Runes Activity Books
Welcome to the World of Runes
The mission of this series is to take runic alphabets off of museum walls and put them into your hands. While most people simply look at runes as mysterious symbols, these activity books invite you to speak and write them.
By translating familiar English phrases, modern slang, and ancient Nordic proverbs into runic scripts, you will move beyond memorization to a deep, phonetic understanding of how the Northmen actually communicated.
Whether you are a student of history, a puzzle enthusiast, or a tabletop gamer, these workbooks turn learning into an immersive experience. You won't just study history—you will write and enjoy it.
About runes activity books
Collapsible content
What kinds of runes do we write
This series offers the two most iconic runic scripts: Elder Futhark and Younger Futhark.
Elder Futhark: The Ancient Foundation
The Elder Futhark is the oldest runic system, used from roughly 150 to 800 CE. It consists of 24 runes and serves as the ancestral root for many Germanic languages. This script was used by ancient tribes long before the Viking Age began, appearing on everything from jewelry and weapons to early memorial stones.
Younger Futhark: The Script of the Vikings
As the Viking Age dawned (approx. 750–1100 CE), the script evolved into the Younger Futhark. Despite the language becoming more complex, the alphabet was streamlined down to just 16 runes. This is the authentic script of the Viking warriors, explorers, and poets—the very runes you see carved on the famous runestones scattered across Scandinavia today.
How to practice rune writing
1. The Power of Parallel Lines
Before you begin, always draw two parallel horizontal lines. Ancient Viking stone-carvers used these "guiding bands" to ensure their runes remained neat, clear, and uniform in height. In our activity books, these lines are already provided for you, giving your writing an authentic, structured look.
2. The Stem-First Rule
Runic characters are built around a central structure.
- The Main Stem: Always draw the vertical line (the "stave" or "stem") of the rune first.
- The Branches: Once the stem is in place, add the diagonal "branches" or "twigs." This traditional sequence ensures your runes are balanced and legible.
3. Word Spacing and Punctuation
The Vikings did not use empty spaces between words as we do today. To separate your thoughts and make your sentences readable, use a dot (·) or a cross (+) between each word. This adds a beautiful, ancient aesthetic to your practice.
How to play the rune game
Solo Mode: Runic Minesweeper
Your goal is to find all the Imposters without making a single mistake.
- Decode each word phonetically.
- If the sound is an English word, it is "Safe."
- If the sound is not English, it is an "Imposter." Circle it!
Duo Mode: The Skald’s Duel
Compete against a friend to see who is the true Runemaster.
- Take turns picking a word from the list.
- Correct Guess: If you correctly identify an Imposter or a Safe word, you get 1 Point.
- Wrong Guess: If you are wrong, you lose 1 Point.
- The player with the most points at the end of the list wins the hoard!
- Check the answer and calculate points after completing all runes.
Language version of Runes Activity Books
We offer Rune Activity Book series in English. However,the content differs between Viking Age and Before Viking.
