The old war game of the North, brought to life. Lead the king's last guard to freedom, or close the ring and take his crown, across seven historic rule sets of Tafl. Battle a cunning computer, a friend at your PC, or anyone online.

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About This Game

The game the Vikings played for a thousand years

King's Escape is Tafl, the strategy game of the Norse world, rebuilt as a battle you can watch unfold. A small band of defenders shields the king at the heart of the board, and a larger host surrounds them. The defenders win if the king reaches safety. The attackers win if he falls.



Every piece moves like a rook and captures by surrounding. The rules take a minute to learn, but the game rewards a lifetime of play.

Features

  • Seven historic rule sets, from tiny Brandubh (7×7) to the vast Alea Evangelii (19×19), including tournament Copenhagen Hnefatafl with shieldwalls, exit forts and encirclement.
  • A computer opponent that plans like a general, with five tiers from Thrall to Konungr. Watch its intent as it seals corners, tightens the noose or runs for the edge.
  • Practice mode that stops you before a blunder and shows you a better move, with hints and undo for learning.



  • Play your way: against the computer, hot-seat with a friend at the same PC, or online through Steam. Invite friends straight from your Steam friends list.
  • Twelve armies, from the King's Huscarls and the Draugr Host to the Goblin Horde and the Abyssal Court, each led by a towering king. Two march with you from the start; the rest are won through deeds and victories.
  • Six battlefields to fight on, three of them unlocked by your deeds: a torchlit crypt, a fortress of ash, a misty barrow shore and more.
  • Steam achievements and leaderboards: eighteen deeds to earn, including some hidden ones, and swiftest-victory boards for every rule set.

AI Generated Content Disclosure

The developers describe how their game uses AI Generated Content like this:

The character voices and music in King's Escape were created with generative AI tools.

System Requirements

    Minimum:
    • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470, 2 GB VRAM
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 2 GB available space
    • Additional Notes: Online battles need an internet connection and Steam.
    Recommended:
    • OS: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    • Memory: 16 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, 6 GB VRAM
    • DirectX: Version 12
    • Storage: 2 GB available space
    • Additional Notes: Online battles need an internet connection and Steam.