Volgarr the Viking

This brutally difficult platformer will both frustrate and delight.

79%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, grinding

79% User Score Based on 1,578 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $3.08

Buy NowGet on Steam €9.99

About

Volgarr the Viking is a single player arcade platformer game with fantasy, historical and violence themes. It was developed by Crazy Viking Studios and was released on September 13, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Remember when games were tough? Return to the Golden Age of arcades with an all-NEW hardcore action experience that pulls no punches. Volgarr the Viking possesses all the hallmarks of the true classics - simple controls, high challenge, and meticulous design - combined with hand-made pixel

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,578 reviews

gameplay74 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

Volgarr the Viking is a challenging and rewarding platformer that captures the essence of classic arcade games.
The game features tight controls and a variety of enemies, making each encounter feel fair and satisfying.
The pixel art and soundtrack are well-crafted, enhancing the nostalgic experience of playing a retro-style game.

The game lacks frequent checkpoints, forcing players to replay long sections after dying, which can be frustrating.
Jumping mechanics are rigid, as players cannot change direction mid-air, leading to cheap deaths.
The difficulty can feel artificial, relying on memorization of enemy patterns and level layouts rather than skill progression.

gameplay
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The gameplay of "Volgarr the Viking" is a challenging homage to classic platformers, featuring tight controls and mechanics that reward mastery and memorization of enemy patterns. While the game offers a satisfying retro experience with its punishing difficulty and engaging level design, many players find the lack of checkpoints and awkward jumping mechanics frustrating, leading to a trial-and-error approach that can feel unfair. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate a hardcore gaming experience reminiscent of the 8-16 bit era, but may deter players seeking a more forgiving gameplay style.
- “The gameplay itself is where Volgarr’s brilliance truly shines.”
- “It is a game that honors the past while proving that the spirit of challenge-driven gameplay still has a place in the modern age.”
- “Level design and mechanics really work – the game rewards figuring out the 'puzzle' of how to approach enemies and careful execution.”
- “The controls are extremely clunky, and the mechanics feel dated.”
- “I badly wanted to like this game because of how good it feels to play, but when the game punishes you for going both fast or slow with bad stage design for the mechanics they provide then it makes it a miserable experience instead.”
- “Intentionally bad jumps and combat mechanics just to make the game 'difficult.' No checkpoints for further 'difficulty' so that you're forced to waste a few minutes of your life every time you die returning to the place you're having trouble.”
graphics
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic yet modern art style, effectively blending retro pixel art with smooth animations and vibrant colors reminiscent of 16-bit classics. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and its faithful homage to old-school gaming, others criticize the inconsistency and simplistic backgrounds. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the challenging gameplay experience.
- “The art style is both nostalgic and strikingly modern, blending the chunky charm of retro sprites with a cinematic flair in its compositions and lighting.”
- “The graphics are amazing and there is an old school vibe to them.”
- “If I had to sum this game up in a short sentence it would be 'this is how you do a modern retro style game' the graphics are beautiful and actually look like a Genesis/Mega Drive or SNES game.”
- “The graphics don't look like real pixel art; they look like regular cartoon drawings that were passed through some kind of pixel art filter.”
- “The graphics are kind of pixelated.”
- “Pps: as one who actually grew up with the old school games, I have to say that none of them ever had this bad graphics... almost every single game here on Steam that tries to recreate the looks of the old 80s and 90s games actually ends up making their games look a lot worse and more clumsy.”
music
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its epic and nostalgic qualities that complement the gameplay. While some find it to be a standout feature, others feel it lacks the polish of its inspirations or can be repetitive over extended play. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack complements this aesthetic perfectly—thunderous drums, heroic brass, and ominous melodies accompany the chaos, amplifying the game’s mythic intensity.”
- “And the soundtrack is sublime, to say the least.”
- “The music is incredible.”
- “Beautiful art and music, but it unfortunately lacks much of the precision and polish that its legendary inspirations are known for.”
- “And the music is pretty ambient and boring sounding; it just doesn't drive the action at all.”
- “My only complaint is that I wish the game had better music.”
story
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
77%
15%
The story in "Volgarr the Viking" is minimalistic, primarily conveyed through gameplay rather than dialogue or exposition, focusing on the player's journey and challenges. While some players appreciate the straightforward narrative of a viking on a quest, many criticize the lack of depth and storytelling elements, noting that the game functions well without a complex plot. Overall, the emphasis is on gameplay mechanics rather than an engaging narrative, making it less appealing for those seeking a rich story experience.
- “Its storytelling lies in the player’s progression, in the act of overcoming what once seemed impossible.”
- “I experienced a range of emotions, from trepidation, anger, fear, and elation, something that few modern games can achieve, even with their grandiose storytelling and advanced visual presentation.”
- “Not only does it tell a cool little story, it also gives three unique endings and hours of gameplay.”
- “The story is minimal, presented through brief visual cues and grand gestures rather than dialogue or exposition.”
- “There is pretty much no story; you're a viking, go forward and hit things, you pick up gear to take more hits and do more damage, get hit and you lose that gear.”
- “The only downside is the lack of any form of storytelling, and the lack of saving which can make the challenge all the greater when you realize you'll need to beat it in one sitting.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The reviews highlight a significant divide in player experience regarding grinding in the game. While some appreciate the challenge and nostalgia of mastering levels through repetition, many find the lack of checkpoints and the necessity to replay entire levels after dying to be tedious and frustrating. Overall, players who dislike grinding or repetitive gameplay are advised to approach this game with caution, as it heavily relies on memorization and persistence.
- “However, if this doesn't sound appealing to you, if you hate grinding, if you hate the concept of playing the same levels again and again, if you want a skill tree, non-linear paths, cutscenes, and plot - you should skip this game for certain.”
- “There is no checkpointing system, so if you have trouble with a boss, you have to beat an entire level just to get another try, which is long and tedious.”
- “At the end of my time with this game, it became tedious whenever I died and went back to the start of the level, and I realized I wasn't enjoying the game anymore.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The game offers significant replayability through features like achievement hunting, multiple pathways, secret levels, and global speed-running rankings. Players appreciate the challenge of alternate endings and the ability to refine their skills, although some feel replay value may diminish after completing the main content. Overall, it caters well to those who enjoy mastering games and pursuing high scores.
- “Once you're done with the walkthrough, it has incredible speed-running replayability with global rankings built into the game, separated by overall and by each level.”
- “As far as replay value goes, I have finished it a few times, and I am still playing it, 2 years and 140 hours later!”
- “Definitely worth the price tag, with tons of replayability in order to get the perfect runs or speed runs.”
- “From a replayability perspective, the game doesn't offer much variety once you complete both paths.”
- “You are going to die so many times that technically you can consider that your 'replay value'.”
- “Replay value: 6/10”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it amusingly frustrating due to challenging mechanics and quirky elements, while others feel the humor falls flat amidst the game's difficulty. Many appreciate the funny credits scene and humorous character designs, but the overall experience can be marred by frustrating controls and gameplay. Ultimately, the humor resonates differently with players, making it a hit or miss aspect of the game.
- “It's not for everyone, but if one tries and gets to the end, he will be rewarded with a nice and funny credits scene.”
- “The gameplay is fun, challenging, and downright hilarious!”
- “To top it all off, there's cool little humor thrown in.”
- “But I was wrong, it's not funny.”
- “Frustrating and unfunny.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of nostalgia and frustration in their emotional experiences with these classic games. While some felt exhilarated and accomplished, particularly when facing challenging bosses, others were left disappointed by inconsistent controls and gameplay mechanics, leading to feelings of sadness and unmet expectations. Overall, the emotional responses range from joy and nostalgia to frustration and heartbreak.
- “I cried myself to sleep last night.”
- “Playing this game made me feel like I was in the middle of some big crowded arcade some quarter of a century in the past, a throng of others standing behind me and cheering me on.”
- “Finally getting to the boss of the first world is exhilarating--also heartbreaking, in my case, since I died against him almost immediately--because this game refuses to pull its punches.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
The atmosphere in "Volgarr the Viking" is widely praised for its retro graphics and immersive soundtrack, which evoke a classic platformer feel and enhance the overall gaming experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a challenging yet engaging environment, contributing to a sense of nostalgia while also fostering moments of frustration and excitement. The combination of tight controls and old-school mechanics further solidifies its unique atmosphere, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.
- “Volgarr the Viking is a classic with tight controls, masterful atmosphere, and balls-to-the-wall difficulty.”
- “The game's graphics are absolutely great; they make you feel like you're playing an old-school platformer, and overall create a fantastic atmosphere.”
- “Also, the old school mechanics create a very unique atmosphere that one cannot experience in many titles these days.”
- “Collecting items adds to your hit meter much like 'Ghosts 'n Goblins'; Volgarr creates an atmosphere for rage quitting.”
- “My philosophy on this is that there are some instances in which a game may not necessarily have that much in the way of gameplay (take Amnesia for example), but the story, atmosphere, or whatever it may be is reason enough to pick it up.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance noted, especially when using a controller. However, some players have pointed out issues with sluggish combat animations and stuttering jumps, which detract from the experience. Improvements in controls and level design could enhance the overall fluidity of gameplay.
- “It should run smoothly even on your toaster! :)”
- “Well optimized.”
- “Smooth action performance, but a controller is a must.”
- “With an improvement in the controls and a smoother level design, it could be great, but having recently played many other platformers, the sluggish combat animations and stuttering jumping sequences really stick out in an otherwise 'nostalgic' platformer.”
- “- smooth action performance but a controller is a must”
- “- 3 different endings based on performance”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally perceived as solid, with no major bugs or glitches reported by most users. However, some players have noted issues with jumping mechanics, which can affect gameplay. Overall, while the game may be challenging, it does not suffer from significant stability problems.
- “It's far more unbalanced and buggy than any 'Ghosts 'n Goblins' or 'Shinobi' game, but if you're part of the masochistic 'git gud' cult you'll probably love it.”
- “Unfortunately, the jumping is buggy.”
- “You'll never die because of game glitches or bad game mechanics, but purely because of poor skills.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The monetization strategy for the game involves charging players for continues and save options, which some users feel is more suited for a mobile platform rather than a traditional gaming experience.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without constant pressure to spend.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible while still providing optional purchases for those who want to enhance their experience.”
- “The in-game purchases are reasonably priced and offer meaningful benefits without making it pay-to-win.”
- “This game feels like a copy of Rastan, but it should have been designed for mobile, especially considering the monetization model that charges for continues and saves.”
- “The monetization strategy is frustrating; it feels like I'm being forced to pay just to enjoy the game fully.”
- “I can't believe how aggressive the monetization is in this game. It ruins the experience when everything is locked behind a paywall.”

Skip Critic Reviews

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy Volgarr the Viking

8h Median play time

9h Average play time

3-13h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Volgarr the Viking

83%1.3kreviews

Wings of Vi

2014

Platformer

71%477reviews

Oniken

2014

Arcade Platformer

74%1.6kreviews

Castle In The Darkness

2015

Role Playing

66%1.7kreviews

Slain: Back from Hell

2016

Arcade Hack and Slash

+10

80%224reviews

Primal Light

2020

Platformer

More games like Volgarr the Viking

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Volgarr the Viking is a arcade platformer game with fantasy, historical and violence themes.

Volgarr the Viking is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Volgarr the Viking.

Volgarr the Viking was released on September 13, 2013.

Volgarr the Viking was developed by Crazy Viking Studios.

Volgarr the Viking has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked Volgarr the Viking for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Volgarr the Viking is a single player game.

Similar games include Wings of Vi, Oniken, Castle In The Darkness, Slain: Back from Hell, Primal Light and others.

Volgarr the Viking

Platforms