sometimes seem a bit dull, but it contributes significantly to the rough and threatening atmosphere of the mysterious continent. Additionally, the game features a map editor that allows you to create your own levels.
It is therefore not surprising that most players praise Northgard. Steam states that 88% of all reviews since release are “very positive” (via Steam, as of November 23, 2022)
What are the critics saying? Northgard has also impressed critics. On metacritic.com, the strategy game has a score of 81/100. In a review, the GameStar team praises the game world, the atmospheric soundtrack, and the exciting gameplay.
MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus loves to play strategy games and has already invested many hours in Northgard. For him, the game is a clear recommendation for anyone who enjoys RTS:
I have now logged about 200 hours in Northgard, of which about 120 hours were during the early hype when I first had the game and the rest accumulated over time. The developers continue to release new clans as DLC or seasons with new mechanics that I enjoy testing in coop with friends.
During the drought that strategy fans have experienced for years, Northgard is a game I always like to return to. There are no massive battles with armies like in Starcraft, where micromanagement has to happen within seconds, but rather atmospheric gameplay.
A big plus for Northgard is the timeless, truly beautiful design that captures the feeling of a growing Viking tribe with snow, forests, bears, and fantastic creatures from Norse mythology beautifully.
Particularly gripping is the mechanic of cyclical seasons. Depending on the season, different buildings – and even tribes! – have certain advantages and disadvantages, creating a unique dynamic, especially when you know: In winter, I have little food, and my warriors are weak, but my enemy has a bonus here. I have to be careful. That’s something that no other strategy game offers me in the overall package.
Can’t get enough of Vikings? New survival game on Steam lets you plunder as a Viking, looks like Valheim with good graphics – Coming in 2023
