How many volumes of Vinland Saga manga are there?

When someone first asks me how many volumes of Vinland Saga are out, I can’t help but smile a little. Because the truth is, if you’ve even dipped your toes into this series, you’ll know the number isn’t really what keeps you hooked; it’s how deep you’re willing to go into one of the most ambitious and emotionally heavy journeys in manga history. Still, let’s get the straight answer out of the way first: as of now, Vinland Saga has 29 tankōbon volumes published in Japan, and the story is still ongoing. That number alone might not sound unusual compared to other long-running manga, but trust me, every single volume carries a weight that makes you feel like you’ve lived through a lifetime with the characters.

I still remember picking up the first volume, not really knowing what I was getting into. At first glance, Vinland Saga looked like “just another Viking story” with swords, ships, warriors, and blood. And yeah, it has all of that, but it doesn’t take long before you realize Makoto Yukimura isn’t just writing about battles. He’s writing about the entire spectrum of human experience: hate, love, revenge, freedom, and the eternal struggle between violence and peace. That’s why when someone asks, “How many volumes are there?” it’s not just a trivia question, it’s a reminder that this series is still unfolding, and each new book is another step on Thorfinn’s path.

The publication history itself is kind of interesting. Vinland Saga started serialization way back in 2005 in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine, but after a year, it shifted to Monthly Afternoon, which fits it better because the pacing is slower and more deliberate. This is not a “blast through 200 chapters in a weekend” type of manga. Every chapter feels crafted, like Yukimura is sitting down with a map and a philosophy book before putting pen to paper. That’s probably why 29 volumes have stretched across two decades, and why readers like me still feel grateful every time a new one drops.

Now, for readers outside Japan, there’s the question of availability. Kodansha USA has been steadily releasing the English editions, which are collected into these really nice hardcover omnibuses, each one combining two of the Japanese volumes. So if you’re collecting in English, you won’t see “Volume 29” on your shelf yet, but you’ll see around half that number in big chunky books. They’re gorgeous, by the way, easily some of the nicest manga editions on the market. I remember unwrapping my first Vinland Saga hardcover and thinking, “Wow, this looks like it belongs on the same shelf as classic literature.” Which, honestly, is kind of fitting.

Of course, a lot of fans (myself included) also read it digitally, because waiting for the physical releases can be a test of patience. And if you want to keep up with the latest developments without relying on scanlations, checking out official sources like Vinland Saga is a great way to stay connected with the story. The thing about this series is that it’s not just entertainment—it’s one of those rare manga that really makes you think about what it means to live a good life, and that’s worth supporting through official channels.

What’s fascinating to me is how the number of volumes almost mirrors the arcs of Thorfinn’s life. Early volumes are drenched in violence and revenge—he’s this angry kid fueled by hate, charging through battlefields like nothing else matters. But as you keep going, the story shifts. By the time you’re midway through the series, the tone has changed so much it almost feels like a different manga. Suddenly, it’s not about killing, it’s about finding a way to live without killing. That’s part of why people call Vinland Saga a masterpiece; it evolves, it grows up alongside its readers. And each volume reflects that growth.

Some fans like to compare volume counts to other big manga like, “Oh, Attack on Titan wrapped up in 34 volumes,” or “Berserk has 41 volumes and counting.” Vinland Saga sits somewhere in the middle, but the difference is that Yukimura has a clear vision of where he’s taking the story. In interviews, he’s said he divided the manga into four main arcs: the War Arc, the Slave Arc, the Eastern Expedition Arc, and the final Vinland Arc. Right now, we’re deep in that last arc, which means the end is on the horizon, but it’s not quite here yet. So 29 volumes isn’t the final number; you can bet there will be at least a few more before Thorfinn’s journey is truly complete.

And honestly, that’s both exciting and bittersweet. On one hand, I can’t wait to see how Yukimura chooses to end it all, will Thorfinn actually reach Vinland, that dream of a peaceful land across the ocean? On the other hand, I don’t know if I’m ready to say goodbye to these characters. Every volume release feels like meeting old friends again, even if they’re carrying heavier burdens each time.

So to circle back to the original question: yes, there are 29 volumes of Vinland Saga right now. But the real answer is that there are 29 windows into a story that’s still unfolding, and each one is worth experiencing slowly, with attention, not just plowing through for the sake of completion. This isn’t a manga you rush. It’s one you live with.

If you haven’t started collecting yet, my advice is this: pick up the first omnibus in English, or grab the first few digital volumes. Don’t worry too much about how many there are; you’ll catch up before you know it. And when you do, you’ll find yourself joining the rest of us, waiting, volume by volume, year by year, for Yukimura to guide Thorfinn to the end of his journey. It’s a long road, but like the Vikings themselves, part of the adventure is in the waiting, the traveling, and the not knowing exactly what’s around the corner.

So yeah, technically, the answer is “29 volumes.” But really, the answer is: enough to change the way you think about life, war, and peace—and not nearly enough, because no matter how many we get, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for the day Vinland Saga finally ends.