Death comes for us all, but not if the Vikings can fight it. 2018’s micro-strategy action hit, Bad North, was a wild success for publisher Raw Fury and the studio behind the game, Plausible Concepts. Bringing the energy of an action game with the simplest take on real-time strategy, Bad North is a terrifically simple, but remarkable RTS with a mesmerizing presence and great controls. In 2019, Bad North made its way onto mobile devices with a new, free expansion, becoming Jotunn Edition. Bringing the foundation of the original game and a new expansion, is no small feat, but Plausible Concepts has delivered one of the best strategy experiences on mobile devices today, even with a few rust spots in the armor.
Bad North: Jotunn Edition is a minimalistic micro-strategy game where players recruit loyal subjects to protect their realm of evil invaders. Inspired by Viking myth and lore, Bad North puts players as the master commander of their army and protector of the realm. The realm is divided into a series of islands, all with homes and innocent people living on them. Invaders conquer, and only death and decay follow in their wake. They are heinous and relentless, worshipping death and blood. Only you and your handful of soldiers stand any kind of a chance to protect all that is good.
At the onset, players choose a commander and their platoon of troops. Initially, they will be able to defend themselves with basic swords and armor, but over time, they can be trained to become deadly knights, spearmen, or archers. The islands display tiles that can be selected to initiate movement of units. In Bad North the enemy attacks from all directions, keeping players on their toes and needing to maneuver about the small island to defend homes and eliminate the invaders. Attacking enemy invaders is automatic and units engage the enemy appropriately. Over time, players can select special abilities, such as raining down arrows and leaping from cliffs that, while requiring cooldown, can make a big difference in battle. With simple controls and battle mechanics, it is up to the players’ skill to save the Realm.
Bad North: Jotunn Edition is thrilling and fiendishly enjoyable with extremely accessible gameplay and intriguing presentation. The game is also deceptively violent, with its adorable miniature islands and soldiers becoming stained with the color of blood. Small, chipmunk yells and cries echo through the otherwise serene foggy landscape. The enemy is relentless and constantly channeling. With solid controls and gameplay mechanics, Bad North: Jotunn Edition is a thrilling and rewarding micro-strategy experience. Every enemy slain is a fist-pump of victory and every island saved is another well-earned march toward victory. Every successful decision in combat is a sigh of relief and a huge confidence booster for taking on the next battle.
For smart devices, Bad North: Jotunn Edition manages to make a solid translation to mobile. The expected drawdown in the framerate is present, but the gameplay mechanics and controls remain as tight as ever. Using the touch-screen, one can easily rotate the island and accurately pinpoint where to send troops. Pinching the screen zooms in and out of the battlefield, and the special attack menu is displayed without interfering with the battle on-hand. There were no performance issues or interferences during my time with Bad North: Jotunn Edition. While the framerate is understandably slower, it remains constant and doesn’t falter. The sound effects and audio cues are clear and precise. Most importantly, Bad North: Jotunn Edition comes with a bevy of enhancements and features, all for free.
Bad North: Jotunn Edition also has a variety of customizable options, which include various difficulty settings, new enemies, and weapons. Additionally, there are now checkpoints at particular islands. If a tragic fate is met, players will respawn at a completed checkpoint island. These updates are part of all versions of Bad North but seeing it on mobile devices is greatly appreciated and a testament to the team’s commitment to the game. Lastly, Bad North: Jotunn Edition is priced at $4.99 and has no microtransactions or free-to-play mechanics of any kind.
Playing Bad North: Jotunn Edition is impressive, but it is also a remarkable accomplishment from the developer. The game is contained and uncompromised in its porting to smart devices and it’s still as thrilling to play on mobile as it was on Nintendo Switch. Even for being a micro-strategy, there is a plethora of depth and customization. Along with the sound design and visual design of the game, it’s immeasurably enjoyable and fantastic for players new to real-time strategy games. Bad North: Jotunn Edition isn’t just a fine strategy adventure on the go, but it’s a strong platform for accessible gaming. I can easily see young teens and casual players greatly enjoying their time with Bad North: Jotunn Edition.
With its inviting gameplay mechanics and well-realized presentation, Bad North: Jotunn Edition is excellent on mobile devices. As a game, this title is strong and worth being on your device, but it also stands as a clean and solid port. Whether traveling, taking a break from working, or on the road as a passenger, it’s never a bad time to save your island from evil invaders in Bad North: Jotunn Edition.
More information can be found on the official website. An Android copy of Bad North: Jotunn Edition was provided for the purpose of review by Raw Fury.
