Players can now experience what it is like to be a Viking, sailing to and settling in 9th-century Iceland.
Indie game developer Sonderland Games released its debut title, Landnama, on Steam. It can be played on PC, macOS, and Steam Deck. The game is priced at $13.99. In the meantime, Sonderland Games has also offered a 20 percent discount as an introductory offer.
The game is inspired by the Icelandic saga Landnámabók, which is also known as Landnama. With Landnama, developers promise to bring a fresh perspective to the legendary tales of the Vikings.
We wanted to come up with something different than the usual cliches of bloodthirsty Vikings you see in every game or TV show,
said Sonderland co-founder Mathias Tournier.
For most people at that time, the main threat was nature, tempering with their ability to grow food and survive. This is the story we wanted to tell and teach players about,
he added.
Development for Landnama took approximately two years, according to Sonderland Games.
The game combines rogue-lite, survival, and settlement builder mechanics. Players must guide the first clans of Vikings that emigrated to Iceland in the 9th century. To do this, they must explore uncharted lands, exploit valuable resources, and build settlements that can withstand the harsh Icelandic climate.
Landnama is different from a typical Viking game, Sonderland Games told players. It will have no combat or raiding. Instead, players need to channel "every bit of their focus" to survive the harsh winter.
[It] is a taxing race against time with an ever-present ticking clock pushing you always closer to winter, but it's also a beautiful world where you can freeze time and enjoy the atmospheric music and art,
the developers added.