This Viking-themed card game is ideal for quick two-player sessions anywhere.

Odin’s Ravens pits two players against each other in an epic mythological race around the globe. As the legendary corvids Huginn and Muninn, you’ll need to balance your speed with the cunning to sabotage your rival at every opportunity.

In this fast-paced dash back to Odin after a scouting mission on Earth, players will find themselves making risky decisions, pulling off clever tricks, and timing their moves to leave their opponent in the dust. Picture a blend of Heat: Pedal to the Metal and Magical Athlete, set against a stunning Nordic backdrop, all while enjoying a streamlined set of rules that lets you soar toward victory. While it may not offer the deepest strategic gameplay, it’s definitely worth raising a horn of mead to.

Price	$26/£18.99
Ages	10+
Game type	Hand-management
Players	2
Lasts	15-30mins
Complexity	Low
Designers	Thorsten Gimmler
Publisher	Osprey Games
Play if you enjoy	Heat: Pedal to the Metal, Magical Athlete, Ludo

Odin’s Ravens is a thrilling race where speed is key, but your crafty opponent will be manipulating the course, creating shortcuts for themselves or forcing you to take the long way around.

At the start, each player gathers 25 flight cards and eight Loki cards, while a path of 16 land cards (32 spaces) is laid out as the game board—though it won’t stay tidy for long. Initially, there should be no matching consecutive spaces on either side of the track, which will become clear as you learn how to advance your token. One player moves their raven clockwise from the top left to the bottom left, while the other moves counterclockwise from the bottom left to the top left. The first to reach their opponent’s starting position wins… sort of. More on that later.

You’ll draw five cards from your flight or Loki deck in any combination to form your hand, and then take turns playing as many cards as you like. Playing a flight card that matches the next space allows you to move your raven there, while two matching cards can be used to count as one of any other type. It’s reminiscent of how Eurogames like Everdell let you trade two resources for one of another kind. If you encounter several identical spaces in a row, you can skip to the end of that row.

Loki cards are rarer, and once used, they don’t get shuffled back into your draw pile like flight cards do. Each Loki card offers a choice between two powerful, game-altering actions. You might push your raven forward a space or send your opponent’s back; draw, delete, rotate, or swap cards; or even add new land cards to extend the track with a loop that can grow indefinitely. While you can manipulate the board in various ways, you can’t affect any card that has a raven on it.

After playing your cards, your turn ends with a draw of three new cards before passing to the other player. The game loop is straightforward and intuitive, though a few nuances in the rules may leave some gaps.

With stunning artwork from the talented Johan Egerkrans, the game box and cards are filled with vibrant illustrations of landscapes and characters. Players with certain types of colorblindness might find it challenging to distinguish between the purple and red cards, but overall, the game is accessible thanks to clear diagrams and simple rules.

Odin’s Ravens encourages exciting take-that moments that keep you on your toes, wondering how your opponent will disrupt your next move. Whether you choose to unleash your Loki cards early or save them for a chaotic finish, each decision is a satisfying tactical choice with immediate consequences. While it may lack the strategic depth of some top-tier board games, it excels as a quick two-player sprint.

If you enjoy Odin’s Ravens, you might also want to explore Jaipura, another fantastic travel game that’s easy to pick up yet deeply engaging.

However, it’s not without its flaws. The rulebook is a brief leaflet that provides some mythological context about Huginn and Muninn, along with practical diagrams and descriptions of each Loki move, but it misses a few potential scenarios that could lead to confusion. For instance, what happens when a card is removed from a loop, leaving a gap? This has come up at my table, prompting us to create a house rule. Still, this is a minor oversight that doesn’t detract from the fun.

The final moments can feel a bit anticlimactic due to the designer’s efforts to mitigate the first-player advantage. If the first player finishes first, their opponent has until the end of their turn to catch up, and players compare their final hand sizes to determine the winner. I prefer games that balance the first-player advantage earlier to avoid compromising what could be a thrilling finish. However, thematically, it fits well here, as it aligns with Odin’s character of rewarding both speed and tactical restraint.

As a well-balanced game with plenty of replayability, Odin’s Ravens is a strong contender for the best two-player board games. Its simple rules lower the entry barrier, while interesting tactics emerge as you respond and retaliate (or realize you’ve exhausted your options). It’s perfect for casual gamers who enjoy a bit of competition and a love for mythological themes.

While it may not satisfy fans of deeply strategic games like Scythe or Agricola for long, it serves as a delightful distraction for any Vikings pressed for time.

Criteria	Notes	Score
Game mechanics	Just the right level of tactical depth for a game of this length, with great Norse theming to boot, but a little anticlimactic.	4/5
Accessibility	Some cards are a little too similar in color and shapes, making them difficult to distinguish.	4/5
Replayability	Loads of combos give it high replayability, though it has the potential to get samey with few strategies to try.	4/5
Setup and pack-down	Super quick setup and pack down since the board is made of same-size cards, plus it’s mega portable.	5/5
Component quality	Wooden ravens are a nice touch as opposed to plastic pieces, and there’s a lovely finish on the cards.	4/5

✅ You love to play reactively: The fact that you’re not just racing for first place but also actively shifting the dynamics against your opponent means there’s plenty of temptation to act in retaliation. If that’s your jam, you’ll be in for a treat.

✅ You’re looking for a casual, quick game: Odin’s Ravens is easy to set up, learn, and pack away, with just enough tactical depth to keep you engaged for around 30 minutes per session.

❌ You’re after strategic depth: Aside from deciding how aggressively to use your Loki cards, there’s not a lot of overarching strategy in Odin’s Ravens.

❌ Your table is more than two: This is strictly a two-player game, so unless you team up in equal numbers, it’s tough to include more players.

This review was based on a copy purchased by the writer.

Having owned a copy of Odin’s Ravens, the reviewer has played it multiple times over an extended period, allowing for a deeper understanding of its mechanics and providing a more thorough critique.