Developer Shiro Games is positively aquiver with news regarding its excellent Viking-themed real-time strategy game, Northgard. For starters, the previously announced Xbox One, PS4 and Switch editions now have a release date of 26th September, and there's a new board game adaptation on the way. Furthermore, there's a new co-op update heading to PC too.

Northgard, if it's so far managed to pass you by, plays a little like the classic Settlers series, tasking players with establishing and expanding a thriving Viking settlement - and the military might needed to protect it - through exploration, resource management, and land acquisition.

It's a brutal endeavour, however, defined by tough decisions. Land zones, for instance, which must be conquered prior to use, will only house a small number of workers and buildings. As such, you'll need to think carefully about utilising your limited workforce and restricted space if you're to assert your dominance against other clans and mythological beasts. And that's before winter rolls around, decimating food supplies and, if you're not prepared, your population.

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Developer Shiro Games' excellent Viking-themed real-time strategy, Northgard, will be setting forth for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch later this year.

Northgard, if you've not yet had the pleasure on PC, plays a little like the classic Settlers series, tasking players with establishing a Viking settlement and slowly expanding it - both in terms of physical size and military dominance - though exploration, resource management, and land acquisition.

Where it sets itself apart is in its deliberate restrictions, and the interesting choices that result. Zones, for instance, must be conquered before they can be claimed, and even then, only a small number of workers and buildings can occupy each one. That means your settlement is never likely to enjoy a life of excess, and you're constantly forced to make tough decisions about how you deploy your limited workforce and utilise your space to ensure survival against the desolate winters and the marauding mythological beasts.

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Developer Shiro Games' entertaining Viking-themed real-time strategy, Northgard, has just received a major new content update - introducing, among other things, powerful Relics that can grant serious benefits to your ever-beleaguered clans.

The free update, appropriately titled Northgard Relics, is described by Shiro as the "biggest content update" since launch. Unsurprisingly, the focus is those game-changing Relics, with each clan able to choose between five common Relics and one clan-specific Relic, although only one can be used per game.

Common Relics grant the likes of defence bonuses, feast bonuses, and more for the duration of play - which, while supremely useful, are considerably less spectacular than the clan-specific Relics. These are able to summon such wonders as mercenary giants, massive boars, the undead, and white wolves to do your bidding, which - I think we can all agree - is far more exciting than having a couple more apples for your tea.

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Wonderful viking-themed real-time strategy game Northgard has just received a major free update, adding a new apocalyptic map, a new neutral faction, and more.

Developer Shiro Games is calling the new expansion Ragnarok, and existing Northgard owners should have seen it tumble down their internet pipe already by now. Those unfamiliar with Northgard, however, might like a quick intro.

Northgard, both in solo campaign mode and multiplayer mode, is superficially similar to Settlers, insofar as you're tasked with establishing a settlement through exploration, resource management, and expansion. It makes its own mark through some atypical design decisions, primarily in the way that expansion can only occur by colonising separate zones on the map - which in turn, can only house a certain number of new buildings and settlers. That makes for some tough, interesting choices, even before winter sets in.

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Developer Shiro Games' Viking-themed real-time strategy Northgard has now properly released on Steam, following a year of early access development.

Northgard has attracted a decent amount of praise from strategy fans over the last 12 months. On a basic level, it's a lot like the classic Settlers series, insofar as you're tasked with establishing a settlement and slowing building it up through careful exploration, resource management, and expansion. In practice though, it has a rhythm and pace all of its own, thanks to some atypical design choices that set it apart from its peers.

Its big distinction is that each map is split into separate zones, which you'll need to individually scout, rid of enemies, and finally colonise in order to grow your settlement.

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