Hnefatafl, often called “Viking Chess,” is an ancient Scandinavian board game that dates back over 1,500 years. It was widely played across the Viking world, from Norway and Iceland to the British Isles. Unlike chess, Hnefatafl is asymmetric — one player controls the king and his defenders, while the other commands a larger force of attackers. The goal for the defenders is to help the king escape to the edge or corners of the board, while the attackers aim to capture him by surrounding him on all sides.

The hnefatafl is composed of 12 white vikings, one white king, and 24 brown Vikings. Each Viking is approx. three cm in height but the king 4.5 cm. The game comes with rules in Icelandic, English, German, French and Japanese. The game is in a beautiful, burgundy box with gilding.

The game is intended for adults and children over the age of ten.