Hnefatafl: Viking Chess

Fight for Your King

Client/Publisher

Brybelly Games. A brand that creates and distributes lines of classic game products to niche audiences.

Target Audience

Men aged 18-45 that enjoy strategy games with simple elegance, such as all modern ethnic chess variants.

Project Brief

Create a modern and colorful version of Hnefatafl that stands out from the other offerings in this niche market while retaining the abstract nature of the game. Other offerings employ earth tones, muted colors, and resemble relics.

Role

• Art Direction

• Identity Design

• Print Design

• Product Design

• Product Packaging

• Photography

The Origin

Popularized by sea-faring Vikings over a century ago, Hnefatafl is an ancient Scandinavian game that exemplifies Viking culture - glory & honor in battle. The Vikings terrorized the British Isles and beyond through their surprise raids and insatiable appetite for expansion. Hnefatafl’s central theme is to protect your king and evacuate him from the battlefield before your opponent can corner him. Many cultures produced such games based on battle that were won via strategy. This game is a predecessor of chess as we know it.

The Game

This version of Hnefatafl is the first mass-market set to feature game pieces inspired by shards of Viking glass. It incorporates gentle nods to Norse mythology, culture, and beliefs. It is an asymmetrical game; one where each player has a different end goal to win. As the king and his most elite warriors, your goal is to protect your king piece from all attackers. As the attackers, your goal is to capture the king by preventing him from moving.

The Solution

In contrast to the versions of Hnefatafl at the time of release, this product is adorned with specialty printing processes and premium features. The elevated execution of this game stands in opposition to the more traditional approach such as weathered game pieces and board. Premium production processes include a foil stamp, interior wrap, a vellum rules sheet with embossing, a flocked-texture game piece tray, orientation-independent game pieces, a matte finish to reduce glare, and a gripping texture on the base of the game board.

Product Media

Social media posts & video

Hnefatafl required a simple animation and a product video for media purposes. I was able to produce both of these for various social media use and ecommerce listings. The product video conveys an impending battle, rousing the player to defend their king while the animation was for background use.

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, social media post lore quote on game background

Product Image Gallery

Product photography

featured work photograph - hnefatafl game on a brown leather background

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, game branding

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, product photography layout of all game components

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, game box illustration closeup

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, product photography, game directions layout

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, game pieces with moody lighting

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, product photography of game box on a wooden plank background

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, product photography of game board on a wooden plank background

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, product photography of game pieces on the game board

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, product photography of game pieces

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, game directions

Zack Marsh Design, Hnefatafl Viking Chess, product photography of game pieces on a bright background

Product & Packaging Designer

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