Hnefatafl is an ancient board game that originated in Scandinavia, played by the Vikings and other cultures. It features a square board with a central king piece and two opposing sides of attackers and defenders. The objective for the attackers is to capture the king, while the defenders aim to help the king escape to the corners of the board. The game is known for its unique movement rules, where pieces can only move horizontally or vertically, and captures occur by surrounding an opponent's piece. Hnefatafl has various regional versions, each with different board sizes and rules, reflecting its rich historical significance.