Twelve Hnefatafl Games for Your Mobile Phone: Viking Chess by Justin Schneider

Wednesday, 14th September 2016

Viking Chess is a hnefatafl app for the Apple iPhone and iPad. It features a 3D board display, which is unusual on mobile devices. How this affects the ability to easily select pieces on a small screen I don't know.

The program is reasonably up to date, the last update having been done late in 2015. It features boards ranging in size from 7x7 to 13x13 squares. The rules are the modern variety where the king reaches the corner to win the game.

There is no computer player, but it is possible to play opponents over the internet using Game Center.  You can challenge people you know, or play against random strangers.  You can also use the game as a virtual board, playing against someone who is with you.

The app is free and you can download it from iTunes.  Tomorrow I'll post about a hnefatafl game for Android.

Note, November 2021

The author Justin Schneider let me know that Viking Chess is no longer available, and that a replacement is in the works.