The Viking Age was vast and far-reaching. These imposing explorers made it to several places in their time. Whether they were raiding, conquering, or simply settling, they left a huge footprint on the entire western world. As colossal as Assassin's Creed Valhalla was, the game just couldn't encompass all of it.
Developer Ubisoft Montreal has slowly tried to amend that with DLC. The Wrath of the Druids and Siege of Paris expansions have shown the impact that the Vikings had outside of the game's main narrative. That said, history still leaves room for more in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Plenty of other events in the Northmen's sagas are ripe for adaptation. In fact, a number of these have the dramatic heft and cinematic action to carry a whole game in themselves.
10 Lindisfarne Raid
This is what started it all. When a mysterious group of hairy warriors came from the sea and attacked a monastery in northern England, it sent a message to the European world. They were dealing with a terrifying new enemy, and they'd have to plan accordingly for the next strike.
The raid on Lindisfarne wasn't the grandest or even the bloodiest Viking skirmish, but few events in the Northmen's history have this level of impact. It set the standard for their attacks and established much of what people know these warriors for. Playing a role in that foundation would shed new light on many systems that Valhalla already has in place.
9 The Battle Of Stamford Bridge
If players experience the beginning of the Viking age, then it's only fitting they see the end. What got the ball rolling was the Battle of Stamford Bridge. In this northern skirmish, the English army under King Harold Godwinson repelled the invading Norsemen led by King Harald Hardrada.
The battlefield here provides a different flavor than traditional skirmishes or sieges. Units would be limited in their movement as they desperately fight for control of the bridge, which gives the Assassin player a unique advantage with his/her traversal abilities. Plus, the whole episode would segue seamlessly into the next DLC.
8 The Battle Of Hastings
This battle took place just three weeks after the last one. King Godwinson rushed his depleted forces south to fend off another attack, this time by the Normans. William the Conqueror led this force and emerged victorious, killing Harold and beginning the larger Norman conquest of England.
Not only would the Battle of Hastings work as a sequel to the Stamford Bridge DLC, but it also ties into another. William the Conqueror is descended from Rollo, the Viking granted land and title in France after the Siege of Paris. This connection would make the whole saga feel more complete.
7 The Discovery Of America
Many credit Christopher Columbus for discovering the New World. While he deserves praise for chronicling the route and opening the doors for further colonization, the Vikings may have beat him to the punch. The sagas mention explorer Leif Erikson settling in a place called Vinland.
Historians believe this was actually North America. Most of Valhalla deals with the Northmen fighting for land that's already known to all of Europe. Journeying to a whole new place is a whole new ball game, and it could lead to expansions for the village and social mechanics. Not only could players decide how best to build a settlement, but they'd also determine the first contact with the native people. Just keep any ham-fisted references to Connor (or anything in Assassin's Creed 3) out of the experience. The less said about him, the better.
6 The Great Heathen Army's Arrival
By time Eivor arrives in England, the sons of Ragnar are already an established presence. Players turn into glorified errand boys for Ivar, Halfdan, and Ubbe, who don't seem to do anything for themselves. This is a far cry from how they started.
When Ragnar Lothbrok was captured and executed by King Aelle of Northumbria, the fabled Viking's sons gathered a massive force of Scandinavian armies and launched a devastating invasion of England. They'd raided here before, but this attack was so large in scope that they could occupy huge parts of the country, fundamentally changing the status quo. Joining in such an event would put any of the base game's raids and sieges to shame due to both the scale and the thrill of laying such tremendous groundwork.
5 The Battle of Edington
Contrary to what Valhalla shows, Alfred's story doesn't end with him as a nobody in the swamp. He instead uses this opportunity to quietly rally his disparate forces into a unified army. Afterward, he defeated the Northmen so decisively that they never regained dominance. This paved the way for Alfred's own kingdom to expand and fortify itself against further incursions, cementing his place in history as Alfred the Great.
Players spend the entire game on the offensive, steadily conquering more territories in the same manner. They complete smaller tasks before the inevitable siege; it all gets very repetitive. Portraying the Battle of Edington would drastically flip the script and add much more novelty to the conflict in the process.
4 Charlemagne's Safety Measures
Another precursor to the Siege of Paris, Charlemagne's scuffles with the Northmen played out very differently. Rather than risk losing his city (like his grandson did), the French king preemptively set up coastal defenses to spot and undermine potential invaders long before they reached him. This demonstrated an admirable foresight on his part.
Players could possibly aid in designing and placing these coastal structures. This might make for a more refined version of the Tower Defense minigame from Assassin's Creed: Revelations. More to the point, it'd add yet another historical figure to the series' growing roster.
3 Expansion Into Russia
It should come as little surprise that many Russians are descended from Vikings. The same goes for several European countries. Though a number of Slavic tribes were already settled in Russia, the Scandinavian travelers and traders established resource routes and wound up ruling over cities like Kiev.
Not only would a Russia-based DLC grant some aesthetic variety--providing a mix of the familiar equipment and the more specialized Russian clothing it evolved into--but it could also create a refreshing change of pace with gameplay. Would-be conquerors must make the land their own through economics instead of brute force.
2 Settling In Greenland
False advertising isn't just a problem in the gaming industry. When Erik the Red was sent into exile, he came to this land and wandered its shores for three years. He then returned with enticing tales of a land rich with fertile ground and endless potential, dubbing it "Greenland" to attract settlers. Sadly, the harsh climate and lack of backing from other Scandinavian settlements led to its eventual abandonment.
On the upside, those conditions might pave the way for some engaging survival mechanics. In addition, the settlement system would be similar to the American DLC, albeit with far more difficult terrain and a greater level of challenge as a result. Despite its title, Greenland would be a great excursion for players of extreme difficulty settings.
1 Establishing The Varangian Guard
The Vikings may have been explorers, raiders, and farmers, but they weren't above a little merc work. Emperor Basil II sought to expand his Byzantine dominion, and he called on his ally--Vladimir I of Kiev--for aid in this venture. The Russian ruler sent an army of Rus Vikings in response. Basil was so impressed by these fearsome fighters that he made them his personal guards.
The climate and look of the Byzantine Empire would be different enough from the other Viking ventures, but these guys forged a lucrative living and a longstanding international tradition without the usual pillaging. This would once again change up the gameplay enough for variety's sake while maintaining the core systems. Players would still accumulate vast riches; they'd simply use their combat and traversal skills for a different purpose. Just don't go overboard with escort missions.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla was released on November 10, 2020, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia, and Amazon Luna.