Claiming the Fjords
Small Fjords is exactly that. Not quite small enough for my pockets but definitely small enough to sneak into a coat, it contains 40 fjord tiles, the same amount as in the base game. With artwork from Beth Sobel, the tiles are decorated with vibrant blues, snowy peaks and plenty of fields.
Before the battle begins, I mean exploration, players choose a faction colour, either grey or white. It’s not the most riveting selection. You then place the 3 starting tiles in the centre, shuffle the rest and stack them face down into a draw pile.
And that’s it. Easy, simple and perfect for filling a 20-minute lull. It’s also quick to reset, so getting a few games in back-to-back is no trouble.
Mapping the Fjords
In a 2-player game, Small Fjords plays out over two distinct phases: exploration followed by settlement. This two-phase structure is easily the most interesting part of the design.
During the exploration phase, players take turns drawing and placing tiles. The map is built collaboratively, with tiles needing to match terrain and connect along two sides. Fields meet fields, mountains meet mountains.
After placing a tile, you may add a Longhouse. These act as your starting points for the settlement phase and are key to winning. The challenge is that you are placing them while the board is still forming, and your opponent can actively work against you. A well-placed mountain can shut down your plans before they even begin. It’s a gamble, and that uncertainty adds a nice layer of tension.
If you draw a tile that cannot be placed, you can discard it and draw again, so you never lose a turn to bad luck. On later turns, you can either draw from the pile or reuse a discarded tile. However, if a tile can be placed, you must place it. You cannot simply discard it because it’s inconvenient. This creates a slight push your luck feel, as you’re often committing to imperfect options.
The phase ends when the final tile is drawn. If it can be placed, the next player begins the settlement phase. If not, the current player does.
Viking Dominance
The shift into the settlement phase is where the game really changes. The calm, almost scenic tile placement gives way to a far more aggressive area control battle.
Players take turns placing Vikings from their supply, starting adjacent to their Longhouses. From there, they spread across connected field spaces, provided they are not blocked by water or mountains.
Spaces can only hold one Viking, and the aim is simple: place more Vikings than your opponent.
This is where earlier decisions start to pay off, or fall apart. Strong Longhouse placement can open up large areas of the map, while poor placement can leave you boxed in with very few options. It’s possible to create bottlenecks, cut off expansion routes and completely strand your opponent. It can feel quite ruthless and, at times, lead to one sided outcomes, but it’s satisfying when things go your way.
The contrast between phases is what makes the game memorable and often leads straight into a rematch.
Solo Settling
If you don’t have an opponent, the solo mode offers a more relaxed alternative. Designed by Arnaud Charpentier, it’s a beat your score experience that plays quite differently.
You still set up in the same way, but tiles only need to connect on one side, making placement more flexible. After placing a tile, you can add a Longhouse, which immediately fills all valid adjacent spaces with Vikings.
Unlike the multiplayer mode, these settlements can grow over time as more tiles connect, allowing for some forward planning as well as adaptation.
There’s no shared discard pile in solo mode. Instead, you can hold one in your reserve. If you pick a tile you don’t want to play but your reserve is full, you’ll need to play the tile in reserve before adding the new one. It gives you a little strategic control over the randomness of the draw.
Scoring is based on Vikings placed, with bonuses for exceeding your supply and for building your longest coastline. However, isolated water tiles will cost you points, so careless placement can be punished.
It’s a calmer experience but still engaging. Games are quick, and there’s enough decision making to keep you invested. It’s also tougher than it first appears. I only just made it into the second scoring bracket, carried heavily by a strong coastline. My Viking placement clearly needs work.
Final Thoughts
Small Fjords is a solid small box game that offers a fun 2 player experience and a more relaxed solo option. Having a tile laying game that is genuinely portable is a real plus. Most travel games lean on cards or dice, so this feels like a bit of a rarity.
The combination of building the map and then competing over it works well, and the two-phase structure keeps things feeling fresh. With 40 tiles, each game develops differently, which adds a welcome layer of replayability.
That said, it’s not without its drawbacks. The theme feels quite abstract. While the landscapes look great, the Viking element feels underdeveloped. Wooden cubes do the job but lack character, and the idea that Vikings are restricted by small stretches of water feels slightly off. It’s one of those games that could easily support a completely different theme.
There’s also a degree of repetition. While there is strategy in both phases, the game doesn’t evolve much beyond its core loop. This feels like a title best enjoyed occasionally rather than played repeatedly in quick succession.
Overall, I’m very happy to have Small Fjords in my collection. It delivers a satisfying, portable strategy experience and captures much of what makes Fjords enjoyable in a smaller format. It shines as a quick, thoughtful filler, especially for two players, and the solo mode is simple but well designed. Despite being slightly abstract, it’s the sort of game that will be a welcome companion on my travels in Norway, ready to turn any quiet moment into a miniature Viking adventure.
About the author:
Sophie is a gamer, blogger, podcaster, and book lover with a passion for solo narrative video games. When she's not immersed in games or writing, she's probably out hiking. Her favourite board games feature worker placement, nature themes, and smart tableau-building mechanics.
