Jarlheim

Jarlheim brings the ancient Viking board game of Hnefatafl to life with Norse painterly art and a deep tactical AI.
Two sides. One kingdom.
As the defenders, your goal is to guide the King from his central throne to safety at one of the corner gates. As the attackers, you command twice the warriors — surround the King before he escapes. Every game is an asymmetric battle of wits.
True Hnefatafl rules
Pieces move like rooks on a chess board. Soldiers are captured by sandwiching them between two opponents. The King requires a four-sided surround — or three sides with the board edge counting as a wall. Master the "Jarlheim rules" explained step by step in the in-app How To screen.
30 levels across 4 chapters
From the intimate 7×7 Brandub map favoured by Irish Vikings to the grand 11×11 boards of the Norse high seas — each chapter raises the stakes with tighter puzzles, stronger AI, and fiercer Viking scenery.
Intelligent AI opponent
Powered by a pure-Kotlin negamax engine with alpha-beta pruning, the AI thinks ahead and plays strategically. Early levels offer breathing room for newcomers; late-chapter opponents will test even seasoned tacticians.
Features
• 5 board layouts: Brandub (7×7), Tablut (9×9), and three 11×11 variants
• Animated piece movement and captures
• Hint system — get the engine's best move when you're stuck
• Undo — take back a move at any time
• 10 achievements to unlock
• Stats screen tracking your wins, losses, and playtime
• Sound effects and vibration feedback (toggleable)
• Full-screen immersive mode with Norse artwork
• 5-page illustrated tutorial for first-time players
A living legend reborn
Hnefatafl was played across Scandinavia and the British Isles for centuries before chess arrived. Jarlheim honours that heritage with hand-crafted Norse art and faithful gameplay — no timers, no ads blocking the board, just pure strategy.
Command your warriors. Protect your King. Claim Jarlheim.