Viking chess vs Kubb: which game do you mean?
"Viking chess" is sold as two completely different games, and people often buy the wrong one. Here's the quick way to tell them apart.
Hnefatafl — the strategy board game
Hnefatafl (the board game this whole site is about) is an indoor strategy game on an 11×11 board: a king and his defenders try to escape a larger force of attackers. It's the "Viking chess" you play online here and learn on the rules pages.
Kubb — the lawn game
Kubb is an outdoor game: you throw wooden batons to knock over your opponent's blocks and, finally, the king. It's marketed as "Viking chess" or "Viking chess yard game", but it has no board and no relation to Hnefatafl beyond the nickname.
So which should you buy?
Want a thinking game for the table? Get a Hnefatafl set. Want a party game for the garden? Get a Kubb set. Below is one of each.
Best overall budget pick
Masters Traditional Games Hnefatafl — Masters Edition
A complete, portable 11×11 Hnefatafl with detailed resin pieces and a fold-flat linen board — the easiest correct way to start playing.
Moulded polyresin pieces (Lewis Chessmen styling); natural linen cloth board · 11×11 · 37 (24 attackers, 12 defenders, 1 king) · $$ ($36–48)
- Authentic standard 11×11, 37-piece set, so the rules play correctly straight out of the box.
- Linen cloth board folds flat into the box — genuinely portable for travel or pub play.
- Detailed resin pieces with two visually distinct sides; reviewers praise the sculpting for the price.
- Rounded piece tops are a little fiddly to pick up when the board gets crowded.
- US third-party pricing drifts above $40; the cheapest price needs UK international shipping.
Play free →Lawn game (Kubb)
Best for the lawn (Kubb)
GoSports Kubb Viking Clash — Backyard Size
A real Kubb lawn set — the *other* 'Viking chess', a wooden outdoor toss game, not the Hnefatafl board game.
Premium knot-free rubber wood (hand-sanded hardwood) · n/a (lawn toss game — no board grid) · 21 (10 kubbs, 1 king, 6 batons, 4 corner stakes) + carry case · $$ ($44.99 (backyard); $59.99 (regulation))
- Hand-sanded knot-free hardwood holds up to outdoor play on grass, sand or snow.
- Laser-engraved team graphics and a carry case make it portable and ready to play.
- Widely stocked (Target, Lowe's, Dick's, Amazon) with responsive customer service.
- Occasional knots reported despite the knot-free claim — some quality-control variance.
- Backyard-size pieces are smaller than tournament dimensions; competitive play wants the regulation version.
Play free →