Sword & Sorcery: Ancient Chronicles – Northwind Tales
Ares Games, Gremlin Project · Board game · 2022
1–5 · best 1, 2, 5
Solo
60–150 min
Weight 3.6/5
10.0
rating
Ludopedia
8.8
rating
BGG
10.0
rating
Ludopedia
8.8
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
If you're already a fan of Sword & Sorcery and crave more epic adventure, this expansion is a must-have! Pack your warmest gear, because the northern cold awaits.
Highlights
- Essential expansion for the saga
- New challenges and enemies
- Rich exploration and narrative
- Creative and engaging mechanics
Keep in mind
- Requires the S&S base game
- Long and immersive campaign
- Moderate language dependency
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Prepare to brave the cold and defy fate in Sword & Sorcery: Ancient Chronicles – Northwind Tales! This expansion transports you to the frozen North, where biting winds and raging snowstorms set the stage for a new saga. Your heroes will face a relentless Viking army, led by the fearsome conqueror Wotan. The quest will take them to Yggdrasil, the cosmic tree that sustains the universe, and into an epic confrontation against Níðhöggr, an undead dragon spewing death and despair.
Northwind Tales introduces a new phase of free-roaming exploration, where the world reacts to your choices. The Journey phase boasts over 100 entries, filled with unique encounters and challenges that evolve with each playthrough. The campaign unfolds across nine interconnected Quests, brimming with secrets, narrative crossroads, and mechanics that reward multiple playthroughs to discover all possibilities.
Featuring 15 new enemies to defeat, 17 modular board tiles for varied scenarios, and new mechanics like Twin Weapons – which unleash their full power when used together – and Omens, mysterious prophecies that can aid or curse the heroes. To top it off, mini-games involving climbing and fishing add even more variety to the experience. If you enjoy epic adventures, tactical combat, and a story that grips you from start to finish, this expansion is for you!
Northwind Tales introduces a new phase of free-roaming exploration, where the world reacts to your choices. The Journey phase boasts over 100 entries, filled with unique encounters and challenges that evolve with each playthrough. The campaign unfolds across nine interconnected Quests, brimming with secrets, narrative crossroads, and mechanics that reward multiple playthroughs to discover all possibilities.
Featuring 15 new enemies to defeat, 17 modular board tiles for varied scenarios, and new mechanics like Twin Weapons – which unleash their full power when used together – and Omens, mysterious prophecies that can aid or curse the heroes. To top it off, mini-games involving climbing and fishing add even more variety to the experience. If you enjoy epic adventures, tactical combat, and a story that grips you from start to finish, this expansion is for you!
Gallery
Box and component photos
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Best player count
BGG community vote
1
BEST
2
BEST
3
REC
4
OK
5
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Ares Games, Gremlin Project
Designer
Nunzio Surace, Simone Romano
Artist
Fabrizio Fiorentino, Fausto Gutierrez, Francesco Mattioli, Mario Barbati, Phroilan Gardner
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Do I need the base Sword & Sorcery game to play Northwind Tales?
Yes, absolutely! Northwind Tales is an expansion, so you'll need the Sword & Sorcery base game to enjoy this new adventure.
How long does a campaign take to play?
A full campaign in Northwind Tales can take between 60 to 150 minutes per session, depending on the number of players and how quickly you progress through the quests. There are nine interconnected missions, so be prepared to dedicate a good amount of time!
How many players can play?
The game is for 1 to 5 players. It works great as a group experience, but also offers a robust solo mode for those who enjoy adventuring alone.
Is the game very difficult?
Northwind Tales offers adjustable difficulty modes, including combining enemies with new variants. You can tailor the challenge to your group, but expect tactical challenges and enemies that require strategy.
Do I need to know English to play?
There is a moderate language dependency. The cards and campaign book contain text. Many players use translated spreadsheets or printed cards to make it easier, but having some form of Portuguese reference is ideal.
What's new in this expansion?
It introduces a new region to explore, a story arc featuring the Viking conqueror Wotan and the dragon Níðhöggr, new mechanics like Twin Weapons and Omens, 15 brand-new enemies, 17 modular map tiles, and mini-games.
