How To Play: Vikings

If you’ve ever wanted to raid the table with the best of them, you’re in the right spot! My friends and I have played Vikings more times than we’ve lost socks in the dryer. This guide will show you How To Play vikings and give you the best tips to win. From understanding the rules to sneaky strategies, this is everything you need for victory.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 78 Island tiles
• 8 Market tiles
• 45 Vikings (in 5 colors, 9 each)
• 5 Scoring markers
• 5 Player screens
• 1 Round marker
• 60 Coins
• 1 Bag
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Vikings: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Place the main board in the center—this keeps everyone honest and stops Aunt Linda from cheating.
2. Each player grabs a home island board, some coins, and a Viking of each color. Don’t eat the pieces.
3. Shuffle the tiles, then stack them like you stack pancakes, but with less syrup.
4. Deal coins and adjust according to player order. First player gets fewer because, well, life’s not fair.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, buy a tile and a Viking using your hard-earned coins. Cheap tiles can be a trap, trust me.
2. Place the tile next to your island. Make sure paths and colors line up, or you’ll regret it later.
3. Put your new Viking on the matching colored spot. Some colors do more than others. Don’t ask why, just smile and nod.
4. Keep taking turns until the tiles for the round run out. Someone will complain by then—it’s tradition.

Winning

1. Add up your points from built islands, Vikings, and won battles if you like fighting.
2. Most points wins. If there’s a tie, whoever’s laugh was loudest during the game gets bragging rights. Or, you know, share the win.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some tiles have special icons. These can mess up your plans or save your bacon. Always check before placing.
2. If you run out of coins, you’re poor. Make sad faces at your friends until someone gives you pity tips (that won’t actually help).
3. You can’t place tiles in ways that break the board’s rules. If you try, expect heckling from the table.

If you want to know How To Play vikings, these are the basics. My friends and I love it for the chaos, coin shortage, and constant plotting. You’ll master it after a round or two—and probably wish your coins were real.

Best Vikings Strategies

Mastering Tile Placement in Vikings: Boost Your Chances!

Start With Edge Tiles

1. Edge tiles give you more options as the game grows.
2. Pushing outwards helps you avoid tight corners later.

Connect Useful Colors

1. Match colors smartly to get matching workers.
2. Try to chain combos for bonus points.

Block Opponents (But Be Nice… Or Not!)

1. If you spot an easy spot for another player, snag it if you can.
2. This can force them to make bad moves.

Learning How To Play vikings means thinking ahead with every tile!

Master Your Boat Rows for Viking Victory

Know When to Buy Boats

Timing matters. Scoop up cheaper boats early, but wait for a bargain if you spot rivals running low on cash. Make your coins stretch further!

Balance Your Rows

Don’t let one boat row pile up with crew while the others stay empty. A balanced fleet brings more points. Spread your Vikings out:

1. Fill gaps with the right color Vikings.
2. Keep an eye out for bonus powers from completed rows.
3. Use every space—don’t leave empty spots behind!

Plan for Endgame Scoring

As the game advances, watch for empty boat rows. If you ignore these, you lose out on final points. Stay alert and fill those spots before rivals beat you to it.

Mastering Your Loot: How To Play Vikings with Smart Resource and Coin Moves

Snag Coins Early and Often

Let me tell you, every time I ignored coins in Vikings, I ended up begging for spare change like a board game hobo. Don’t be like me. Instead:

1. Prioritize coin tiles before other options run dry.
2. Grab free coins from the market row when no one’s looking—fast hands win.

Stretch Those Resources

Resources are your ticket to victory. I’ve seen friends hoard them and lose, so use them wisely:

1. Trade resources only when the benefit is clear.
2. Upgrade your Vikings with just enough coins, but never overpay.

Spend, Don’t Hoard

The first time I tried to save every coin, my board looked like a broke fjord. Now, I follow these steps:

1. Balance spending and saving to keep your options open.
2. Use coins to snatch the best tiles right before your rivals.

How To Play vikings is all about timing your coin use and squeezing every drop from your resources.

Ready to Rule Like a Viking?

So there you have it, folks. My friends and I laughed, argued, and almost flipped the table over Vikings. But when we started using smart tile placement, balanced our boat rows, and spent coins like real Norse legends, the wins started rolling in. Try these tips and you’ll be yelling “Valhalla!” before you know it. And if you lose? Just blame the tile draw. It works every time. Good luck conquering! How To Play vikings has never been so fun.

Want to know what we think of Vikings? Read our detailed review of Vikings here