The one theme world is still crazy about is Vikings. Who doesn’t love tall blond bearded, blue-eyed men holding battleaxes and wooden shields?There’s something special about Norsemen and Norse Mythology, that hooks anyone exploring their details. They managed to plunder most of the world known to them and built nations like Normandy and Kievan Rus’. The best way to live a Viking’s life vicariously is through these top Best Viking games. Nothing else, not even the Viking-based series and movies will allow you to do that.
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So, get your mead cups ready and wear your Viking helmets, let’s explore these Best Norse Mythology video games on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch consoles together in no particular order.
Top Best Viking Games 2021
Valheim
Valheim is one of the most successful games of 2021. It has sold over 6 million copies just at its early access. The game takes place in the 10th realm in the branches of Yggdrasil. According to the lore, Odin has cast down his most fearsome enemies here. Now you are one of the selected few who needs to battle your way to Valhalla by gathering Odin’s favor.
Being a survival game at its core, you will face more difficult enemies and environments. The game really shines in its co-op abilities. You and your friends can take down bosses, gather resources, build longships, longhouses, and even an entire settlement if you are willing to. With 9 different biomes and tons of content, this world is really fun to live in. If you haven’t played it yet then give it a try online or offline, you will instantly fall in love with this engrossing game.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – One of the Best Viking Games Ever
AC Valhalla is more ambitious than the previous games in the series with open-world maps of both Norway and England to explore. With well-polished controls and graphics, you take on the role of Eivor to find a new home for your clan. This time the focus is on the Viking invasion of England. So leave your home in Norway, pick up your Dane axes, sharpen your Ulfberhts, and set sail on Longships to AD 873 England. This is your chance to meet the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, who made up the Great Heathen Army. So in AC Valhalla, build your own clan settlement, explore ancient Roman ruins, visit the Stonehenge, hire Jomsviking, raid and plunder because Odin is with us.
God of War (2018)
It would be a sin if we try to skip this PS exclusive just because it is not available on other platforms. After the first 7 games, the focus shifts from Greek to Norse mythology. The camera is much closer to Kratos, allowing the players to have a more intimate experience with how Kratos feels. The whole game feels like one single continuous one-shot film with no cuts and loading in between. The only other game to pull this off was Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, which came out eight months before God of War.
The game allows you to come face to face with both Aesir and Vanir Gods like Baldur, Freya, Mimir, Modi, Mangi, etc. With one of the best controls and storylines, it won the Best Game of the Year award for 2018. If you love Norse myth, then this is the one game you need to play. There is also an untitled God of War sequel in works where you will see and experience Ragnarök with your eyes. You are sure to fight Odin and Thor, both fathers who lost their favorite sons in your hands.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade puts you into the shoes of Senua, a Celtic Pict warrior who just lost her lover due to the Norsemen sacrificing him in a Blood Eagle. After her loss, guess what she does next? She doesn’t mourn his death but walks right into Helheim to bring her lover’s soul back from the hands of goddess Hel. That’s a strong woman right there. She is one of the most exciting female characters you could play in modern games. Who else would you need while exploring and facing the demons of Viking hell? Additionally, there is a sequel being worked on, where Senua explores the depths of Viking mythos.
For Honor
This one is not entirely a Viking game, but one of the three major classes is the Viking clan. The Vikings in this game are brutal warriors who have survived the hard conditions of the world after a catastrophic event. This is the best way to live as a Viking and fight the best of Knights and Samurais.
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia
The story starts with the death of Ragnar Lothbrok and the Great Heathen Army invading England. You take as one of the various Vikings, native British clans, and Anglo-Saxons, right after Alfred the Great defeated the Vikings. This is one of the realistic depictions of Vikings left in the British Isles after the creation of Danelaw. If you like strategy video games then this one is must play.
Rune Classic & Rune II
Initially released in 2000, the Rune was one of the most amazing games showing the Viking mythos at the time. You play as Ragnar who gets entangled in the fight between Odin and Loki leading to Ragnorok. The game was re-released as Rune Classic in 2012 and a sequel in November 2019. The game even has multiple multiplayer modes, where you can tag along with other Vikings to beat the God Loki and prolong mankind’s existence.
Special Mention: Skyrim
I know what are you thinking, “How could a fantasy game set in the world of dragons and monsters be considered a Viking game?” But back in 2011 when there were few AAA Viking titles, Skyrim offered you the platform to wear horned helmets and hold mead horns. You could battle a giant dragon whose language sounded pretty much like old Norse to an untrained ear. Even in the character creation menu, you could select the class known as Nord, whose blood could resist 50% frost damages from the beginning. If that doesn’t resemble a true Viking, we don’t know what would.
This list is far from complete, we will be updating this article with more good Viking-themed video games of all time that you can play right now in 2021. These games based on Vikings will surely make you familiar with Norse culture and mythos. Check back soon for more!