Expeditions: Viking is set in late 8th-century Europe, a period marked by political unrest and cultural conflict. As a newly appointed Thane, players lead a small Viking clan and shape its future through trade, diplomacy or warfare. Rather than relying on fantasy tropes, the game offers a grounded and historically inspired portrayal of the early Middle Ages.

In terms of gameplay, Expeditions: Viking follows the tradition of classic CRPGs, featuring an isometric perspective and turn-based combat on hex-based maps. Battles are shaped by character stats, terrain and smart tactical decisions. A well-placed shield wall can block narrow passages, while archers apply pressure from a distance. Party composition plays a crucial role, as up to six characters can take part in each fight, and a balanced mix of melee fighters, ranged attackers and support units often makes the difference in more challenging encounters.

Outside of combat, party and resource management play a central role. Players develop their village, equip followers with appropriate gear and assign them specific roles within the camp. Factors such as loyalty, morale and reputation directly influence how the game unfolds. Decisions involving politics, religion or slavery shape not only the internal dynamics of the clan but also have lasting consequences for the story and how other factions respond to the player’s leadership.

Gaming Nexus praised Expeditions: Viking for its authentic Viking atmosphere, tactical combat system and deep warrior management. The wide range of moral and cultural choices, along with their tangible impact on the story, also left a strong impression. However, the game was criticized for its dated visuals, an occasionally confusing interface and issues with camera handling and controls. Despite these shortcomings, Gaming Nexus awarded the game a solid score of 7.4 out of 10.

On Metacritic, Expeditions: Viking holds a Metascore of 74 and a User Score of 8.1. Feedback on Steam is even more positive, with more than 4,000 reviews averaging 83% positive. The game is rated as “Playable” on the Steam Deck (currently available on Amazon for around $675) and should perform well on the go with a few minor tweaks.

90% discount on Steam for the first time

Expeditions: Viking was developed by Danish studio Logic Artists and published by THQ Nordic in April 2017. The RPG is normally priced at around $30 on Steam, but a current 90% discount drops it to just under $3 until February 9. According to SteamDB, previous discounts topped out at 75%, making this the lowest price the game has seen so far.

By the way: Expeditions: Rome brings the familiar gameplay to an ancient Roman setting and is also currently 90% off. The game is available for around $4.50 until February 9.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.

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As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart – in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I’m not sitting at my computer, I’m probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life – namely sitting for long periods – at the local swimming pool.