Circa 790 AD. A small band of Norse warriors lands on the shores of England. History may have forgotten their names, but their actions live on. As the chieftain of your clan, let ambition guide your choices in the party-based RPG Expeditions: Viking. How will history remember you?
Players must carefully position their Viking warriors and utilize their unique skills and abilities to overcome enemy forces in turn-based combat. The combat system rewards strategic positioning, weapon type considerations, and managing the morale of your party. Players can even choose between lethal and non-lethal attacks, adding an intriguing layer of choice to each skirmish.
Developing and managing the player's party of Viking warriors, known as the "hird," is a core gameplay loop. Recruiting diverse characters with specialized skills and personalities, then enhancing their abilities through the RPG progression system, directly impacts the outcome of battles. The robust character creation system also allows players to mold their Viking chieftain to match their preferred playstyle.
Between expeditions, players must attend to the needs of their Viking settlement. The camping mechanic tasks players with assigning various activities to their party members, such as hunting, crafting, or tending the wounded. Balancing these resource management priorities with the demands of ongoing quests requires careful planning and foresight.
The game presents players with a variety of moral dilemmas and branching storylines, where the decisions they make can significantly alter relationships with NPCs, the narrative's trajectory, and the ultimate fate of their Viking clan. This high degree of player agency and reactivity encourages a sense of ownership over the unfolding events.
Underpinning the robust gameplay systems is a meticulous attention to historical detail. The 8th century Scandinavian and British setting, complete with authentic Viking culture, language, and tactics, creates a tangible sense of time and place. This historical grounding, combined with the atmospheric presentation and soundtrack, effectively immerses players in the Viking experience.