Sons of Valhalla

About

Sons of Valhalla is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Pixel Chest and was released on April 5, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "Sons of Valhalla," play as Thorald Olavson, a Viking seeking revenge against the Jarl who destroyed your home and kidnapped your beloved. Build and manage a stronghold, recruit warriors, and lead them in side-scrolling combat while strategically raiding villages and establishing siege camps. Construct and upgrade various buildings to collect resources, recruit soldiers, and enhance their abilities for your grand saga of vengeance.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 307 reviews

gameplay28 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Beautiful pixel art and graphics that enhance the Viking theme.
Engaging combat mechanics that allow players to lead troops while also participating in battles.
The rune system adds depth to character progression and gameplay variety.

Repetitive gameplay with a lack of variety in missions and enemy encounters.
The story feels shallow and predictable, lacking depth and engagement.
Balancing issues with troop effectiveness and resource management lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

gameplay
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
60%
16%
The gameplay of "Sons of Valhalla" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and lack of depth, particularly in combat and resource management. While the game features appealing mechanics like runes and a blend of base-building and combat, it often falls into a monotonous loop that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its engaging aesthetics and some fun elements, players express a desire for more variety and complexity to enhance long-term enjoyment.
- “The core gameplay mechanics offer a blend of strategic base-building and direct combat, urging players to manage resources, recruit diverse units, and lead assaults.”
- “Sons of Valhalla positions itself ambitiously in the gaming landscape, merging side-scrolling combat with base-building mechanics against the rich backdrop of the Viking age.”
- “Gameplay is super fun and engaging; think of any Metroidvania game out there and add units you can control, and that's what Sons of Valhalla is.”
- “Many players report that after the novelty of the hybrid gameplay wears off, the repetition becomes more apparent, especially since the enemy encounters and building sequences follow a familiar rhythm.”
- “The gameplay loop turns into you running back and forth to your base to hire soldiers, waiting at your front gate or running back to tell them to attack the enemy base after they spawn, watch them die, run back to hire more soldiers until you take the outpost over and then you fight a boss at the end.”
- “The promise of variety and tactical depth is often shadowed by the game's execution, which seems to funnel players into a cycle of similar missions and underwhelming unit mechanics, detracting from the strategic gameplay it aims to deliver.”
story
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
73%
12%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it simplistic, short, and lacking depth, often describing it as a generic "save the princess" narrative. While some appreciate the visuals and the basic premise, others criticize the execution and voice acting, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the characters. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with players expressing a desire for more complexity and content.
- “The gameplay, story, and theme are all amazing and really my style of game.”
- “I really enjoyed this game; it is a lot of fun and the story kept me wanting to keep going.”
- “The story is simple, but effective enough.”
- “Not to mention (spoiler): the story ends on a cliffhanger, and with how this game was received, it doesn't fill me with confidence that we will get a proper ending.”
- “The story is laughably short.”
- “The story is very simple and sadly completely unexciting.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The graphics of the game receive high praise for their stunning pixel art and charming aesthetic, particularly appealing to fans of viking themes and retro styles. While many players appreciate the beautiful animations and detailed environments, some note technical issues and a lack of graphical options on stronger PCs. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, though opinions vary on their impact on gameplay depth and enjoyment.
- “The landscapes and character details are a treat to behold, and the soundtrack complements the visuals well, pulling players into the Norse world.”
- “Gorgeous graphics and beautiful animations.”
- “Perhaps the greatest strength of Sons of Valhalla is the absolutely stunning graphics, great music, and some pretty fun gameplay.”
- “Even on stronger PCs, the lack of graphical options and occasional technical hiccups can be noticeable.”
- “First off, you have the washed-out artistic graphics theme of a medieval setting based on the Viking theme.”
- “The game may be great, but the terrible pixelated graphics that look really ugly on a big monitor and the pixelated font that is simply impossible to read made me just close this game and return it.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The reviews consistently highlight that the game features a significant amount of grinding, often described as tedious, repetitive, and slow-paced. While some players find enjoyment in the combat and visuals, many express frustration with the unbalanced gameplay and the excessive time spent on resource management and enemy encounters, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the grinding aspect is a major point of contention, with some players suggesting it may be more bearable if approached with the right mindset or during a sale.
- “You'll need a second life, maybe some macros, and a will to live for grinding.”
- “Grindy, slow, repetitive.”
- “It's tedious and repetitive.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with an evocative soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, balancing calm ambient pieces with intense battle tracks. While some players find the music and voice acting adequate but not exceptional, many appreciate how the soundtrack complements the stunning visuals and immersive gameplay. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, though there are concerns about its longevity over extended play sessions.
- “Animations for combat and unit movement are fluid, and the overall atmosphere benefits from an evocative soundtrack that balances calm ambient pieces with intense tracks that rise during battle.”
- “The landscapes and character details are a treat to behold, and the soundtrack complements the visuals well, pulling players into the Norse world.”
- “Art is gorgeous, music is pleasant, and gameplay is fun.”
- “The music and voice acting are adequate but not impressive.”
- “The music is okay, although I have a feeling I would get tired of it after 10+ hours.”
- “The music and visuals are also designed just well enough to serve their purpose and not distract you from murdering your way through England - nothing you haven't seen before, but just right.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
Overall, the game's replayability is criticized for being low, with many players noting the short campaign duration and limited variety in modes, such as the horde mode. While some players express a desire for additional content and challenges to enhance replay value, the consensus is that the game lacks sufficient incentives for repeated playthroughs.
- “The endless mode may present some replayability.”
- “It's not a long game, but it does have replayability.”
- “Depending on your difficulty, I plan to replay the game on the hardest difficulty for added challenge and replay value.”
- “The campaign itself is relatively short, often taking fewer than ten hours to complete, and while it features a horde mode for replayability, the variety is limited.”
- “My main criticism is there is very little replayability.”
- “Replayability is not very high; I doubt the horde mode would keep someone's attention for long.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that can freeze their systems and disrupt gameplay. While some users have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus highlights a need for performance improvements and bug fixes, which the developers have committed to addressing in future updates.
- “The game sometimes freezes up my whole computer.”
- “Where it starts to fall apart is in terms of performance, glitches, and a narrative that quickly becomes the rote tried and true guaranteed to garner attention obligatory 'the church is evil and incompetent and Christians are bad.'”
- “Combat is still clunky and buggy.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, particularly on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, where significant frame rate drops occur during larger battles due to poor CPU optimization. While not the glitchiest game of the year, performance issues and glitches detract from the overall experience, leading many to feel it isn't ready for release. Developers have acknowledged these concerns and promised updates to improve performance and address glitches in the future.
- “The dev has pledged to provide updates to improve performance and address glitches, so these issues will likely see some attention in the days to come.”
- “Performance issues further complicate matters, particularly on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, where frame rates can drop significantly during larger battles due to poor CPU optimization.”
- “The optimization is arguably the most frustrating aspect of the game.”
- “It's far from the glitchiest experience I've played this year, but between that and the weird performance drops, it doesn't feel ready for prime time.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be a mix of amusing glitches, such as a boss getting stuck, and entertaining gameplay elements like fire pots. The humor is described as simple yet effective, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “I had a funny case where I shot the whip hound boss to death and it got stuck because the boss wouldn't move to the middle of the map, so I just ended up redoing the boss fight again.”
- “The fire pots are both fun and funny and really useful; get those quick.”
- “Simple yet quite funny.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere in "Sons of Valhalla" is highly praised for its fluid animations, impressive art, and immersive design that effectively captures the essence of a Viking adventure. The evocative soundtrack enhances the experience, balancing calm ambient music with intense battle tracks, creating a mesmerizing environment that draws players in. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating and well-executed, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment.
- “Animations for combat and unit movement are fluid, and the overall atmosphere benefits from an evocative soundtrack that balances calm ambient pieces with intense tracks that rise during battle.”
- “Sons of Valhalla is a visually stunning game that captures the atmosphere of a Viking adventure with impressive art and immersive design.”
- “It had a mesmerizing atmosphere which was just really nice to be immersed in.”
- “It's a generic stealth section; the animations are cute and well done, but the atmosphere feels uninspired and lacks depth.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development features engaging designs initially, but becomes repetitive as the game progresses. While there are opportunities for growth through runes that enhance abilities and provide boosts, the overall depth of character progression is perceived as lacking after the early stages.
- “There’s some character development in the form of runes - and these can enable ways to play by strengthening your abilities, as well as providing boosts to your units and towns.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected more depth in character arcs, but they often feel one-dimensional and predictable.”
- “The choices you make don't seem to impact character development in any significant way, leaving the experience feeling flat.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that while the game offers a less punishing experience compared to similar titles like Kingdom, it lacks the emotional depth that makes Kingdom resonate more profoundly. The tutorial is appreciated for its supportive approach, allowing players to engage without feeling overwhelmed.
- “The tutorial made me feel like I could play a knock-off of Kingdom with Vikings and not get my spirits crushed every cycle.”
- “Kingdom, which is also grindy, is more emotional.”