Publisher: Renegade Game Studios
Release Date (US): April 2017
Price: $30.00
Game Designer(s): David Wilkinson (game); Anita Osburn (graphics)
Format: Board Game
Number of Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Age Rating: 8+
ICv2 Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5
The only real weakness of this game is that it has somewhat limited appeal to experienced gamers. As a game for a family to play together, with kids and adults at the same table, it has several advantages.
The basic concept is that in the main version of the game, each player is trying to create a castle out of crazy bits and pieces. Unlike the more difficult Castles of Mad King Ludwig, everything here is light and simplistic. That makes it easier for younger players or beginners, but works against it for more advanced players. For example, if no one makes any serious mistakes, the scoring of the game will be very close, to the point where the winner can be determined by the luck of the piece draw. Near the end of the game, your options are sometimes limited, and these final few turns can determine the winner.
For players who don’t mind a bit of luck of this kind, the game is fun and plays quickly. There isn’t much of a learning curve. Matching like to like along the edges of castle pieces is pretty much it. The rules about overhang and what can touch the ground are all based on common sense and simple graphics, so you can always see what works. In addition, because you can move pieces around as you add others, building the castle is very easy in most cases.
The artwork is delightful, and the pieces visually distinct enough to be easily recognized across a table. Players don’t have to read text on the pieces or fine print in general… it’s all about drawing a piece and adding it to your castle, following a few simple rules about placement.
There’s a solitaire variant which is so much more difficult that the designer says in the rules that even he can’t achieve a complete win. To me, that seems to be a bit discouraging.
--Nick Smith: Librarian Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.
