Norse city builder Land of the Vikings looks like it could scratch your Banished itch

For those who like all things viking, city builder survival simulator land of the vikings could be right up your alley.

Released in Early Access today on Steam for $19.99, the developers describe the game as Frostpunk with Vikings, but if you ask me, it also has a bit of a Banished vibe to it. And that’s a good thing because I love that game, and I’ve been waiting for a sequel for a long time…

In development at Laps Games and to be published by Iceberg Interactive, in Land of the Vikings, you are the Jarl of a new Viking village who must manage resources and survive harsh conditions and enemy raids. You must do this while also guiding your fellow Vikings to work together through social conflict.

You will need to expand your village into a prosperous city, and help will come from the Norse gods who will help you with various rewards in exchange for their worship.

You will have to cut down trees, plant and grow crops, hunt wild animals, mine and fish. Be sure to manage your resources carefully to ensure you survive the winter and expand your settlement from season to season.

Each of your villagers is a character in their own right with over 20 characteristics. Pay attention to skills and abilities when assigning your people to a task because not all Vikings are created equal, nor are they good at all jobs.

As your settlement grows, more Vikings will ask to join it. You can welcome or reject them if you don’t have room to spare. However, their settlement will expand with or without them, as their parents will start families and give birth to new generations.

While this sounds like an idyllic existence, it may not be easy at all times. Mother Nature can throw earthquakes and lightning your way, and the seasons bring their own challenges, events, and disasters. So expect blizzards, very cold and storms to deal with.

If you find that you are running low on things, you can always trade with the neighbors after building a trading dock. Once he has done so, ships will visit him with different cargoes and he can also send his own trade missions with a crew. You can also raid foreign villages for silver and gold, and fame points.

To raid, you’ll need to train your Vikings to be normal warriors, archers, berserkers, or shieldmaiden elites.

One of the cool things about the game is that it doesn’t have a grid. This means that you can build wherever you want, design your village however you want, and increase the happiness of your Vikings. Monuments to Odin or Freya can be built, and you can customize the look of your Viking ships. You can even modify the appearance of the houses with the Building Editor.

As you progress through the game, you can unlock new buildings and bonuses by spending Fame Points on Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. Discover brewing and build a tavern for your villagers to relax in, invest in goat farming to collect wool, and as you create better standards of living and resources, your Vikings will become healthier and happier, and your settlement will prosper.

Land of the Vikings launched in Early Access today with a 10% launch week discount.