Northgard

About

In Northgard, you lead a Viking clan to settle and conquer a newfound continent. Manage resources, expand territory, battle enemies, and endure harsh winters in this strategy game. A mystical rune challenges your clan's fate, introducing a single-player campaign filled with lore and unique quests. Adapt to a variety of biomes, each with unique challenges and benefits.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 27,282 reviews

gameplay1.5k positive mentions

grinding230 negative mentions

The game features a charming aesthetic with vibrant graphics and an immersive soundtrack that enhances the Norse mythology theme.
Northgard strikes a balance between accessibility and depth, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and seasoned strategy fans.
The variety of clans and random map generation contribute to high replayability, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Many players find the gameplay to be repetitive and shallow, with a slow pace that can detract from the overall experience.
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to performance problems such as crashes and lag, especially in multiplayer modes.
The monetization strategy has been criticized as predatory, with essential content locked behind expensive DLCs, which many players feel undermines the game's value.

gameplay
4,137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The gameplay of Northgard is characterized by a blend of real-time strategy and resource management, featuring unique mechanics such as seasonal changes and territory control that require players to adapt their strategies. While many players appreciate the accessibility and depth of the mechanics, some criticize the repetitive nature of gameplay and the lack of complexity in combat. Overall, the game offers a charming aesthetic and engaging mechanics, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated strategy fans, though it may feel slow-paced and simplistic for those seeking a more intense experience.
- “This real-time strategy masterpiece is the perfect mix of challenging gameplay and laid-back fun, wrapped in a Nordic aesthetic that makes you want to grab a fur cape and yell 'skål!' at your screen.”
- “The gameplay strikes a perfect balance between accessibility and depth, making it easy for newcomers to jump in while offering plenty of strategic depth for seasoned players to sink their teeth into.”
- “The way the game weaves environmental challenges, diplomacy, and combat into its gameplay creates a dynamic experience where no two matches feel the same.”
- “I had to look several mechanics up online simply because they weren't explained.”
- “The mechanics of taking land is novel, but the mechanics of managing your villagers is painful and strips the joy out of the game.”
- “The gameplay is very shallow and boring, and I feel like this game was a rushed release.”
story
3,385 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The story in Northgard is generally described as a simple yet engaging narrative centered around Norse mythology, focusing on themes of revenge and exploration. While the campaign consists of 11 missions that serve as a tutorial for gameplay mechanics, many players find the story to be somewhat generic and lacking depth, with some missions feeling repetitive or overly challenging. Despite these criticisms, the story mode is appreciated for its ability to introduce players to different clans and strategies, making it a valuable experience for newcomers to the genre.
- “The story mode is engaging and interesting, the co-op modes are great fun.”
- “The story mode helps you learn the ins and outs of the game.”
- “The story mode is a good feeler for the mechanics of running your village.”
- “The story mode is essentially a lengthy tutorial to the game which was very entertaining and didn't feel repetitive since the goals of each mission changed every level.”
- “The story is simple but the gameplay mechanics that are introduced as you play make it a good way to learn the game and gives you a feeling of satisfaction as you unite everyone and adapt to the situations that threaten your peoples survival.”
- “The story mode is quite bland imho, and multiplayer was hard to get into since i just felt sorry for whoever else was on my team xd a dlc for clans also didn't exactly improve my opinion.”
graphics
2,273 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The graphics of Northgard have received widespread praise for their charming, cartoonish art style that effectively captures the game's Norse mythology theme. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, detailed environments, and smooth animations, which enhance the overall immersive experience. While some critiques mention that the graphics may not be groundbreaking or overly complex, they are generally considered visually appealing and well-suited for the game's strategic gameplay.
- “The visuals are stunning — bright forests, icy tundras, and volcanic wastelands give you plenty of eye candy while you plot your next conquest.”
- “The graphics are crisp and charming, with a beautifully animated world full of seasonal changes and detailed environments.”
- “The game's beautiful art style combines vibrant colors and detailed landscapes, bringing the mystical world of the Norsemen to life.”
- “Some great ideas in there - if only I could play them and not have to struggle with the terrible visuals.”
- “I have tried on multiple different computers, different operating systems, and wildly different graphics settings; nothing fixes the core problem that the game cannot handle its own load.”
- “The graphics are cute, but the gameplay is out of this world amazing.”
music
849 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
3%
The music in Northgard is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the game's Norse mythology theme. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's beauty and its ability to enhance the overall experience, some note that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions, with calls for more variety in the tracks. Overall, the music is considered a strong point of the game, contributing to its charm and appeal.
- “The soundtrack, filled with atmospheric, Norse-inspired music, perfectly complements the gameplay, while the ambient sounds of nature and battle further enhance the immersion.”
- “The music is great, the style is creative, and overall a well-made game.”
- “The game's stunning Norse-inspired visuals and immersive soundtrack drew me in, while the intuitive mechanics and diverse clans kept me engaged.”
- “The OST is limited enough that it becomes grating.”
- “The only negative point is the music; it's very annoying after some hours.”
- “Music is repetitive.”
replayability
629 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
Overall, "Northgard" is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its diverse clans, random map generation, and multiple game modes, including single-player skirmishes and multiplayer options. While some players note that the campaign lacks depth and can become repetitive, the variety of strategies and unique clan abilities keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Many reviews highlight the game's potential for long-term enjoyment, especially with ongoing updates and expansions.
- “There is no shortage of replayability, what with singleplayer skirmishes, several different game modes, multiplayer, and such.”
- “For extended replayability, Northgard offers an impressive range of game modes: a deeply engaging campaign that immerses players in Norse lore, skirmishes with customizable settings, conquest mode for extended challenges, multiplayer matches, cooperative challenges, seasonal events, and custom games.”
- “The variety of playable clans, each with distinct abilities and traits, adds a lot of replayability.”
- “After you finish the campaign, replayability isn't the best either.”
- “There's absolutely no replay value in this game.”
- “The campaign is a measly 11 missions long with no replayability to it, and that's really all there is to say about it.”
grinding
261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
11%
88%
The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the slow pace and micromanagement required for resource management and unit control. While some enjoy the grind as part of the gameplay experience, others find it excessively time-consuming and lacking in strategic depth, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the grinding aspect is a significant point of contention, with many players suggesting it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's engaging but not tedious, and just tricky enough to be fun without being frustrating.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It gets really grindy quite quickly.”
- “Limits make this game super slow and grindy.”
- “The game is very tedious and convoluted.”
stability
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and freezes, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay with minimal issues, a significant number have expressed frustration over persistent glitches and server problems that hinder the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a major concern, especially following updates and DLC releases.
- “From a technical point, the game runs great.”
- “It's a polished game, no glitches, lags, crashes, or anything.”
- “Very polished, bug free, runs great.”
- “At least in the last six months, errors occur regularly and the game freezes.”
- “Lots of crashes in single player mode and many server freezes on multiplayer.”
- “The game has regressed into such an unstable and buggy phase (prealpha?) that it shouldn't be out on the market, period.”
atmosphere
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining stunning visuals, detailed environments, and a captivating soundtrack that evokes the essence of Norse mythology. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a cozy yet engaging atmosphere, enhanced by realistic sound effects and ambient music that complement the Viking theme. Overall, the game's artistic design and atmospheric elements contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.
- “The sound design, from the crunch of snow underfoot to the distant howls of wolves, enhances the immersive atmosphere.”
- “The game's setting is beautifully crafted, capturing the essence of Norse legends with its detailed environments and atmospheric visuals.”
- “With its engaging gameplay, beautiful art style, and rich atmosphere, it's a journey into the heart of Norse mythology that you won't soon forget.”
- “I enjoyed the moments where I stared in the atmosphere of the game; the gameplay parts are awful.”
- “Bought this game as some say it is like Settlers and Age of Empires; well, I wish they would go and play Settlers and Age of Empires as this is nothing like it. Yes, it is an RTS, but that's where it stops. It is more of a city-building game: build and farm, kill one or two enemies, no real battles and slow building. It is a good game and I do enjoy games like this, but I am let down by the lack of speech; it makes the game flat and loses atmosphere. Also, the game is a bit slow, and once you have completed a couple of maps, it gets to be a bit of a bore.”
- “I hoped for some sort of 'The Settlers' atmosphere and gameplay, but I didn't really get a lot.”
optimization
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
41%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on lower-spec machines, the consensus is that it remains poorly optimized, particularly in multiplayer modes and during late-game scenarios. Despite occasional praise for its graphics and gameplay, the persistent optimization problems detract from the overall experience, leading many to recommend waiting for fixes before purchasing.
- “The game runs smoothly and has no major bugs or glitches.”
- “Very good optimization, very good graphics, very smooth mechanics, and I believe it’s also a user-friendly environment where nothing seems too difficult.”
- “Active devs, addictive mechanics, great optimization and coding efficiency (the game only occupies a few hundred MBs of SSD space) really have me excited for the future of this game.”
- “My main issue with this game is the fact that they still haven't fixed the performance issues for the host in a conquest game.”
- “The only, and biggest problem, is that the game is poorly optimized.”
- “Northgard is a waste of money, bad optimization which leads to the game being laggy as hell, horrible AI that cheats like hell and the game is unbalanced.”
humor
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The humor in the game is often described as quirky and entertaining, with players finding joy in the absurdity of mechanics, character sounds, and unexpected scenarios. While many reviews highlight the game's initial comedic appeal, some express disappointment as the humor fades with gameplay challenges or bugs. Overall, the game is seen as a lighthearted experience, particularly enjoyable in multiplayer settings, though opinions vary on its consistency and depth of humor.
- “It's a quirky mix of city-building, survival, and sheep-whispering that'll have you hooked faster than you can say 'valhalla.' So, if you're ready to embark on a hilarious journey of pillaging, building, and trading, grab your hammer and your best viking helmet, and let the hilarity begin!”
- “The sounds are amazing, the grunts that the characters make are hilarious, and overall I thoroughly enjoy this game.”
- “I was in tears by the end of the scene, laughing like a hyena.”
- “This game has become unplayable and unfunny.”
- “The DLCs are not expensive, but the very fact of such a 'cut' and splitting each clan separately for €5, for a total of an additional ~€50 of the cost of the game, making it a €75 game if you want to have everything, for a relatively small indie game is just a not funny joke, and in my opinion, this controversy is the main reason for the thumbs down.”
- “The tech tree and trade is limited and just runs out so fast it's not funny.”
monetization
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
43%
53%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as predatory and reminiscent of mobile games, with many players feeling that essential content is locked behind expensive DLCs and microtransactions. While some users appreciate the game itself, they express frustration over the cash grab nature of the additional clans and the overall monetization model, which detracts from the experience and feels exploitative. Overall, the consensus is that the game's monetization approach undermines its potential and alienates players who supported it early on.
- “The game is amazing, but the monetization scheme is what makes me want to just erase this game from my memory.”
- “Wallet-friendly monetization model - only clans are DLCs, major updates come free (but not without problems - see cons).”
- “Microtransactions that are purely optional and do not provide an unfair advantage to the buyer.”
- “The game is okay on its own if you buy the starter pack at a significant discount, but it's basically a PC game with a mobile game's monetization plan.”
- “But the game does have a not very nice monetization system, where to play any unique clan except the generic one, you need to buy dozens of not-so-cheap DLCs separately.”
- “Stay away from this cash grab; they broke all their promises because the game right now is just the worst pay-to-win multiplayer experience, and the campaign is so boring after playing the multiplayer that you might as well never play it.”
emotional
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from frustration and heartbreak due to gameplay mechanics to a sense of warmth and connection through its charming graphics and community. Players often feel a deep attachment to their clans and the game's narrative, with many describing it as a wholesome experience that evokes nostalgia and personal investment. However, some critiques highlight a lack of engaging storytelling, which can detract from the overall emotional impact.
- “Peak gameplay, emotional storytelling [my friend killed me] 10/10”
- “An interesting game with the different clans providing interest both at the play level and an emotional attachment (find the clan that expresses your 'inner barbarian').”
- “It's exciting to see your scouts unveil each new map piece, and it's heartwarming to see your clan develop from a few straggling villagers to a large tribe with dozens of huts and other buildings.”
- “Despite the few unique innovations, you can’t escape the feeling that you’re just playing a slower Warcraft 3 with a far more boring story.”
- “- boring story”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the attention to detail in character designs and the overall storyline, while others criticize it as lacking depth and being clichéd. Many players appreciate the artistic elements and immersive environments, but express a desire for more substantial character arcs and lore to enhance the experience. Overall, while the visual aspects are well-received, the narrative and character development are seen as areas needing improvement.
- “The attention to detail in the environment and the character designs adds an extra layer of immersion to the gameplay experience.”
- “You can feel how much dedication and love went into the character development, story-wise and graphic design-wise as well.”
- “I love the Viking theme, the character designs, and the different clans.”
- “Intrigue and character development are kindergarten level.”
- “Character development non-existent, cheesy, cliché, bad.”
- “For the depth of this game, and zero character development, I would only pay $0.99 for it.”