Hnefatafl

About

Hnefatafl is a single player and multiplayer casual strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Philippe Schober and was released on April 30, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

"Hnefatafl" is a 2-player warfare strategy game, also known as the "Game of the Vikings," where one player controls the black army trying to capture the white king, while the other protects the white king and helps him escape. With rich historical backgrounds, the game requires strategic planning, trap-setting, and outsmarting opponents, offering various customizable variants. Play locally in single-player, PvP, or multi-player mode with split-screen support.

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 235 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

monetization5 negative mentions

The game offers a fantastic implementation of Hnefatafl with a variety of rule variants and tutorials, making it accessible for players of different skill levels.
The app features smooth gameplay, decent graphics, and a user-friendly interface, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
It includes a wide range of customization options and allows for online play, making it a great choice for both casual and competitive players.

The AI is often criticized for being too easy to beat, even at higher difficulty levels, and sometimes exhibits poor strategic behavior.
There are frequent bugs and glitches, such as the AI getting stuck in repetitive move loops and issues with the game not following the correct rules.
The presence of intrusive ads and problems with account registration can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
27%
9%
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, featuring aesthetically pleasing boards and pieces, smooth controls, and decent sound effects. Players appreciate the customization options that enhance the visual experience, although some find the graphical representation of playing pieces a bit dull. Overall, the game's visuals contribute positively to the overall enjoyment, especially with the addition of beautiful new board artwork.
- “The boards and pieces are aesthetically pleasing.”
- “The new board artwork is beautiful, and I do enjoy all the new variants.”
- “Controls and graphics are smooth ”
- “Graphics on the playing pieces are a bit dull, but that's not a major issue.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the gameplay is described as smooth and enjoyable, with various rule variants that enhance the experience. While some users find it challenging and fun, there are critiques regarding online notifications and a desire for more customization options, such as different skins for the board and pieces.
- “Smooth gameplay, many rule variants available.”
- “After playing this game at a museum, I've wanted to find an app, and this one not only is smooth but also has 12 other gameplay versions!”
- “Great fun, challenging gameplay.”
- “Ultimately, the computer gameplay is rather boring.”
- “One critique about the online gameplay is the notifications.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game primarily involves ads, which some users find unobtrusive, though there are complaints about still encountering ads despite paying for an ad-free experience. Overall, players are willing to pay to eliminate ads, indicating a mixed reception regarding the monetization approach.
- “Paid for ad-free, still getting ads.”
- “I determined it has something to do with clicking your ads at the bottom of the game.”
- “I'll pay to get rid of the ads.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's music is highly praised for its quality, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere. However, users express frustration over technical issues, such as the AI player malfunctioning and the inability to identify the soundtrack's songs, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack in the game is amazing.”
- “The game looks cool and has good music.”
- “The problematic part: after the redesign, I have the following issue: the AI player sometimes stops functioning mid-play and the app freezes (it continues to play music, but everything else is stopped).”
- “The only drawback is that I don't know the names of any of the songs in the soundtrack and can't seem to find them, which is frustrating because I want to listen to them.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant issues such as the AI player freezing mid-play and the app becoming unresponsive, despite others reporting a smooth experience without glitches. Overall, while some players enjoy the game, many express frustration over its buggy performance, particularly during turn transitions.
- “I've played both offline and online, and so far, there have been no glitches or complaints.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a stable gaming experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; it allows me to focus on gameplay without interruptions.”
- “The problematic part: after the redesign, I have the following issue: the AI player sometimes stops functioning mid-play and the app freezes (it continues to play music, but everything else is stopped).”
- “Love the game, but this app is buggy as hell.”
- “The game freezes whenever you go back in turns.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is initially entertaining but tends to lose its appeal over time, leading to a sense of boredom.
- “Umm... funny thing.”
- “It was funny at first but then it got boring.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express frustration over unexpected redirections to the app store, which detracts from their emotional engagement with the game and disrupts their experience. This technical issue can lead to feelings of annoyance and disappointment, impacting overall enjoyment.