Nidavellir
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.1 / 5
- Year
- 2020
About the game
Nidavellir has players competing to recruit the finest dwarven army to defeat the dragon Fafnir. Each round you secretly bid a coin at rival taverns, with higher bids getting first pick of the available heroes and dwarves. A clever coin-building system lets your gold coins increase in value over the game, changing your bidding power as you go. Different dwarf classes score points in their own way, rewarding focused or balanced recruiting strategies. It's a tense bidding game wrapped in charming fantasy production.
Hobbli's Notes
The simultaneous hidden bidding in Nidavellir creates a wonderful mix of bluffing and prediction that keeps every round interesting. Watching your coins level up over the game gives a real sense of progression alongside your growing army. Scoring across several dwarf classes takes a play or two to fully click. A satisfying, quick-playing bidding game with a lot of charm.
What we like
- Simultaneous hidden bidding creates real bluffing tension.
- Coin-leveling system adds a satisfying sense of progression.
- Quick playtime with meaningful strategic decisions.
- Charming dwarf-themed art and production.
Keep in mind
- Being consistently outbid can feel discouraging.
- Availability of good recruits at each tavern involves luck.
- Scoring across multiple dwarf classes can be fiddly at first.
Who it's for
Good for casual to intermediate strategy gamers aged 10+, in groups of 2-5 who enjoy bidding and set-collection games.
