Nidhogg

Fast two-player fencing duels where kills let you advance

Messhof · Released Jan 13, 2014

Reviews: Very Positive; 90% of 7,917
Recent reviews: Very Positive; 100% of 19 in 30 days
Playing now: 6; peak 24h 8
Steam Deck: Verified
Last update: 1 year ago; Apr 10, 2025

What is Nidhogg?

A 2D fencing game built around duels in arenas that stretch in both directions. You parry, lunge, throw your sword, or fight unarmed; defeating your opponent lets you advance toward a goal zone before they respawn. You can play single-player or face another player locally or online.

For you if...

+you enjoy local duels with friends
+you like simple controls with room for strategy
+you enjoy fast reversals in one-on-one matches

Not for you if...

−you prefer slow fights over quick duels
−you prefer fighting games built around button combos

What players say

90% of 7,917 reviews are positive · 100% of 19 in the last 30 days

Players praise the simple controls, tactical back-and-forth combat, and local matches with friends. Some say the limited content grows stale; recent reviews also report bugs and lag, while others criticize the online netcode.

Screenshots and trailer

Nidhogg system requirements

As published by the developer.

Minimum

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

OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / 7
Processor: 1.4GHz processor or faster
Graphics: DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Storage: 200 MB available space
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Notes: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller or Direct Input compatible controller