


Other strategy games of this ilk feature building as a main feature, but Valhalla Hills makes construction the main point of interaction for the player. And by building: doing tons and tons of building. You can do this one of two ways: by opening the magic portals of Valhalla to fight the enemies within, or by appeasing the gods with tributes. Unable to rest their weary bones inside, the honorable Vikings are forced to turn to Leko - demoted to the unflattering position of “God of the Builders” - who will attempt to redeem himself by leading the heroes up the eponymous mountains. The narrative here is a pretty simple one, albeit quite funny and suitable for the temperamental gods of Norse mythology that inspired it: Odin’s in a pissy mood after his son Leko fails an “exam of the gods,” so he slams the door to Valhalla shut. This one, dubbed Valhalla Hills, has a Norse theme - and while it’s not quite the heavenlike hall of the gods it’s named after, it’s well-worth a look for anyone interested in the genre. German developer Funatics has gone back to the drawing board, assembling another addictive, building-oriented strategy game. Fans of The Settlers and Cultures, this is your day.
