Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Easier to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Light strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Lay a modular Viking archipelago, sail shared waters, raid settlements, gather livestock, and establish outposts before winter closes the North Sea.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Modular Board
Build the play area from interchangeable sections that vary between games.
Action Points
Spend a limited allowance of points across several possible actions each turn.
Area Majority
Compete to have the strongest presence in areas that award control or points.
Grid Movement
Move pieces between adjacent spaces on a regular grid.
Set Collection
Gather related items that become more valuable when scored together.
Pick-up and Deliver
Use Pick-up and Deliver as a recurring structure for player decisions and resolution.
Read the full game description
Explorers of the North Sea sends rival captains outward from a shared mainland into an archipelago that appears tile by tile. Every turn begins by adding a hex, then allows up to four actions among moving a longship, loading or unloading Vikings, moving crews across land, transporting livestock, raiding settlements, or constructing outposts. The board’s changing coastlines make route planning tangible: ships have limited capacity, stranded Vikings need transport, and enemy vessels reward bold attacks at real risk. Points come from livestock delivered home, settlements raided, outposts built, ships destroyed, islands controlled, and surviving crew, with a secret captain card nudging each player toward a particular style. After forty-eight tiles, winter arrives and the most prestigious captain wins.
