An Early Summer Introduction to Winds of the North
Enter the Viking Age and work to survive through the seasons in the unique solo RPG found within Winds of the North.
It was nearly half a decade ago that I participated in the playtest for Winds of the North. Granted, I only took a quick peek at it and barely explored any of it before I paused. To my delight, I found out about its official release not long ago! This is an in-depth experience about surviving in the Viking Age, but in a way that’s very much about discovery. I was quite excited!
Game Overview
Game Name: Winds of the North
Publication Year: 2026
Designer: Thomas P. King
Artist: Nils Bergslien
Publisher: Self-Published
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Seasons are broken out into months and weeks, which offer a different assortment of activities to undertake. This is very much about planning for winter and surviving, yet the story possibilities are amazing! Managing everything is straightforward with clear rules and so much to discover.
Character Sheets
All that’s required to play is the book, character sheets, and 1d8. That’s it! I was pleasantly surprised in many respects.
First, I purchased a physical copy, and the book is huge! I’ll share more in a moment, but this means the print is large and it feels like an adventure without being hard to handle.
Next, the character sheets may look extensive, but these break up the key areas of gameplay. Rarely did I need to use more than 1 or 2 sheets at a single moment. Easy!
The rules were clear, and I was excited to dive into this open world where it felt like anything might happen.
Step-by-Step Sequences
Look at that glorious large print! I spent a little time with the first few pages, then dove into character creation.
Via random tables, I began life as Ari with his household and best friend, Sigurd. Setting up may seem like a lot, yet this simply sets the stage for the experience.
Every page is laid out well with helpful descriptions and sequences. I had to make some choices, follow instructions, and roll the single die for certain outcomes. So smooth!
And I don’t mean this to say it was mechanical: Pretty soon, I was completely invested in this world and Ari’s life.
Activity Outcomes
Gameplay begins in early summer, which comes with a myriad of possible activities. I’ll have to go back and count, but my choices numbered in the dozens each in-game week.
Ari had some early luck with hunting. This activity didn’t have as much story potential, yet need I share how important it is to ensure everyone eats each month? Ha!
Public domain artwork is strewn throughout and used in a beautiful way to add lots of character to many pages.
And again, this is a thoughtful layout: Every section ends with a reference to the pages to return to. So helpful!
Taking Small Notes
The game can easily form the foundation for an in-depth solo journaling RPG. Since I’ve been writing a lot lately, I wanted this experience to be a little more action-focused.
Still, that didn’t make it any less exciting! I noted some of the important events of each month. Sigurd, Ari’s friend, turned out to be a key element and the center of the action.
On the way to the market, they entered a cave and found a pack of wolves. Retreat? Not today! They valiantly fought.
It was a poor decision on my part where Sigurd was dealt a permanent injury… But the memories! And the rewards!
Old-Fashioned Bookkeeping Without Struggles
I was initially a little worried about the fact that I had to print out 8 character sheets. That could be reduced to just 6 if I didn’t plan to focus on combat, yet Ari’s random rolls put him firmly on the path of fighting! Setup was a relatively easy process, though, and I only had to write in details according to the instructions. It was a lot, but not too much to handle.
Throughout play, I flipped around these sheets a bit, but didn’t have to do much math. Everything I wrote was part of the calculations, and anything new simply updated certain sections. I want to emphasize that the total number of character sheets shouldn’t be a deterrent. After setup, I shuffled around a bit, yet typically only looked at a couple of pages at once.
My only very slight issue is how the season, month, and week are circled on the printed sheets in black circles. That made it a little frustrating to use other marks as I moved forward. I fixed this in the PDF myself, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. And if the only issue I have with something is a few pre-printed circles that can be worked around, I’m having a great time!
Unexpected Humor
That same visit to the market came with an ending to leaving town that I wouldn’t soon forget. “A fight has broken out, and you are unwanted.” What an exit. Ha ha!
I imagined the town was upset over Ari’s triumph. It was just a great moment after Sigurd nearly died and they spent their time in town buying seeds. And, I guess, brawling!
My play has only taken me through early summer so far, and there are countless discoveries ahead. So many pages.
For the back of the book is filled with random encounter tables, mysteries, and secrets to unlock. Will Ari survive?
Continue the Conversation
Have you played the full release of Winds of the North? Are there any memorable weeks your character has had so far? I remember the early playtest, and appreciate how far this has come. Gameplay feels streamlined with the potential to do so much in the Viking Age. I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes me, and hope to continue Ari’s story fairly regularly!
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