Vendel to Viking is the first board game to be launched in the partnership between World Book and Ion Game Design. For more than 100 years, World Book has been the world's premier reference source, and stands for trust and expansive knowledge covering almost every subject imaginable.

Designed by ION's lead game designer Jon Manker, Vendel to Viking is the stand alone prequel to Pax Viking that endeavors to immerse players in the 250 year Vendel period of Nordic culture prior to the Viking era (550 to 800 CE). Each turn represents an entire generation as your family competes against others to collect the strength you need to emerge as one of the leading families during the Viking era.

Vendel to Viking and Pax Viking can be played as a campaign. The end state of Vendel to Viking will interface with the starting state of a game of Pax Viking. Because of this, Vendel to Viking contains a few new Pax Viking components. These can also be used in Pax Viking regardless of if it is played as a part of a campaign.