Tafl: viking chess
Tafl: viking chess
Tafl: viking chess brings the ancient Scandinavian strategy board game to the digital era, offering a deep tactical experience that predates modern chess. The game centers on an asymmetrical battle where one player controls the defending white pieces, including a central king, while the other commands a larger force of attacking black pieces. Your objective depends entirely on which side you choose: the defenders must escort their king to safety at the edge or corner of the board, while the attackers must surround and capture the king before he can escape. This fundamental imbalance creates a unique strategic tension that requires different mindsets for each side.
The game offers significant variety through its customizable rulesets. You can adjust the board size across four different dimensions, ranging from a compact 7x7 grid to a more expansive 13x13 layout. These changes significantly alter the flow of the match, as larger boards provide more room for maneuvering but also more ground for the attackers to cover. Additionally, victory conditions and capture rules can be modified, such as requiring the king to be surrounded on two or four sides to be removed from play. These variants ensure that no two matches feel exactly the same.
Whether you are playing against the artificial intelligence to hone your skills or engaging in a match with another person on the same device, the game demands careful planning. The attacking black pieces always move first, setting the initial pace of the encounter. Every piece on the board moves horizontally or vertically across any number of empty squares, similar to a rook in chess. This high mobility means that threats can emerge from across the board in a single turn, forcing players to maintain a strong defensive perimeter or a relentless offensive pressure. The inclusion of online multiplayer further expands the challenge, allowing you to test your Viking strategies against opponents from around the world.
Play Tafl: viking chess online for free — no download or installation required. This Puzzle game runs instantly in your browser on desktop, mobile, and tablet.
Features
- Asymmetrical strategy gameplay
- Multiple board sizes (7x7 to 13x13)
- Local and online multiplayer modes
- Customizable victory and capture rules
How to Play
To start a game of Tafl, first select your preferred board size and ruleset. You can choose to play as the attackers (black) or the defenders (white). The attackers always take the first turn. On your turn, click or tap a piece to select it, then click or tap an empty square in a straight horizontal or vertical line to move it. Pieces can move any distance as long as no other pieces block the path.
If you are the defender, your primary goal is to move the king from the center of the board to one of the designated escape squares at the edges or corners. You must use your white pieces to block the attackers and create an opening for the king. If you are the attacker, you must coordinate your black pieces to surround the king. Depending on the rules selected, you may need to occupy two or four adjacent squares around the king to successfully capture him.
Capturing regular pieces is done by flanking them. If you move a piece so that an opponent's piece is trapped between two of your own (horizontally or vertically), that piece is removed from the board. The game ends immediately when the king either reaches safety or is captured by the attacking force.
Controls
Tips & Tricks
- Defenders should focus on creating clear paths for the king
- Attackers must maintain a tight circle to prevent escape
- Use the board edges to limit the king's movement options
- Control the center of the board to dictate the flow of the match
Provider
Tafl: viking chess is a strategy title from GameMonetize that recreates the historical board games of the Middle Ages with modern digital features.
More Puzzle Games
If you enjoy Tafl: viking chess, check out Blocks , Arrow Escape: Puzzle and Color by Numbers. Anti-stress Drawings. .