Northgard: Definitive Edition Just Dropped, And It’s Basically A Loot Piñata

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Written By NLM Team

Usually, when a developer announces a "Definitive Edition" eight years after release, I roll my eyes. It is usually code for "we bundled the DLC and raised the price."

But Shiro Games has decided to actually be the good guys for once. Northgard: Definitive Edition is out now, and it is arguably the best value proposition in the strategy genre right now.

If you have never played Northgard, think of it as Age of Empires meets The Settlers, but everyone is freezing to death and wolves are eating your woodcutters. It is stressful, beautiful, and incredibly addictive.

The Upgrade Path (A Rare Win)

Here is the part that shocked me. If you already own the base game of Northgard but skipped the DLCs, Shiro Games just gave them to you for free.

The update integrates the "Cross of Vidar" expansion and the first three DLC clans (Snake, Dragon, and Horse) directly into the base game. You don't have to buy an upgrade. You just update the game on Steam and suddenly you have way more content than you paid for.

In an industry where companies charge us $10 for the color blue (looking at you, Halo), this is a breath of fresh air.

Valhalla Calling

For the veterans who have already conquered the North, the big draw here is the new Valhalla Biome.

This is the endgame. After years of battling through mud and snow, you can finally take the fight to the guardians of the afterlife. It is visually stunning and brutally difficult. They also added the "Bifrost" realms to single-player and multiplayer modes. This means you can fight your friends in the fires of Muspellheim or the salty deserts of Idavoll.

There is also a new Frostbite Mode. If you manage to beat the realms, you can turn on specific handicaps to make your life miserable in exchange for better rewards. It is perfect for the masochists among us who think the base game isn't punishing enough.

THE VIKING LOOT HAUL

What is actually included in this massive update.

CONTENT THE DETAILS
Cross of Vidar The massive expansion pack campaign. You play as the Kingdom of the Lion. It is narrative-heavy and difficult.
The Clans Snake: Guerilla tactics. Dragon: Uses slaves and human sacrifice. Horse: The best craftsmen and builders.
New Biomes Valhalla: The new endgame zone. Bifrost: Now playable in standard skirmish modes.
The Price $13.99 (currently 60% off). This is a steal for the amount of content you get.

to buy or not to buy

If you have never played Northgard, this is the time to jump in. The "Definitive Edition" is currently 60% off on Steam until December 18th, bringing the price down to about 14 bucks.

For that price, you are getting one of the best RTS games of the decade, a massive expansion, three extra factions, and enough winter survival mechanics to make you appreciate your thermostat.

I was planning on playing Path of Exile 2 this week, but the call of Valhalla is a little too loud to ignore. I will see you in the North. Bring a coat.

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NLM Team
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