How To Play: Vikings

Overview

If you’ve ever wanted to pillage like a pro, then you’re in the right place. After wrangling my friends for a night of Viking chaos (and more than one spilled drink), I put together this handy guide. Inside, you’ll find a quick outline of the game rules plus the best strategies for winning. If you want to master How To Play vikings, let’s set sail!

What’s in the box

• 78 Island Tiles
• 1 Game Board
• 45 Vikings (9 in each of 5 player colors)
• 40 Ships
• 25 Scoring Markers (5 per color)
• 5 Scoring Boards
• 1 Starting Player Marker
• 60 Coins
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Vikings: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Shuffle all the tiles and place them face-down in the center of the table.
2. Each player grabs a player board and their colored set of meeples. I always choose blue, for luck. It never works.
3. Place all coins in a pile nearby. Give everyone their starting coins. Don’t spend them on snacks yet.
4. Lay out the scoring track and put your marker on zero. It looks sad now, but it will (hopefully) move.

Gameplay

1. Reveal the market’s tiles each turn and set prices according to the wheel. Yes, the wheel. It spins just to make you dizzy.
2. In turn order, draft a tile by paying the price, or take a cheap one for free—if you like living dangerously.
3. Place your tile onto your board strategically. Sea next to sea, island next to island. If you mess this up, your friends will groan. Loudly.
4. Collect any Vikings or boats that come with your tile, then add them where they belong on your board.
5. After all tiles are taken, resolve the round’s scoring. If you did something clever, now’s the time to brag.

Winning

1. When the last round ends, everyone counts their points. If you need a calculator, you’ve played too well.
2. Whoever has the most points wins. That winner should absolutely gloat (politely), as tradition demands.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If you can’t pay for a tile, you must take the cheapest one. Sorry, them’s the breaks.
2. Pirate ships attack if left unguarded. Make sure you have enough swordsmen or lose points. If you’re like me, you’ll forget at least once per game.
3. At the end, get bonus points for full islands and well-placed Vikings. Extra points if you make the best Viking face.

That’s it! Now you know How To Play Vikings. Grab some friends and give it a shot. And remember: losing to pirates is just part of the experience.

Best Vikings Strategies

Mastering Settlement Placement in Vikings: Outwit and Outbuild!

Start Strong with Prime Locations

1. Pick spots near rivers and open land for more expansion options later.
2. Avoid settling where everyone else does. Try less crowded areas for bonus points.

When my friends blocked my usual spots, I grabbed a weird island, and shocker—it paid off! Unused spaces often become secret power moves.

Balance Distance and Protection

1. Settle far enough to grow, but close enough to defend. You will thank yourself later.
2. Watch out for resource bottlenecks. If you see a mountain, think twice before planting yourself next to it!

How To Play vikings is all about risk. Where you choose to settle can win or lose the game fast.

Scout for Bonus Tiles

1. Before you make your move, spot bonus tiles on the map—these give you sneaky points.

If you combine settlements and bonus tiles, your friends will groan as you rack up points while they argue about sheep.

How To Play Vikings: Resource Management That Actually Works

Gather Resources Smartly

If you want to win at Vikings, grabbing everything in sight won’t help. Instead, follow these tricks:

1. Pick resources that help your next move, not just the shiny ones.
2. Focus on a mix – wood, stone, and those odd little sheep.

Don’t Hoard Like a Dragon

After several games (and a few lost friendships), I’ve learnt:

1. Spend resources often to keep your engine running.
2. Use everything before someone snatches the win.

Plan for Surprises

Vikings can change fast. Therefore, always:

1. Keep a spare resource to tackle a sudden attack or event.
2. Trade smart—sometimes, it’s better to swap than to collect.

Score Like a Northman: Mastering High Scores in Vikings

Snag Bonus Points Early

1. Grab tiles with paired icons as soon as possible.
2. Look for bonus multipliers before your buddies notice them.

Chain Your Actions

1. Link your villagers for bigger combos.
2. Always count ahead for combo possibilities before each turn.

Smart Endgame Moves

1. Focus on big scoring tiles in the last rounds.
2. Stop your rivals from snagging game-ending bonuses.

Follow these tips on how to play vikings and you’ll see your score soar. After a few matches with my friends, I can say: these moves work!

Ready to Rule the North?

And there you have it—my best tricks for Vikings. I learned the hard way that even the bravest Viking can’t win if they put their fishermen next to a mountain (true story, my friends still laugh about it). Remember: keep an eye on tile placement, manage those coins, and never underestimate the power of clever scoring. That’s how to play Vikings like a pro. May Odin bless your meeples and your luck—unless you’re playing against me, then may your longship leak a little. Skål and happy gaming!

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