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Description
In the tile-laying game Castles of Mad King Ludwig, players are tasked with building an amazing, extravagant castle for King Ludwig II of Bavaria...one room at a time. You see, the King loves castles, having built Neuschwanstein (the castle that inspired the Disney theme park castles) and others, but now he's commissioned you to build the biggest, best castle ever — subject, of course, to his ever-changing whims. Each player acts as a building contractor who is adding rooms to the castle he's building while also selling his services to other players.
In the game, each player starts with a simple foyer. One player takes on the role of the Master Builder, and that player sets prices for a set of rooms that can be purchased by the other players, with him getting to pick from the leftovers after the other players have paid him for their rooms. When a room is added to a castle, the player who built it gains castle points based on the size and type of room constructed, as well as bonus points based on the location of the room. When a room is completed, with all entranceways leading to other rooms in the castle, the player receives one of seven special rewards.
After each purchasing round, a new player becomes the Master Builder who sets prices for a new set of rooms. After several rounds, the game ends, then additional points are awarded for achieving bonus goals, having the most popular rooms, and being the most responsive to the King's demands, which change each game. Whoever ends up with the most castle points wins.
Year Published
2014
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 15
This page: 15
Sentiment:
pos 9 ·
mix 4 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–15 of 15
Video 2D2EQ8-P1oA
Drive Thru Review game_review at 0:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12134 · mention_pk 35509
Click to watch at 0:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Flexible expansion modules
- Adds strategic depth
- Increases replayability
- Unique price-setting mechanism
Cons
- Potential for analysis paralysis
- Might be overwhelming for casual players
Thematic elements
- Architectural design and layout
- Castle construction
- Competitive castle building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Price setting — Players set prices for rooms that others can purchase
- tile placement — Players build castle rooms with strategic connections
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- You can really exploit those living rooms that you can get the double bonuses
- Now you really have to pay attention to what everybody's doing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vrhH7F73gZo
Unknown Channel game_review at 0:04 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 11043 · mention_pk 32499
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- rewarding to build your own castle and see it finished
- tactile and cerebral mix appeals to many players
- high replayability due to changing public/secret objectives
- clarity that you are crafting a unique castle aligned with goals
Cons
- pricing phase can be nightmare for new players
- analysis paralysis can occur and be frustrating
- recovery from mistakes can be difficult; wasted actions
Thematic elements
- castle construction to match eccentric whims
- 19th-century Bavaria, Ludwig II era castle-building
- humorous, whimsical throne-room builder theme
Comparison games
- Palace of Mad King burger
- Suburbia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- End-game and stack depletion — game ends when the building stack runs out; players maximize final castle score
- Master Builder / pricing — each turn a player acts as master builder, prices tiles for purchase and manages money until their next turn
- Public and secret objectives — public goal tokens and secret objective cards guide choices and scoring
- Resource management — coins are used to buy tiles, corridors, stairs; some actions grant extra turns or tiles
- Room-based scoring with bonuses — rooms score points individually, with bonuses for blue rooms and completed entryways
- tile placement — place room tiles to build a personal castle, affecting scoring through placement and connections
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a moderately complex game
- the single best thing about this game is that you get to build a castle having your finished construct sitting in front of you at the end of the game was really satisfying
- the pricing phases of nightmare for new players
- it's also quite hard to recover from mistakes
- two very similar games by the same designer
- I recommend suburbia
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _72yevr3XOI
Our Family Games general_discussion at 4:47 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10698 · mention_pk 31596
Click to watch at 4:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great tactile components
- wide variability in castle layouts
- fun, accessible and thematic
Cons
- can run long for some groups
- planning heavy with multiple rooms per game
Thematic elements
- castle construction and royal budget management
- kingdom-building with priced rooms
- humorous, theme-light
Comparison games
- Suburbia
- Sagrada
- Terra Mystica
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- auction / price-setting — competitively price rooms to gain coins and maximize points
- tile placement — players draft room tiles and place them in a personal castle, paying for room prices
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a fight and we're fighting
- analysis paralysis is here to stay
- it's a brain burner
- it's not that heavy there's a lot to do
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2YOEVwKri_o
Chairman of the Board top_10_list at 8:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9850 · mention_pk 29018
Click to watch at 8:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- inventive pricing mechanic creates cash flow tension
- thematic and visually appealing
- high replay value with different castle layouts
Cons
- higher complexity and downtime for new players
- tough to master optimally due to price negotiation
Thematic elements
- castle construction with room-placement and king’s whims
- king's castle-building in a quirky medieval world
- humorous, thematic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- master_builder_auction — A rotating master builder sets tile prices; players buy tiles and pay from their stash.
- tile_placement — Place rooms to create a castle layout that satisfies kingly desires.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game puts you under a bit of pressure by forcing you sometimes to bite off more than you can chew
- this game was very much at the Forefront of these kind of lightweight eurocentric games and it did introduce me to the worker placement mechanism
- it's a timeless evergreen of a design is a simple auction style game as you're bidding for these properties having a very fixed amount of cash
- I love the master builder mechanism here
- the idea of working with my friends to overcome these scenarios was a really cool novel concept to me
- mindblown... the feeling that the initial plays of the resistance Avalon had on me
- this one opened the floodgates in terms of me wanting to explore more intricate game design
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video j_w5rDPfR-0
Starla's Awesome Things top_10_list at 31:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8856 · mention_pk 26130
Click to watch at 31:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- castle construction with a playful royalty motif
- A whimsically themed castle-building world where rooms must be arranged for value
- mechanical/tile-placement driven with a light, thematic vibe
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- in_game_bonuses — bonus cards and incentives that affect scoring
- set_collection — collecting room tiles with different values and synergies
- tile_placement — placing rooms to complete layouts and bonuses
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's a wonderful day to celebrate mothers and what they do for us.
- I'm going to give you a list of games that you can just take to the table and have a good time.
- Survive is so much fun—take a look at it—you will laugh till you cry.
- Cat in the Box hands down. Yes, hands down, cat in the box.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UgtBxaMXd20
Our Family Plays Games top_10_list at 18:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8814 · mention_pk 25996
Click to watch at 18:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong theme and variety of room types
- large player interaction during auctions
Cons
- lasting decisions can be heavy for casual players
Thematic elements
- tile-placement and cost management
- royal castle-building in a whimsical kingdom
- humorous king-centered design
Comparison games
- Carcassonne
- Tile-placement heavy games
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- auction and bidding — spend coins to acquire room tiles with different effects
- tile placement — build a castle by choosing rooms with varying costs and rules
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- board games do a lot they're an asset to your lifestyle
- I love engine building
- Stone Age has a lot of math
- Carcassonne every time there's nothing to do with this
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mba5ZaVbJPo
Our Family Plays Games top_20_list at 13:15
video_pk 8600 · mention_pk 25330
Click to watch at 13:15 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- happy pride month
- diversity inclusion and that's for everybody
- patience is a virtue
- play games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dLMSq446EKM
Watch It Played game_review at 5:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6975 · mention_pk 20648
Click to watch at 5:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Complex setup eliminated digitally
- Easy to click and build castles digitally
- Information display feature shows what tiles do
- Card hover feature displays detailed information
- No need to manage physical tile stacks that fall over
- More playable with digital conveniences
Cons
- Tedious physical setup with many tile types and shuffling
Thematic elements
- Architectural design and room construction
- Medieval castle building for King Ludwig
- Abstract with thematic flavor
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- set collection — Completing rooms of matching types for scoring
- tile placement — Players place castle room tiles to build castles
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- playing board games digitally can actually be better than playing it in real life
- time is precious and I don't have necessarily a ton of time to set up big games
- The fact that you have a live score here honestly makes life so delicioso
- This is the future for me in this game
- you get to decide through your cards what reality is
- there's no way I have a history with that game if not for the app
- That is the only way that I've ever played that game, period
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MzcCWLeghGE
Between Two Castles game_review at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 4050 · mention_pk 11851
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Wide selection of tiles and evocative art that supports thematic immersion
- Excellent storage/packing design that makes setup and teardown efficient
- Hybrid feel that expands on Between Two Cities while borrowing appealing elements from Mad King Ludwig
- Deeper and more complex experience suitable for gamers seeking more depth than Between Two Cities
Cons
- Tile icons and text can be small and hard to read at the table
- Accessibility for new players can be hampered by information density and iconography
Thematic elements
- Room bonuses, royal attendants, monuments, and layout-driven scoring create a thematic sandbox of strategic construction.
- Castle-building in a Bavarian-inspired fantasy kingdom, using two cooperating castle boards per player to construct the best two fortresses.
- Expository, review-forward framing that compares Castles of Mad King Ludwig to Between Two Cities and its Advanced Edition.
Comparison games
- Between Two Cities
- Castles of Mad King Ludwig
- Between Two Cities Advanced Edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Monuments and special tiles — Placing a fifth tile of a type can unlock monument or special bonuses (e.g., fountains or towers) that influence scoring.
- Room-specific bonuses — Three tiles of the same room type unlock bonuses; examples include living rooms granting adjacent-room points and royal attendants providing symbol-based bonuses.
- Scoring based on the lower castle — A player’s score is determined by the higher value among a player’s two castles’ lowest-scoring castles, promoting balance across both castles.
- set collection — Tiles of certain room types grant bonuses when collected in groups, driving strategic placement choices.
- Tile drafting and passing — Set of tiles is presented; players select two and pass the remainder to the left (then right on alternate rounds), then place two tiles.
- tile placement — Players place rooms into two separate castles, one on each side, with the objective of maximizing room synergies and bonuses.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a game for two to seven players
- you will take turns placing rooms and each castle each turn until you run out of rooms to place
- different rooms will give you different bonuses so choosing wisely where you place them will make a big difference to your final score
- you will need to balance your castles and not focus on one too much
- the winner of this game is determined by who has the highest value amongst each players lowest-scoring castles
- Knowing what each room does and how it scores is the key
- the best thing about this game is a wide selection of available tiles and the wonderful art on them. it's all very evocative and detailed
- however this game has a serious issue of how information is presented on tiles
- icons and words are very small
- there are people I know who find this game almost unplayable for that reason
- the added complexity and depth comes at the cost of accessibility to new players
- Obviously the two games to compare and contrast this with are between two cities and castles of Mad King Ludwig
- between two cities Advanced Edition
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VKjV8aY2Yeg
Unknown Channel top_10_list at 6:39 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3604 · mention_pk 10715
Click to watch at 6:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great design space for creativity
- engaging bidding mechanic
Cons
- can be heavy for light players
Thematic elements
- bidding and room-tile customization
- royal castle-building with room tiles
- thematic, humorous
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bidding — auction for room tiles to maximize points
- tile_laying — design and assemble rooms to form a castle
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Carcassonne is one of those beginning games and it's a gateway classic
- number two is Umbra Alhambra plays 2 to 6 players and it was published by Queens games
- Lantern family favorite
- Petropolis number one comes the story
- let's open your mind up and it's a great tile laying game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BduJ9PE35Oc
Foster the Meeple general_discussion at 3:42 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 3416 · mention_pk 10126
Click to watch at 3:42 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Say Anything board game challenge with a board gamey twist
- That is the say anything board game challenge definitely try this at home and let us know
- It's not as easy as people probably think it is
- We cheated maybe we should have draped something over them
- Both said Chronicles of Crime at least four times
- We were talking about the expansions in our heads
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FMjAlu5F1WA
Tabletop Turtle general_discussion at 15:03 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 1816 · mention_pk 5245
Click to watch at 15:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Easy to teach
- Good for introducing newcomers
Cons
- Lacks depth for heavy gamers
- Seen as quieter relative to other euros
Thematic elements
- Castle-building / whimsy
Comparison games
- Suburbia
- Castles of Burgundy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Tile placement / auction — Drafting room tiles to construct a castle with varying costs and scores.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm very bold in my opinions, I hate it but I'm still willing to give it a second and third try because it's better it's an expensive game
- America blue shell is when you brace Mario Kart and then if you're in last place you get rewarded the blue shell
- it's a shared objective, you really pay attention to what other people are doing
- canvas... what a stinker... you're a pile of poops I love that game
- Rise of X added ... I had the Dreadnought portion and it replaced the main board
- I'll take it from me, I think he's French no he's Jamaican
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VegHqKXVo3o
Chairman of the Board top_10_list at 2:36 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 590 · mention_pk 1732
Click to watch at 2:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- beautiful production and satisfying tile placement
- strong thematic veneer with meaningful decisions
Cons
- personal preference shift toward Glenmore Chronicles due to similar mechanics but different feel
- endgame pacing and tile availability can reduce satisfaction for some players
Thematic elements
- castle construction with room-based scoring and secret objectives
- medieval castle-building under a king
- thematic yet light euro
Comparison games
- Glenmore Chronicles
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- planned expansion and layout optimization — balancing room placement for points while managing constraints
- Secret objectives — score based on private objectives that influence your choices
- tile/room placement — draft and place rooms to build a castle with varying scoring implications
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the tile placement itself was meaningful
- the randomized grid of cars with all these different scoring criteria on them
- I still do think highly of this when it still holds my shield of quality
- didn't stay in the collection because it didn't stay played
- the more and more I played it the less satisfaction I got from it
- extremely highly rated
- gateway level game and the gameplay is fun, it's unpredictable, it's wild
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IszlYvzL5TI
Board Games Hitting My Table game_review at 14:42 sentiment: positive
video_pk 111 · mention_pk 275
Click to watch at 14:42 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- classic, solid Euro with recognizable appeal
- architectural planning and scoring depth
Cons
- can feel long or fiddly for some tables
Thematic elements
- bidding and build-out with modular rooms
- castle construction in a monarch’s realm
- clear, familiar Euro feel
Comparison games
- Welcome To
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bidding — players bid for room cards to complete their castle
- tile placement / set collection — place rooms to maximize scoring patterns
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's such a wonderfully implemented tug-of-war game, and I love the way you do not have to focus 100% on the tug-of-war
- the replayability and just the elegance of this brilliant dice-driven Euro
- this is Mandala, the original one here
- it's so quick and it's just a delight to play
- Captain Flip, evergreen family style game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IszlYvzL5TI
Board Games Hitting My Table game_review at 14:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 111 · mention_pk 282
Click to watch at 14:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong thematic integration
- solid, enduring design
Cons
- can be heavy for casual players
Thematic elements
- bidding and layout optimization for scoring
- castle construction and room planning
- classic Euro with a strong theme
Comparison games
- Welcome To
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bidding and tile drafting — bid for rooms and place them to optimize scoring
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's such a wonderfully implemented tug-of-war game, and I love the way you do not have to focus 100% on the tug-of-war
- the replayability and just the elegance of this brilliant dice-driven Euro
- this is Mandala, the original one here
- it's so quick and it's just a delight to play
- Captain Flip, evergreen family style game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–15 of 15