Revealed at this year’s Gamescom, Viking city builder Northgard will be heading to Steam Early Access in the coming months.  Currently in an Alpha state, it’s clear there’s already a very strong set of mechanics behind the nascent game. Featuring all the typical features one would expect: population management, new buildings to unlock, foraging and so forth. It also has at least one, rather dishy looking dragon. With four wings no less!

What caught my eye was how your population’s skills and knowledge are tied to the Norse runes. Though it’s presently unclear if they’re using the actual Elder Futhark, or a more liberal, gamified interpretation of them. I’m hoping for the former. With Fehu linked to your farmlands, Tyr for warfare and so on. The only one we see for sure, in the above video, is Othala being linked to trade, so I’d say it’s a fair bet that’s the plan. Though the presence of two extra runes (making 26) shows there’s been at least some degree of poetic license taken. I’m cool with that.

Northgard will hit Steam Early Access some time later this year and has not yet been priced.