Nidhogg

Nidhogg
81
Metacritic
90
Steam
87.986
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$3.99
Release date
13 January 2014
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
90 (5 386 votes)
Recent
100 (18 votes)

Nidhogg is the epic award-winning fencing tug-of-war, full of graceful acrobatics and clumsy stabs. IRL yelling and excitement may occur, in this ultimate two-player showdown of fast-paced fencing and melee attacks. Beware, advantages in Nidhogg are often fleeting, as new opponents continually spawn in your way.

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Nidhogg system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / 7
  • Processor: 1.2GHz processor
  • Memory: 512 MB RAM
  • Graphics: DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory
  • DirectX: Version 9.0c
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 200 MB available space
  • Additional Notes: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller or Direct Input compatible controller
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Cosmo Corporal
Cosmo Corporal

Game maker seems like a great tool with a lot of optimization and support issues, though with not being so powerful due to that. but it has allowed people (people being a guy and a netcode guy) to make something like this, at least now the problem is fixed.

But as a game, it's a good party game, nothing more, found it on Playstation Now a long time ago, really good in it's simple design, though I feel that it could have been improved on. I'm gonna pretend the Nidhogg 2 doesn't exist because it barely functions under wine (I'd buy it if it did), but it looks like a good extension pack, but not a new game.

This game has had some issues running under Linux for me, and it was strange, running directly under wine worked perfectly but proton had issues with it. It only stayed opened for a straight thirty seconds then crashed, probably some memory leak.

Ringabel-D
Ringabel-D

THE fencing videogame experience, albeit with blood. Simple as and easy to pick up for just about anyone, but it is hard to introduce it to mates who aren't fond of the bloodsport aspect of it. If you're squeamish about blood, this might not be for you, as unfortunately Messhoff has yet to add a no-blood setting.

Nothing will ever replicate the experience of fencing, but this is a good approximation of it. Fast-paced and snappy, with guarding and parrying mechanics to boot. No balestras, for shame, but we can't always have our cake and eat it. Definitely best played with others, as single-player will get stale after you've cycled through the same few stages for the dozenth time.

Tenocticatl
Tenocticatl

Stab your friend, then get eaten by a giant worm. Good times! Simple mechanics and controls, so easy to pick up, but with a surprising amount of strategy as soon as both players know what they're doing.

wikkyhorse
wikkyhorse

Kill or be killed, there is no try.

This is so silly and frantic. Fight or just roll past and run for it!

SemsEssense
SemsEssense

This game was so intensive my school computer crashed more on this game than during 5 years of usage. It was really fun playing though so buy Nidhogg 2 because this games multiplayer is dead.

subway surfers fan #583219
subway surfers…

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

JohnyTheMoron
JohnyTheMoron

Its simple. Its effective. This is the kind of game that you get after 5 minutes and then play with your sibling and eventually you perfect it and create whole meta-agame between you. I didnt play that long but I really like that game and would recommend it to y'all. Stab stab stab

Phoeniks
Phoeniks

This game is absolutely phenomenal for players looking for a you-versus-your-friend game that is easy to understand and play and hard to truly master.

In Nidhogg, you win by running far enough to the right or left to get to the end screen while the enemy player tries to do the same. The screen cannot scroll more than one way at a time, however, so there is a very dynamic back-and-forth between offense and defense. It's important to note that hitting the end screen is the only win condition -- matches do not have a timer and there is no kill limit. This means that two relatively equal players can have matches last as little as a minute and as long as an hour (or technically more).

So what's the actual gameplay like? Your character is a fencer. Besides stabbing low, mid, and high with you sword, you can jump, roll, climb, wall jump, and dive kick. But there's more than that: you can throw your sword, punch, snap the enemy's neck, disarm your opponent, and sweep their legs. All of this is relevant and accomplished with the analog stick and 2 buttons. The simplicity, supported by the offbeat pixel graphics and hokey sound effects, is beautifully executed.

But the simplicity does not mean the game is easy or random. People with fighting game experience are likely to have a big advantage despite the lack of common fighting game mechanics (combos, blocking, invincibility, meter, etc.). Dueling in Nidhogg is all about precise spacing and rock-paper-scissor style mind games. Holding your sword in a low stance will help you stab opponents that try to roll past you and take care of standing opponents perfectly well. But low stance makes you more open to dive kicks and high stabs and sword throws. Mid stance has a tiny bit more range but generally loses to low rolls and dive kicks. High stance protects well against dive kicks and sword throws but is the most vulnerable to low rolls. Switching quickly between these stances while trying to find an opening in your opponent's defense or bait them into a mistake is exciting and interesting and you get to have these duels repeatedly, with each one lasting as little as 1 second and as much as a minute, until someone wins enough to advance to the final screen.

Can't win duels against your friend? You can simply run past them. Dive kicks and low rolls both offer opportunities to juke your opponent and sometimes even build more screen space than killing them would. And now that they are trying to keep themselves from being juked? Weave in some traditional attacks.

So what are the cons? The biggest one is the maps. I and many others think the only worthwhile map is Castle because it has the least limiting geometry and no janky gimmicks. The other maps are all worth a play or two just to experience them, but being forced to fight on conveyors with no room to jump is a limitation that is simply not interesting, in my opinion. if you love Super Smash maps with aggressive stage hazards you might even prefer these maps but I, and everyone I have played with, really just want to focus on the dueling.

I highly recommend Nidhogg to anyone that has at least 1 friend to play with, especially if you are already a fan of very simple fighting games like Divekick, Starwhal, or Stick Fight.

THATUSERUSER
THATUSERUSER

This game is AMAZING! The combat mechanics are so well crafted. There is issues with online latency, but this game is honestly better played either in person or on the single player campaign anyway. I would recommend the to anyone that appreciates a good 1v1 fighter.

deadlybydsgn
deadlybydsgn

Easily one of the best local multiplayer games I've ever played. It's deceptively approachable in a way that anyone can pick up and enjoy it. It's also a game that caters to the underdog, allowing the chance for comebacks right up until the very last second of a match.

DARQs
DARQs

The quickest way to having a huge falling out with your mate as he sits next to you and pummels you into submission both virtually and spiritually..

sicknantos
sicknantos

Perfect party game. Set up a big tournament, swap controllers, and enjoy everyone getting hyped out of their minds over the pixels stabbing each other again and again.
10/10 game for in-person multiplayer.
Single player is challenging and enjoyable, but nothing beats vs your friend who's in the same room as you.

fox_office
fox_office

get it on sale for sure. It's tons of fun for it's simple controls and is just a generally fun, simple fighting game. I would even recommend getting it for its normal price but sadly no one is online anymore. It's one of those games where if even 2 people were online at any moment I would recommend this for the base price. I think that since it's so simple to play and easy to start up, that most people only ever play this in 20 minute instances, myself included which is probably why no one is in the multiplayer lobby.

Zeppy64
Zeppy64

Two fighters enter.
One dies, has to wait for respawn while the other one moves forward.
I loved playing this during my college years, me and my friends would play, have fun, rage, get some sick kills.
The combat is simple but it has depth, allowing for some really good plays.

Scout044
Scout044

This simple concept is really all you need from a primarily couch co-op game. Crazy, hectic matches, a clear-set goal, and dozens of ways to achieve that goal. Mostly through murder, which is always a plus.

Fropps
Fropps

A delectable morsel. Many many years of riotous fun. The definitive "put this in front of a party" game.

King Toast
King Toast

Great game to play with friends, until one or possible both of you rage.

elkaki123
elkaki123

This is a couch multiplayer kind of game, playing this with a friend will be hilarious and exhilarating, playing this alone will be soulless and boring.

kiddinosaur1122
kiddinosaur1122

You bleed the color of your skin 10/10

RielAngel
RielAngel

Very fast and simple 1v1 fighting game. It was hard to control, but it is a good game to play with friend sometime as the game is cheap during sale (2 packs option is available too)

Snorkel
Snorkel

Beautiful, simple two player fun. Suitable for keyboard and gamepad alike. Steam Remote Play is wonderful for this game.
I love the old school pixel graphics. If you don't then maybe Nidhogg 2 is more to your taste.

Eris
Eris

Better than the second and I hope it gets more updates! This is the best simple but hilarious fighting game. If you haven't bought it yet, buy it!

CedricM
CedricM

Pros: Fun to play with people.
Funny how many deaths there is.

Cons: Gets boring eventually of the same thing.

pigeon
pigeon

Another game I remember from my childhood, playing this at a game expo with my best friend is a core memory for me :) Hectic, fast-paced, no-one-knows-whats-going-on gameplay guarantees tons of fun. 10/10 recommend

UCF
UCF

very og very good but it'd be better if there were mouse keybinds and if every action had its own indevidual keybind

Solt
Solt

Game is really nice for a lot of laughs and surprises. Really suggest you play this with a friend

humpdebump
humpdebump

sumtiem i put the stick in mi fren and wiggle it up and down

FoxTailBlue
FoxTailBlue

Fun game modes to play against friends online or up to 8 players in a local tournament, tug of war style game-play makes for intense comebacks. En Garde!

Lokiare
Lokiare

I watched a man fall to his death

Squid
Squid

A fantastic game to play with friends or on your own. Online matchmaking had my friends and I laughing the whole match. Additionally, the game's style is novel an each stage is appreciably distinct from the last. In terms of mechanics, the game is amusing. Nidhogg is well worth its price.

Seve
Seve

This game is fun as shit when you get the controlls down

Dowden
Dowden

Funny game about long sword people want get eaten by big dragon,
I like how game easy to learn and fun to play with friends.

Joe Kzovah
Joe Kzovah

The game might be simple, but its an absolute blast to play with friends. Group up, ready your controls, and prepare for some extremely entertaining "fencing". Simple enough to learn in about ten seconds. Deep enough to keep the whole squad laughing for weeks of nightly nidhogg. Game's provided me and the boys with so much laughter and hype moments, if you can get some people together, you'll have a great time

wing
wing

A definite must-play for any gamer, Nidhogg is the ultimate test for any PvP player. Jump, run, stab, kick, and spine-rip your opponent in fast paced 1v1 stick figure combat. No debate 9/10 video game.

Pasha
Pasha

Bought on Sale.
Quite Fun.

No one on Mutilplayer / No players on Online
You dont get an achievement for beating the game.

Crow
Crow

How to play Nidhogg:
Step 1: Do a low kick to your friend to make him or her fall down.
Step 2: Rip the heart out of his or her chest.
Step 3: Go to your computer and download the game.
Enjoy! :D
WARNING: DONT TRY TO DO THE HOGLIKE ACHIEVEMENT MY GOD IS SO PAINFUL

Duck
Duck

HOW THE FUCK DO I HAVE 392.5 HOURS ON THIS GAME!? I LITERALLY HAVE NOT PLAYED IT IN YEARS

TcRando
TcRando

i nhatq this game so much it cdoesnt evene suoport ny dfavorute contyroller , gsmecube cotnroller obcv0i`]soly]

Monke
Monke

Fun for about 15 minutes with your friends until you both realize the pro winning strat of just running away

markkaschak
markkaschak

Don't even bother with Nidhogg 2. The original here has a simplicity that makes the game what it is. A flawless local co-op game.

R4in Man
R4in Man

Best game to play against your friends late night on LAN Partys.

100% Fun!!!

Get it on sale!

Dr. Danger!
Dr. Danger!

Needs the split screen pvp tag. Great game!

Obama's Heart
Obama's Heart

i think Daedalus did the soundtrack which is very cool . this game pisses me off

pogchum
pogchum

people do not understand the significance behind nidhogg. truly you need a extremely high IQ to play and understand this game. the way it is portrayed as two men fighting with the same set of moves is truly breathtaking. The way the nidhogg eats you when you win has a very deep meaning, nothing you smoothbrain fortnite players could understand though LOL. my honest review is a 10/10 for this amazing game would buy again.

Yngvarr
Yngvarr

After all these years, it's still so much fun!

Mr. Mesh
Mr. Mesh

Guaranteed way to make my brother angry

Deathstalker
Deathstalker

THE Arcade Fencing Game. Prefer this one to the sequel, but both are a lot of fun!

janer567
janer567

Really fun in the moment party game, combat is satisfying, winning feels great. Play with friends for lots of laughts!

five night freddy #1 player na
five night fre…

Hello everybody my name is Markiplier!

sscat (trading commends)
sscat (trading…

cool game, great to play when you have a friend over

ArmagedonYT
ArmagedonYT

the game is really fun but it feels like its missing something, maybe like that worm i saw that could could of been a boss or you can fight inside of it.

Neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter

I am a fencer and it is a different kind of fencing game so i recommend who loves pixel or arcade graphics. It contains deadly duels,competetive gameplay and fencing!

luckyboycharm
luckyboycharm

Goated 1v1 local co-op antics.

emrld
emrld

At first, I wanted to refund this game. I got earraped when I opened it and it seemed pretty bad. The combat was just... bland? You run at someone and stab, boring game right?

Well, that's wrong. I had a friend over and we tried it out together out of pure boredom. After messing around, we soon learned about the sheer COMPLEXITY and DETAIL in the combat (not rly).
The game is just about running to the enemy's side and getting devoured by a flying snake, because why not. You both have a sword and can jump and stab. Without a sword, you can beat the enemy up and eat them (it makes sense, trust me). Apparently, you can aim your sword 3 ways (it's easier on controller) so that you don't clash with your enemy's sword. If you aim it up, it can catch people who are jumping. Aim it down and it catches people who roll. This leads to a lot of 25/25/25/25, where when attacking, you either:
1: Clash
2: Roll under their sword and get the kill
3: Jump over their sword and get the kill
4: Get caught and die

This added skill surprisingly, since I noticed my friend would roll a lot, so I aimed my sword down, catching his rolls. He switched to jumping and lunging down, countering me in return. I still won everytime so ez

This game is probably not worth $10 but is still fun. Most complex fighting game I have every played 100%

SlashingLegacy
SlashingLegacy

This game is one of the best I have played. It is simple yet so engaging and fun. When playing with other people get ready for the unexpected to happen.

AxelTWC
AxelTWC

I played fencing when I was a child and this game brought me flashbacks to how I lost my tournaments

ThereforeDragons
ThereforeDragons

Best competitive multiplayer Prince of Persia fencing simulator ever.

2 piece no sauce
2 piece no sauce

lmao i run man and win against worm snake 9/10, i have no friends so i cant play game to full potential

TunnelSnakesRule
TunnelSnakesRule

Hard as hell. Filled with rage.

Phoenix
Phoenix

A very simple and very fun game. Definitely worth the money. Compatible with sharing a keyboard, keyboard and controller, or multiple controllers :)

My girlfriend and I love it

SlayerEdition
SlayerEdition

It's an okay game, but it gets repetetive quick. For the price its okay yep.

BigShmoPmo
BigShmoPmo

Shrumbus boinkoolio. Coolio Droolio. Yrumper lunky-doodad!! Rondiddly-doodly-diderdondle. Wow!!!11!!1!

Kitty
Kitty

they be like ding wing dong pow and then i dieadd

Zergy
Zergy

A face paced, sweat enducing, feverpaced deathmatch. Music works incredibly well, and the graphics while mininmalist, paint a graphic, grisly picture of a world.

Nidhogg 2 looks like piss, Ill never buy it

MEGALOMANIAC-XXV
MEGALOMANIAC-XXV

I looked sick as fuck doing a kick flip off a wall, sticking the landing directly into my friend's sword.

Thrash For Satan
Thrash For Satan

A fantastic game. Truly the best there ever was. 5/5

MelloMelon
MelloMelon

Fun, but very boring if nobody wants to play with you, also the maps get very repetetive

ItsCloudxo
ItsCloudxo

If you ever want to feel dumb, play this game. Running into swords is going to make your excessive amounts of chromosomes shine!

Homey
Homey

I can't play it on my mac anymore

yungTylenol420
yungTylenol420

I've always loved Player vs. Friends type games, and Nidhogg is one of the great ones. I love the minimalistic art style and abstract soundtrack. The levels are beautiful and cleverly designed, with Castle offering a "pure" experience, and the others adding in certain environmental factors. The core gameplay is easy to pick up, but there is plenty to learn and good variety in play. I bought it for $10 and I'm more than happy with it for that price. It's on sale for $3.50 right now, and that is a steal.

Nolendo
Nolendo

I am a 20 yo father, probably one of the oldest people playing this game. I am a single father to my Son, who is 10 now. My son got this game for Christmas in 2021 from his uncle, so we installed it on his computer and he started playing. By the end of the week he had 24 hours on this game. This was horrible for me, as it was already hard for me to find ways to spend time with my son, as he is always out with his friends or just watching YouTube. So I decided to make a Steam account and get this game to see if I could maybe play alongside him. I loaded into the game, picked my character and started playing but I was stuck on what you where supposed to do. I asked my Son for help and he hosted a game for me to join. I loved it as it was the best time I had spent with my Son since my wife had died. This game has ever since brought me and my son closer again and now we actually spend time together outside the house together as well. This game reminded me that there's fun to be had in everything, and it has brought both me and my Son many happy memories.

OnePunchMan
OnePunchMan

If you pause the game when the nidhog is about to grab you you can dodge it :D

The Legend of Peter
The Legend of Peter

This game reminds me of being a child - laughing frantically while crawling on the floor.

lukec4thebomb
lukec4thebomb

I had never played a local multiplayer on steam until downloading Nidhogg and I was not disappointed. Great game for when people are over

bertju2004
bertju2004

fun with friends, sadly I dont