The term "Tafl" refers more broadly to the family of ancient Northern European strategy board games, which were played on a checkered or latticed gameboard with two armies consisting of uneven numbers.
The game can be seen as a reflection of Viking societal structures and their appreciation for strategy and foresight. Hnefatafl boards have been found in archaeological sites, often made from materials like wood, bone, cloth, and stone, showcasing the craftmanship of the era.
Hnefatafl isn't the only version of the ancient board game available; there are a number of variants with their own set of rules, board sizes, and number of pieces. The more commonly known variations include:
Some of these other Tafl games have gone on to evolve into other popular games such as:
In today's world, Hnefatafl is experiencing a revival among enthusiasts of historical games and Viking culture. Modern reproductions of the game are widely available, with figures resembling Vikings of the period, despite it being feasible for the pieces to be made to resemble traditional chess pieces.
We offer several versions of The Viking Game including a Regency Chess special cardinal edition, along with deluxe editions that include an exclusive commissioned wooden Hnefatafl game board. We also stock the National Museum Scotland set. Each of the sets come with a lovely printed roll up canvas board, playing pieces, and a convenient storage box as standard, with the deluxe editions bundled with a wooden game board.
Back in 2019, after selling the National Museum Scotland set for a number of years, we decided to design our very own version of Hnefatafl. We spent a lot of time researching and testing to find the best materials to use to ensure our sets would last a lifetime and meet the high standards we hold across our range. From the quality printed canvas board to the presentation of the packaging, we were able to create something special for our customers that rapidly blossomed into a best seller.
The game is designed to be played by two players and shares similarities with chess, with a King piece that must be protected and a large number of infantry pieces that are comparable to pawns. Unlike chess, however, there are an unequal amount of pieces.
If you would like to find out more about the game rules and how to play, you can follow our handy guide here.
The Viking Game standard edition comes with everything you need to enjoy playing the game right out of the box. Neatly contained within a handy storage box, it comes complete with a full set of pieces, an 11-inch linen playing surface, rules, and a historical information leaflet.
Our Viking Game Deluxe Edition includes everything that the standard edition is boxed with, but also comes with an exclusive Regency Chess commissioned 12-inch Sycamore veneer board by renowned Spanish board makers Rechapados Ferrer.
Due to the popular demand for the original sets, we ventured out to create something a little different and created the cardinal edition. This set radiates the same charm as the standard editions, with the added elegance of the rich cardinal red pieces for the dark side, instead of the brown people are used to seeing.
Yes, all of our Viking games come with a two year warranty.
You can find reviews for our Hnefatafl sets along with all of our other products on our Google Reviews page and TrustPilot.
In one of the reviews for Hnefatafl, our customer Keith explains how as a long-standing chess player he wanted a change and a challenge, with The Viking Game fitting the bill.
In short, the game is played with two unequal sides. The attacking side is positioned around the border and comprises of 24 infantry in four groups of 6, with all pieces moving like the Rook in chess. Pieces can be captured and removed by "sandwiching" the opponents piece by trapping them.
The objective of the game as the attacker is to capture the King, whilst the objective for the defenders is to journey their King from the centre to a corner of the board.
You can find a fully detailed explanation of the rules and board set-up with our guide.
