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Castles of Mad King Ludwig box art

Castles of Mad King Ludwig

Game ID: GID0061647
Game Info
Year
2014
Players
1-4
Age
13+
Playtime
90 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Expansions & Family
Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
How this game feels to play
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.

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.

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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 91
This page: 50
Sentiment: pos 33 · mix 6 · neu 5 · neg 0
Mentions per page
Showing 1–50 of 91
Video 9MeuRnuyC1s Watch It Played Rules Teach at 5:24
video_pk 92532 · mention_pk 248688
Watch It Played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 5:24 · 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)
  • I don't know what Rodney was doing but it was a mistake I should have rolled three dice
  • I'm gonna move my heavy Recon Grand here so they can hit the hammer
  • The real challenge in this decision was whether or not the heavy Recon grandiers should go after the Hammers or after the tank Busters
  • The nice thing about that is even if we removed one of the hits that I rolled it doesn't change the outcome from the combat
  • I'm gonna move and attack with Ludwig
  • The main objective here is to try to put some suppression token on these units because they're behind hard cover
  • The only problem is they still have a reaction and a suppression token so they can't actually do anything during this unit phase
  • Now the trick here is at the beginning of Luke's unit phase there wasn't any reaction tokens or suppression tokens on these tank Busters so if he had tried to move the zombies in at the beginning I would have been able to do an attack reaction
  • Well I am in quite a pickle as they say in the military
  • I doubt they say that
  • I'm gonna give an order to my last remaining Hammer model here and rather than go run and hide which I certainly considered I'm gonna jump him behind this crate hopefully be able to keep him in hard cover from those heavy Recon grenadiers
  • Well it's Luke's unit phase once again you know what that means we have to end the episode here and turn things over to you guys
  • I don't know what to take away from that unit phase I mean yeah you definitely accomplished what you set out to do
  • I am closing the Gap a little bit here there's a chance yet for me a small chance but honestly I still have a couple of units that are you know on the brink here
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video P2nMmZhQ9EY Watch It Played Analysis at 1:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91993 · mention_pk 246934
Watch It Played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Thematic appropriateness to the location
  • Visual similarity to real-world inspirations
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Building castles inspired by King Ludwig II
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • castle building — The game involves building castles, as stated by the host wanting to replicate what is seen inside the real castles while playing the game.
  • tile laying — Implied by the act of 'building castles' and placing elements within them.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • this is the one that inspired Sleeping Beauty's castle and in Disneyland
  • it played out exactly like like a vogner opera so it seems it's it's kind of sad to joke about but it seems like a fitting oddly profit in the way
  • so with that that going back to the intellectual property with this castle being the property of the Bavarian council s already
  • I've noticed that you do very well I don't do very well is explaining the rules
  • Tomorrow is is another kind of big day we'll be on the road a lot tomorrow but tomorrow is kind of a special day because we'll be visiting Ludo fact right outside of Augsburg
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9g3Y3g_G--M 3 Minute Board Games Other at 44:45 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 91765 · mention_pk 246344
3 Minute Board Games - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 44:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Mixed
Pros
  • Rewarding experience of building a unique castle
  • Mix of tactile and cerebral gameplay
  • Satisfying final product
  • Variable objectives add replayability and strategic depth
Cons
  • Pricing phase can be a nightmare for new players
  • Potential for analysis paralysis
  • Difficult to recover from mistakes
  • Bad rounds as Master Builder can lead to wasted actions
Thematic elements
  • Castle Construction for an eccentric king
  • Bavaria, 1873
Comparison games
  • Suburbia
  • Palace of Mad King Ludwig
  • Suburbia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Action Point Allowance — players can choose not to take a room and to gain five coins
  • bidding — they have to decide what to price each tile
  • Objective Fulfillment — The objectives for each game change and they really impact on your decision making
  • Set Collection — Many ways to score points are improved if you have multiples of the same type
  • Tile Placement — Each room in the castle is a different tile and how you place them makes a big difference to your score
  • Worker Placement — Each turn a different player will be the master builder
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ysgnnBGrJUY Getting Games Discussion at 0:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91737 · mention_pk 246231
Getting Games - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Solid mechanics adapted from Between Two Cities
  • Explosive turns of scoring
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Between two cities
  • Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • there's big explosive turns of combo tastic scoring going on in between two castles of Mad King Ludwig
  • Tetris II polyomino type things are fun
  • I quite enjoyed Vindication
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video tp2jAxu-IB0 3 Minute Board Games Top List at 29:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91347 · mention_pk 245088
3 Minute Board Games - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 29:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
  • Fun to build wacky castles
  • Multiple ways to score points
  • Lots of avenues to victory
  • Really enjoyable game
Cons
  • Auction system can be slow or overwhelming for experienced players
Thematic elements
  • Building peculiar castles for a mad king
  • Palace construction
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Auction — An auction and tile laying game.
  • Set Collection (implied) — Maximizing the points you get from those is a lot of fun.
  • tile laying — An auction and tile laying game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7927hwgS3V0 The Mill Playthrough at 0:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91307 · mention_pk 244873
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Visual flair and presentation; the castle sprawl grows in the background as you build.
  • Overall enjoyment of the time spent with the game.
  • Visible feedback and bonus card indicators at the castle level.
  • Plans for online play and hot-seat features indicate future improvements.
Cons
  • Hot-seat/online multiplayer not yet implemented at the time of the video.
  • Tutorial text bubbles can be difficult to read or may not fit well in the UI.
  • A desire for more transparency about opponent/AI choices and collaboration.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • color-based scoring — Points are awarded per tile type and color (e.g., two points per orange tile or blue tile).
  • Cooperative AI interaction — You and an AI partner must agree on a tile placement; if you disagree, the game can randomly assign a tile.
  • Game modes and online features — Local play is available; online play is listed as planned; hot seat is not implemented yet.
  • King's constraints — The Mad King imposes requirements, e.g., wanting purple tiles and hallways (corridors).
  • Tile bonuses and combos — Three of a certain building type can yield a tile bonus.
  • tile placement and drafting — Tiles are selected from a throne room area and placed into two castles; players manage orange and purple color tiles and place rooms such as throne room, sleeping chambers, nursery, dressing room, kitchen, etc.
  • UI and bonus cards — Bonus cards are tracked for each castle and a tab view can reveal details about tiles and decisions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • look at the final state of our castles look at that sprawl in the background that's such a nice looking castle
  • I really like that there's this feedback down here at the bottom
  • I am very, very happy with Between Two Castles
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qj5LYYFy4qM The Mill Discussion at 28:15
video_pk 91271 · mention_pk 244740
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 28:15 · 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)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3OYxk4G23lo The Mill Discussion at 0:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91123 · mention_pk 244264
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • free digital version on Steam
  • great port
  • patch addressed feedback
Cons
  • initial concerns about tile placement order
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Tile Placement — tile placement to build castles; order of tiles and who places first is discussed in relation to AI
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's a great port
  • they did a patch and incorporated some of that feedback
  • it's infinitely scrollable
  • you can play this by myself and get a score and compete against myself
  • this particular one is tapestry wingspan and viticulture
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video bzjCUC8oVUc The Mill Discussion at 6:10 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 91053 · mention_pk 244012
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 6:10 · 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)
  • let's play scythe
  • you have permission to assume that everything i do is wrong or mistaken
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 806pKcgIqpI The Mill Discussion at 2:58
video_pk 90748 · mention_pk 242827
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:58 · 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)
  • i'm excited to see another title in development from stonemaier
  • i love getting it to the table
  • play at how you have fun doing it at your table
  • drop me some comments let me know what you think about code name dive
  • i am enjoying the heck out of it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dyi6OBy828U 3 Minute Board Games Top List at 17:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90797 · mention_pk 243004
3 Minute Board Games - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 17:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Supremely satisfying castle building.
  • Visually appealing.
  • Recommended for mid-weight Euro fans.
Cons
  • Auction system slows the game down too much.
Thematic elements
  • Castle Building
  • Medieval
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Auction — the auction system
  • Set Collection
  • tile drafting — this tile drafting castle building game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Sb_e-aA0dQE Watch It Played Analysis at 1:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90711 · mention_pk 242622
Watch It Played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Collector's edition with new art
  • Collector's edition with premium components
  • Collector's edition includes two new expansions
  • Collector's edition includes game trays
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)
  • it wouldn't be another day on planet earth without a massive board game kickstarter
  • competition seems to be a good thing and game fans seem to be providing some of that in the crowdfunding world
  • i have a love-hate relationship with peaky blinders
  • it's a divisive topic
  • like it or loathe it which seem to be the only two options when it comes to talking about cyberpunk
  • it's essentially picky blinders your cybernetic implants have been giving me jib me yet killing me why dario come down the cup with me me mon again upon your banks is daniel was in i'm not gonna lie my autoq just did not know how to process what i just said
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MlQghHcP-SE The Mill Discussion at 0:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90572 · mention_pk 242159
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
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)
  • it's fantastic progress don't get me wrong but hey the weight is going to make the next expansion that much sweeter
  • no expansion requires any other expansion
  • it felt like a real collaboration
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Ab807Q4A_HQ The Mill Discussion at 3:54 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 90556 · mention_pk 242093
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:54 · 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)
  • Red Rising has started to arrive at people's house
  • Elizabeth Grave is going to be playing Wingspan with some WWE wrestlers
  • it's one of those things that just made me smile this week and it was stoneware
  • Rolling realms is meant to be played
  • shuffle these cards and then deal them out and that's how you're going to decide which realms you're going to be playing in
  • between two castles expansion in april but pushed back to may
  • fantasy realms or if you haven't you didn't know that wiz kids actually has a scoring app
  • please think of the asian american and pacific islanders after the tragedy that was those eight killed in atlanta
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vrxPi0wZSkk The Mill Discussion at 0:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90407 · mention_pk 241565
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Expansion mentioned and pre-ordered
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)
  • Wingspan digital is coming to ios and ipad devices on July 20th
  • cross platform so you can be an xbox gamer play with your steam buddies and play with your nintendo switch friends
  • viticulture on bga looking very good
  • there's been another title that um i think was announced even before that and that was tapestry on bga
  • between two castles the mad king ludwig which i got on the shelf behind me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2dwW2kwfMcY The Mill Discussion at 9:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90329 · mention_pk 241212
The Mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 9:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • adds solo mode
  • adds two-player mode
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • solo mode — Solo mode introduced by the expansion
  • Two-player mode — Two-player mode introduced by the expansion
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ssLWRiKwvpU Allies or Enemies Top 14 List at 31:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89101 · mention_pk 236154
Allies or Enemies - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 31:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • phenomenal two-player experience
  • dynamic drafting and tile interaction create interesting decisions
Cons
  • some players finish earlier, leading to waiting for the other player
  • asymmetry can feel harsh if not balanced by good drafting
Thematic elements
  • castle-building and drafting
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • tile-based scoring by room types — rooms score based on color and type; the color dictates scoring interactions
  • two-player drafting / drafting for both castles — each player drafts tiles for two castles (one for themselves, one for the opponent)
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's a real time game, so the pace is fast but the tension comes from timers
  • the art in the new Libertalia is excellent
  • Wingspan is an ambassador of modern board games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8xYJJj8Xlks Watch It Played Announcement News at 0:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89026 · mention_pk 235808
Watch It Played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Engaging floor-plan drafting with royal flavor
  • Standalone flip-and-sketch design; accessible
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • architectural planning / blueprints
  • a king's court focused on castle-building
  • standalone flip-and-sketch re-implementation emphasizing floor plans and kingly favor
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card Drafting — selecting cards to add to the floor plan
  • Compound Scoring — pursuing public goals for points
  • layout/room connection — connecting rooms to gain points and bonuses
  • public goals / scoring — pursuing public goals for points
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Tales of Arthurian Nights by wizkids which is the re-implementation of the classic Tales of Arabian Nights from z-man games meaning that the title is a pun which I personally respect
  • the deck contains 40 cards in four suits numbered one to ten with some cards depicting either Batman or Bruce Wayne
  • it's a deep sea City new Eden is being built with the main Dome standing on a white smoker
  • the balance between progress and destruction we are told that only those who keep an eye on the balance between progress and destruction can collect points in the final scoring
  • you'll do this by drawing Mission cards then discussing your plan of action
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hQJErV7fTOM kovray Top 10 List at 37:48 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88272 · mention_pk 232398
kovray - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 37:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Approaches polyominoes in a strange and interesting way with non-standard shapes.
  • Creates a level playing field due to spatial challenges.
  • Satisfying when pieces fit correctly.
Cons
  • Can be difficult to figure out tile placements.
  • Not ideal for players with spatial reasoning or vision issues if they prefer clear advantages.
Thematic elements
  • building a whimsical castle
  • castle building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • open information — All game information is visible to all players.
  • spatial reasoning — Players must figure out how to fit oddly shaped tiles into their building spaces.
  • Tile Placement — Players place polyomino tiles with unusual shapes like circles and ovals onto their board.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • There's something so satisfying about fitting the pieces in together and filling in this space
  • It feels like Tetris but a board game but it's Unique
  • that's half the fun of you know castles of mading lug is I think it'll fit there does it oh it doesn't oh you know that kind of thing
  • it is a dry dark black Euro
  • easy to learn and hard to master
  • It just has the basic Tetris like pie love
  • I just love the Wild West theme in general
  • there's just so many things to do here
  • Patchwork can be a really Cutthroat game of trying to deny the other player the pieces they need while also trying to get the pieces that you need
  • it is actually kind of fun to debate where things in your vacation took place
  • it's a rare polyomino game that has a theme and the theme actually works
  • that game is going to be miabi it is a polyomino game where you are drafting polyomino tiles and creating your own zen garden
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video axvL6V4C0CU Tabletop Tolson Discussion at 32:50 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 88206 · mention_pk 232049
Tabletop Tolson - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 32:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Innovative use of blueprints to shape construction
  • Engaging for fans of Mad King Ludwig family of games
Cons
  • First play reportedly not as enjoyable as hoped; setup and markers affected experience
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Drafting with marker constraints — Dry erase elements or alternatives guide drafting and scoring.
  • Modular architecture planning — Players draft blueprints and build a castle with varied room types.
  • Modular Board — Players draft blueprints and build a castle with varied room types.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Puzzle hunt it is just a lovely 2hour puzzling exercise with a team of four
  • I had a fantastic time at working geekon 2023 and I can't wait for next year's
  • I walked away with this game
  • I can't wait to tell you more about this
  • Puzzle hunt and puzzling with the aha moment is really where it's at
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9NcJCvUliUY Watch It Played Discussion at 5:07 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 88006 · mention_pk 230853
Watch It Played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 5:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • building/architecture
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • 200 games in one go
  • The Shelf of Shame
  • these games aren't going anywhere
  • I'm killing two birds with one stone
  • The joy of a legacy game is that you can all pitch in together and buy it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video zQP5gaa7usc Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Top 10 List at 8:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86009 · mention_pk 221712
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 8:46 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • cool castle-building theme with tangible room bonuses
  • enjoyable tactile element (vellum tracing and drawing) for a unique feel
  • engaging, strategic decisions
Cons
  • some players may find scoring slightly complex
  • theme is abstracted from base game; fans may want more narrative
Thematic elements
  • castle construction with thematic room bonuses
  • fantasy castle-building with rooms
  • abstract/strategic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • End Game Bonuses — rooms provide bonuses; color-coded bonuses and scoring cards influence end scoring.
  • end-game bonuses / scoring cards — rooms provide bonuses; color-coded bonuses and scoring cards influence end scoring.
  • room drafting — players select rooms to draft into their castle layout.
  • Tile Placement — rooms must connect and satisfy placement constraints; bonuses are earned for certain features.
  • tile/room placement with constraints — rooms must connect and satisfy placement constraints; bonuses are earned for certain features.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • this is supposed to be a real time game which means you have to be rolling your dice fast and thinking quick
  • we've taken the real-time aspect out of it but kept some of the things in it
  • the turn-based I find it a lot more enjoyable
  • I think this is a really good version of Isle of Cats
  • the OG of rolling rights and that would be Yatsi
  • I have some great childhood memories when I used to go and stay at my grandma we would play yatsi all the time
  • the theme is so cool
  • Patchwork doodle more than Patchwork
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IwPR4_dGLOY Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Top 10 List at 4:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85910 · mention_pk 221045
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 4:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • great puzzle of fitting rooms to maximize scoring opportunities
  • fun token and bonus ecosystem (King's favors, bonuses, and contracts)
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • castle construction and kingly preferences
  • fantasy monarchy / castle-building
  • puzzle-driven drafting and room-building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • drafting / pool selection — draft cards from a pool to build rooms and sections of a castle.
  • Set Collection — collect rooms with various shapes and features to complete contracts and score points.
  • set collection / room-building — collect rooms with various shapes and features to complete contracts and score points.
  • tiles/room completion bonuses — finishing a room grants bonuses via tokens and scoring opportunities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • this is a flip and write where you are building the perfect neighborhood
  • this is blueprints of Mad King Ludwig
  • this is a fabulous multi-use card flip and right game that is all about building the best rail system
  • I just absolutely love this game I love the puzzle of this game
  • Rolling Realms is just so replayable because there are so many different Realms
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _wkOFjUlkPg Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top List at 9:33 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85884 · mention_pk 220947
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 9:33 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Plays well at high player counts
  • Not a party game but has higher player count
  • Fun gameplay
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Building castles
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
  • Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Drafting — Players draft cards.
  • Simultaneous Play — Actions happen at the same time for all players.
  • Tile Placement — Players place tiles to build castles on two sides.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • So, you have to get rid of this engine you think you have going for you, but you don't because you have to get rid of something.
  • Coffee is how you run this whole game because it's the way you manipulate dice and change the pit.
  • We win this rarely, but it's still awesome.
  • She was able to tell us what everything said. I mean, you can kind of guess based on the pictures on it, but she was like, 'This is this, this is this, this is this.'
  • It was one of the first hobby games that I played where my eyes were just wide open just this is what games can be.
  • It's got paper money. It's got the paper. Get rid of that poker chips. It adds to the experience every time.
  • There's just another farmer in the game who means well but just messes you up the whole time.
  • Three Sisters is just such a solid game. It's such a great game.
  • It's not a mancala, but it gives you kind of mancala like the feelings as you're trying to map out where you need to be in the future rounds.
  • There's nothing hidden. There's no cards. There's no dice. There's nothing nothing random in the entire game.
  • I personally believe like I personally believe that Castles of Burgundy is kind of like an essential for a board gaming collection.
  • The artwork was so drab in the original that everybody was like, 'If you do a deluxe version, we will supply that.'
  • This is another one of those heavier, thinkier cooperative games. very very challenging.
  • So you have to keep on trying because each one of these is going to fail often.
References (from this video)
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Video o-SMz66PoD0 Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Top 10 List at 5:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85821 · mention_pk 220682
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 5:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • fun flip-and-write mechanic
  • cool paper templates for shapes
  • interactive room-placement abilities
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • castle design and spatial layout
  • castle-building with unusual room shapes
  • abstract
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Flip and Write — players draft and arrange rooms using sliding paper templates to match shapes.
  • Flip/Roll and Write — players draft and arrange rooms using sliding paper templates to match shapes.
  • Tile Placement — closing rooms grants special abilities and enables various placement and expansion options.
  • tile/room placement with special abilities — closing rooms grants special abilities and enables various placement and expansion options.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This is a flip and write game where you are creating a castle.
  • I really like this game. I think this is a really good followup because cover your assets.
  • Patchwork Doodle is kind of like a followup to the original Patchwork.
  • The creatures are adorable.
  • I like the colors. They're pretty. They're really nice.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Lmna5_9KfVo Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top List at 1:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85594 · mention_pk 219724
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:43 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Works well at five players
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Building castles
Comparison games
  • Mad King Ludwig
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Scoring based on lowest score — you have two different castles that you're building, but you only score whichever one has the lowest score.
  • Simultaneous action selection — It is simultaneous play.
  • Tile Placement — You choose a tile, you place it, and then you pass.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • We've all had this scenario happen. You've got a game h game night planned. There's going to be you and three other friends. So a total of four of you are all going to play a game together. ... But what what happens? Somebody brings a friend with them and now all of a sudden you thought you were going to have a great strategy night, but now you got five players.
  • We have a list of 10 strategy games that you can pivot to when you thought you were going to have a four-player night, but now you're going to have a five player night.
  • These are all games that are kind of give that classic two to four player feel um with some twists that play well with five player counts.
  • Flash Point Fire Rescue is a cooperative game.
  • It is a really cool tense firefighting game where you get a chance to all have different roles trying to put out this fire.
  • Power Grid.
  • This plays wonderful at every player count, but I would argue that the four, five, and six players. The higher the better.
  • The player order is one of the key features of this game because there's a really great um catch-up mechanism.
  • It is the number one game that we recommend for five players when you were thinking you were only going to play with four players.
References (from this video)
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Video KyfFzDFEbd4 Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Top 5 List at 10:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85058 · mention_pk 217250
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 10:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • beautiful components and box
  • engaging tiling / room placement
  • strong solo variant
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • architectural design with unique room shapes
  • castle-building in a fantastical realm
  • tiling / drafting puzzle
Comparison games
  • Trekking the World (2nd edition)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • flip-and-write — vellum sheets let you draft and reveal rooms.
  • Flip/Roll and Write — vellum sheets let you draft and reveal rooms.
  • layout optimization — connect entrances and close off areas to gain bonuses.
  • space expansion — unlock basement and moat areas with rules about connectivity.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Wanderlust, Discover the World by Pectus Studios.
  • This is a fun, delightful game.
  • I really like this one.
  • Emberleaf, amazing game.
  • The artwork is highly controversial. I like this.
  • I love push your luck games.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video COaZ7CgAvtA Allies or Enemies Top 100 List at 15:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84467 · mention_pk 214646
Allies or Enemies - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 15:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Excellent two-player variant
  • Interesting drafting tension with giving away tiles
Cons
  • The base three-player version can be slower
Thematic elements
  • Array
  • Medieval castle-building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • tile drafting — Draft tiles for your castle and balance giving a tile to your neighbor
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This is probably my favorite legacy game that we have played.
  • it's a simple deck builder. You're diving down into this dungeon, you're going to steal treasure, you're going to take that treasure back out.
  • Near and Far does such a good job of being like an abstracted adventure game, but still feeling like an adventure game.
  • the Indiana Jonesish theme. I really like how it combines deck building with worker placement in a way that feels unique.
References (from this video)
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Video pc_81XOiZAI The Dice Tower Discussion at 20:07 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81705 · mention_pk 204082
The Dice Tower - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 20:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Artwork
  • Brings in the Castles of Mad King Ludwig theme
  • Essential Edition comes with game trays
  • Super easy to set up, super easy to tear down
Cons
  • The cooperation between the two sides is the miss.
  • One person is going to kind of take the lead, otherwise the game kind of bogs down.
  • Found that the least interesting aspect of it, working with the two
  • Not as high on the mechanics
  • Miss for me
Thematic elements
  • Castle Building
Comparison games
  • Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • cooperative tile placement — Players share castles between two players on the left and right, and then share tiles between two castles.
  • Set Collection — Tiles offer different ways to score or collect bonuses.
  • tile drafting — Players "draft these tiles, each one of the tiles is a different way to score or different way to collect things."
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • for a year we had to try and pronounce this until somebody announced that they were going to call it Mysterium
  • This game made such a splash. Like I forgot that people for a year were importing copies of it because it was so different.
  • It's actually pronounced Schüttel's. Like shirtless with an uh with that little uh Is that called an umlaut? Yeah. The the the little uh The the dots over the Yeah, the dots over the U. Yeah, but I'm still going to call it Schüttel's.
  • You're rolling uh little gnomes out of a cup. You're trying to roll a Schüttel out of a cup.
  • It's like basically a stock market game and depending on how many of the pawns you roll out of the cup, like that's number active.
  • This one is really interesting in that it is nothing like the game it's based off of.
  • This is Flamecraft Duels. I honestly wish they probably wouldn't have called it Flamecraft, maybe like Flame Duels or something like that would make more sense to me um because I don't think this one is anything like a two-player version of Flamecraft. This is a straight abstract game.
  • It's got really great PVC cards with some crazy like metal clasp on it. Like the whole thing is overproduced, but it may it just brings to the uh it brings so much to the occasion when you're playing this game.
  • It's a really cool abstract game with really cool puzzlingness and thinkingness uh connected with this just top-notch production.
  • Is Transformers higher or lower than Wedding Crashers?
  • The Bonfire of the Vanities from 1990. A hard-drinking journalist in ignites a scandal in New York City by reporting on a hit-and-run perpetrated by a Wall Street fat cat and his mistress.
  • Is Baby Geniuses higher or lower than The Bonfire of the Vanities?
  • Alien versus Captain America: The First Avenger. I mean, I know who'd win in a fight, but it's cuz Cap is undefeated.
  • So, this We're going to do three in a row.
  • I think that there is an unfair bias against Nick Cage.
  • National Treasure was 46. Oh. And then Twilight was 49.
References (from this video)
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Video k5rABLKEiUM The Dice Tower Other at 7:56 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81546 · mention_pk 203177
The Dice Tower - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 7:56 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Good game
Cons
  • Re-implements Castles of Mad King Ludwig but is a different game
  • Annoying that BGG lists it as a re-implementation.
  • Not as good as The Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Thematic elements
  • Castle building
  • Building together
Comparison games
  • The Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area claiming — claiming different areas.
  • castle building — building kind of together this castle
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Hens is a game I didn't like at all.
  • Gobblet is a simple game in which you are to stacking pieces and trying to get four in a row, but bigger pieces cover up other pieces.
  • Dice as resources to buy cards, kind of like a Dominion-style game. And it was fine. It just didn't have any kind of air of excitement to it.
  • And it's a big, grandiose Euro-style game that I thought worked pretty well.
  • The biggest problem with Echoes of Time is I think it's almost too short.
  • It's a cool mechanism. This is the game that should have it.
  • It's a very different feeling of Lost Cities. It's not as good as Lost Cities, but it's still pretty cool game.
  • It's very Ameritrashy.
  • It's a lot going on in this game.
  • I think my favorite of those is Pixel Tactics 2.
  • Thanks as always for joining me in my pile of mid games.
References (from this video)
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Video Fosb9p2tDEs The Dice Tower Other at 52:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81479 · mention_pk 202623
The Dice Tower - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 52:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
  • Satisfying castle building
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Building a castle for a king
  • A castle
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Tile Placement — Players place room tiles to build the castle.
  • Variable player powers — Implied by the 'Mad King' aspect and the need to satisfy king's whims.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS. YOU'RE GOING TO WIN ON A GAME THAT you didn't know existed.
  • Castle Men, but no Castle Me.
  • That's what I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
  • Yeah, I've heard that somewhere. That's recent, right?
  • It's a free and freeze game, I think.
  • What is sand in German?
  • Flügelschlag.
  • I know what game you're talking about.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video zY5omV52K5w Stonemaier Games Analysis at 13:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80651 · mention_pk 197005
Stonemaier Games - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 13:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Good for teaching communication.
  • Encourages juggling player wants and needs.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Building castles.
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Negotiation — Players need to communicate and juggle wants/needs with adjacent players.
  • Tile Placement — Players place tiles to build castles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • So, it's using a lot of like core basic math skills that I think are great for kids to learn, but I also think they're great for adults to continue to do a little bit.
  • I think it's good for our minds to try to go through that math and not always pull out our calculators.
  • One of the ways I think this game sneakily teaches geography is that you have to say the names of the cities a lot.
  • Wingspan was just such a beautifully done in in teaching about birds without a very sneakily.
  • Wingspan is really good at helping us notice the world that has always been around us but see it in a new way or see it more clearly.
  • So, Let's Go to Japan does a fantastic job of teaching about a specific country's geography and culture.
  • I can see it used in great ways for language arts but also for second language learning.
  • And, whenever the design of the card really ties the theme of that of of the card into like how tall of a tree you can make or how much soil you can put on it or the habitat that it belongs in, that helps it like that kind of anchors it in my memory a little bit more than than otherwise would happen.
  • The combination of math and um and flora and fauna and just my love of the game is what what made me pick it as not my number one.
References (from this video)
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Video bRsIOvEHngo Rules Teach at 0:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 79797 · mention_pk 193356
Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Master builders constructing castles for a whimsical king
  • A kingdom under Mad King Ludwig
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Drafting — Players draw nine regular room tiles, secretly choose two, and pass the remaining tiles to an adjacent player.
  • Set Collection — Players collect sets of room tiles to earn bonuses and score points.
  • Shared Incentive Scoring — Players score points based on the lowest scoring of the two castles they helped build, encouraging cooperation with neighbors while competing overall.
  • Simultaneous action selection — Players simultaneously choose two regular room tiles.
  • Tile Placement — Players place room tiles to construct castles, adhering to rules about placement relative to the throne room and other tiles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RumwDbVaWKY Discussion at 5:12 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 72607 · mention_pk 171920
Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 5:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
  • Too similar to Between Two Cities
  • Poor visibility of icons for players with visual impairments
Thematic elements
  • Castle building
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Set Collection — Implied by the castle building theme and scoring.
  • tile drafting — Implied by the comparison to 'Between Two Cities'.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it was raining I said to him we really need to solve this case and he agreed
  • Detective a modern crime board game might be the most disappointing game I've played in a very very long time
  • so what was billed to me is a fantastic detective just felt like busywork it felt like drudge work it felt like repetition
  • the sitting was weird you like some elite crime unit but you're investigating a theft from 70 years ago
  • this is an old game it's been out of print forever it's one of the Holy Grails of board game collecting
  • it's just a mess of a game city remnants just doesn't deliver on its promise of being this intricate gang building area control game
  • and it's got these wonderfully big taro sized cards that that look gorgeous
  • and the second thing is one of the people of my regular group has rather poor eyesight and literally cannot play the game
  • Between 2 cities love that game it's still one of my top twenty or so games in my collection I absolutely endorse and adore it
  • Megaland is fine for what it is and that's an easily accessible short playtime push your luck game you can set up play and be done in 15 minutes
  • and that is how you make money off board game media is buying games that 80% off and then selling them for $10
  • just because there's a new edition doesn't mean that editions going to be better for you new doesn't mean better for everyone
  • good games that are just ok they're just they're solid leave me in this weird space from like ok I've played that and that's about the level of engagement
  • but the simple fact is this game takes up so much damn space it takes something that same space as six other games
  • at some point a collection becomes unmanageable or unplayable
  • there's a danger in this hobby of overloading yourself with cardboard
  • I now have games that I've had for months that I haven't been able to get to yet simply because of the demands of a channel and work
  • if you're looking to buy a game ask yourself am I actually going to be able to play this anytime in the future
  • I mean I run a YouTube channel that reviews board games so I will eventually get through all the games I have and I will put them on the channel
  • but I worry that for some people the gating is more important than they're having and that's kind of troubling to me
  • it's okay to get rid of some games it's okay not to have everything in your collection it's okay for another friend of yours to own a game and for you to borrow it off them if you want to play
  • there's literally no need to have a thousand unplayed board games sitting in your garage
References (from this video)
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Video qpvyp5ZDTAI Meeple University Review
video_pk 70074 · mention_pk 166973
Meeple University - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • so between two cities it's probably one of my favorite games especially if they are you know high enough higher player counts
  • so your aim is to not have one super powered castle but to build up to roughly even castles that are as good as you can so that you can have the highest lowest scoring
  • i think it's fine i think the expansion adds some nice i like the different mode um the different mode of the two player
  • it's that between two cities there's really six things you have to learn there's six different ways to score whereas here you've got i think it's eight different ways to score
  • but the best game i found it very interesting i like it when the game gives you a tough decision or you want this or that like oh like so many things you can do but then there's so little time
References (from this video)
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Video qpvyp5ZDTAI Meeple University Review at 0:24 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 70074 · mention_pk 241415
Meeple University - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Adds some nice variety.
  • The new two-player mode works really well.
  • The activity building is just another building that's fine.
Cons
  • The secret buildings made it very easy to get the bonuses.
  • The expansion might be a little too complex for new players.
  • There are more ways of scoring to teach compared to Between Two Cities.
Thematic elements
  • castle building
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
  • The Castles of Mad King Ludwig
  • Everdell
  • Red Rising
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Auction — Elements of auction are present.
  • Drafting — Elements of drafting are present, and players draft two tiles each round.
  • Set Collection — Bonus points are awarded for getting three of a certain room.
  • Tile Placement — A lot of tile placement games have ways that each room would score.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • so between two cities it's probably one of my favorite games especially if they are you know high enough higher player counts
  • so your aim is to not have one super powered castle but to build up to roughly even castles that are as good as you can so that you can have the highest lowest scoring
  • i think it's fine i think the expansion adds some nice i like the different mode um the different mode of the two player
  • it's that between two cities there's really six things you have to learn there's six different ways to score whereas here you've got i think it's eight different ways to score
  • but the best game i found it very interesting i like it when the game gives you a tough decision or you want this or that like oh like so many things you can do but then there's so little time
References (from this video)
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Video 0A8-dO-A7Nw Ryan and Bethany board game reviews Top List at 6:12 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 69782 · mention_pk 166491
Ryan and Bethany board game reviews - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 6:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Interesting structure-building approach
  • can be social with neighbors
Cons
  • More complex; harder to introduce to non-gamers
Thematic elements
  • cooperative competition to balance scores
  • building structures around a table with partners
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Cooperative Building — players cooperatively arrange two nearby castles while scoring slowly revealed
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's a fantastic party game it's very very accessible
  • Cooperative games work really well when you're trying to introduce new mechanisms to people
  • Seven Wonders is such a great year it's a classic practically
References (from this video)
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Video -BUmLTK6hUA Playthrough at 1:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 69180 · mention_pk 165547
Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Engaging semi-cooperative gameplay that requires balancing personal score with neighborly contribution.
  • Strategic tile drafting and placement with opportunities for negotiation and subtle manipulation.
  • Charming and whimsical theme with fun room names and illustrations that add to the enjoyment.
  • The game leaves players wanting more, suggesting a satisfying and replayable experience.
  • Scoring can be complex and lead to exciting final moments where every point counts.
Cons
  • Can be difficult to balance scoring for both adjacent castles, potentially 'tanking' a player's score.
  • Late-game tile options can feel like 'junk' or underwhelming, leading to less satisfying choices.
  • Scoring can be complex and prone to errors, requiring careful tabulation.
  • Players can feel like they are passing 'junk' to their neighbors, creating some interpersonal friction.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Cooperative/semi-cooperative play — Players work with their neighbors to build two castles, but their personal score is the lower of the two castles they contribute to, requiring a balance of cooperation and individual strategy.
  • Objective Fulfillment — Players try to meet specific scoring conditions dictated by their 'throne room' tiles and other bonus cards or objectives that appear throughout the game.
  • Set Collection — Players aim to collect sets of specific room types or colors to achieve bonuses and score points.
  • tile drafting — Players select tiles from a common pool, choosing two per castle in each round. This involves passing stacks of tiles left and right.
  • Tile Placement — Selected tiles representing rooms are placed into a shared castle grid, with adjacency and positional requirements for scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • So, you have to try to do your best on both sides, right? That's the tricky part.
  • The last rotation's always kind of a Yeah, you get the drags of uh castle options.
  • We're not even close.
  • Numbers are hard, guys.
  • So, what happens? We both have 62. Then we look at the other one and whoever has the highest other castle. 67 versus 65 would be the winner.
  • This is a This is a good entertaining castle right here.
  • So, that was between two castles of M King from Stonemire Games.
References (from this video)
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Video rFEVP4WGkN0 mill Discussion at 0:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67435 · mention_pk 163557
mill - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Expansion folded into the box
  • Great art
  • Accessible for newer players
  • Score pad helps visualize rooms and scoring
  • Fun to build quirky castles
  • There are lots of narrative/characterful Easter eggs in the tiles
Cons
  • Scoring can be a pain
  • Some diagrams/tray visuals may not perfectly match between editions
  • Memory of edition differences may be fuzzy
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Between Two Castles Essential Edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I love Castles and Mad King Lidwick.
  • Great game. Great for conventions.
  • I love the art.
  • Yep. If you never got anything with between two castles, get the essential edition.
  • fits in so well like a puzzle piece feels so pre-planned
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video HYc5-6a7gEU Discussion at 4:30
video_pk 67045 · mention_pk 162983
Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 4:30 · 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)
  • Now onto the video that I already filmed where I talk about sponsorships and maybe if I get to it if I have time, my ranking of my top 10 favorite Stonemaier games.
  • No money was exchanged. We're just kind of a figurative sponsorship rather than a a literal one.
  • Why build roads when you can go to space?
  • What better way to tour Japan than from inside a giant mech?
  • Making sure everyone's vantage is never blurry.
  • I love that a rum company is the sponsor of our wine making game Viticulture.
  • When you can't find enough friends to use as bait to tame real dragons, you can do it on the tabletop with much less bloodshed.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video e_73VEa9zgg Analysis at 8:07
video_pk 66567 · mention_pk 162219
Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 8:07 · 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)
  • If a game has take that mechanisms, it means players are encouraged to make choices that directly interfere with an opponent's plans and make it harder for them to win.
  • So, remember, deduction, you're solving a mystery about the game mechanics. Social deduction, you're solving a mystery about the other players who are definitely lying to you.
  • The idea is that this will encourage the division to be made as equally and evenly as possible.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2DN78TCgJAs Discussion at 0:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 66384 · mention_pk 161589
Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • artwork is appealing
  • insert fits in the regular box
  • expansion adds new rooms and bonus tiles
  • new automa cards included
  • promo tiles (e.g., dice tower room, saxophone room)
  • new room variants such as ballroom and sleeping rooms
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • this one is one i am looking forward to
  • between two castles of mad king ludwig doesn't get the love that it deserves
  • it's such a good game
  • between two cities being too simple
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2mEEwZEJMrs Discussion at 3:56 sentiment: positive
video_pk 66222 · mention_pk 161041
Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:56 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Emergent tension and optimization
  • Iconic theme and components
Cons
  • Complex setup and rules
  • High downtime for new players
Thematic elements
  • Castle design and budgeting with thematic rooms
  • Castle construction for a king
  • Strategic planning with aesthetic choices
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Drafting — Draft rooms and place them to form a functional castle.
  • Drafting / room placement — Draft rooms and place them to form a functional castle.
  • Tile Placement — Tile-based castle construction with budget management.
  • tile placement / building — Tile-based castle construction with budget management.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Canvas is a game where each of us we are creating our own art pieces so you have like different clear like translucent pieces of art that layer on top of each other to create a painting
  • Whoever has the best Gallery wins
  • we're going to play the game off camera and you'll see one of us will be in an unfortunate predicament
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jB3yrb9l68M Board Game Geek Top 5 List at 32:27 sentiment: positive
video_pk 66221 · mention_pk 161030
Board Game Geek - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 32:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Themes and architecture-focused play
  • Relates to creative building and story-telling
Cons
  • Dance floor expansion in the expansion is debated as unnecessary by one player
Thematic elements
  • Array
  • Medieval castle design
Comparison games
  • Burgundy
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • tile drafting / building — Players draft rooms and construct their castle according to a drafting mechanic.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I say just do it the easiest way possible, whatever works for you.
  • The flea market at Dice Tower West is for people that really like a good deal.
  • Read the room. If someone loves betting zeros, they’re probably going to bet zero.
  • There is dice and just the randomness of the dice is very interesting.
  • Skull King will never leave my collection.
  • This is a grail game for me.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video okNoF3fhuI0 Getting Into Games Review at 0:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 65962 · mention_pk 160211
Getting Into Games - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • High-quality components and striking artwork
  • Clear rulebook and setup
  • Two-player variant included
  • Engaging tile-placement and room-combination scoring
Cons
  • Not ideal for absolute beginners due to scoring complexity
  • Crunchy end-game scoring can be dense for some players
Thematic elements
  • castle-building with whimsical rooms
  • Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
  • The Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • scoring by room features and bonuses — End-game scoring uses room types and bonus cards to determine final points.
  • Tile Placement — Draft and place room tiles to build a castle with varying room types and features.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Between two castles basically is the perfect Middle Ground between both games
  • it's a lovely game
  • Between two cities is for newer Gamers
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZJ7SCPAIDE4 Allies or Enemies Top 100 List at 0:58 sentiment: positive
video_pk 65961 · mention_pk 160192
Allies or Enemies - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:58 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Surprisingly terrific two-player game
  • Cozy, comfy time game
  • Interesting tile adjacency scoring
Cons
  • End-game scoring can be heavy
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
  • Castle of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • tile drafting — Draft tiles and place to form two castles; tiles score based on adjacency and patterns.
  • two-player variant drafting — Draft one tile for yourself and give one tile to your opponent, creating a tug-of-war drafting dynamic.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This is like our comfy time game.
  • the coziest of cozy games for me.
  • Surprisingly terrific two-player game.
  • This is one of the games that was responsible for the resurgence of roll and write games.
  • Cooperative games is one of my favorite types of games.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video okNoF3fhuI0 Getting Into Games Review at 2:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 65962 · mention_pk 160213
Getting Into Games - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Represents a middle-ground between the two other games
  • Strong tile-drafting mechanic
  • Beautiful components and artwork
Cons
  • Can be complex for new players
  • Scaling and scoring can be crunchy
Thematic elements
  • tile-drafting to compare two castles side-by-side
  • Castle-building with two connected castles
Comparison games
  • The Castles of Mad King Ludwig
  • Between Two Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • shared pool and passing — Tiles are passed among players and selected to fill both castles efficiently.
  • tile drafting and placement between two linked castles — Draft tiles and place them to build two connected castles, aiming for optimal scoring on both.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Between two castles basically is the perfect Middle Ground between both games
  • it's a lovely game
  • Between two cities is for newer Gamers
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video QTjosJDr4JM Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64986 · mention_pk 158588
Watch It Played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Combines aspects from two popular games
  • Collaborative building with individual scoring creates interesting decisions
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • constructing majestic castles for the Mad King
Comparison games
  • Between Two Cities
  • Castles of Mad King Ludwig
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • bonus card drafting — Drawing and choosing bonus cards when specific room type thresholds are met.
  • player interaction — Players work with their neighbors to build castles, but ultimately score points individually based on the lowest scoring castle they are partnered on.
  • Set Collection — Certain rooms score points based on the presence of other specific room types (e.g., utility rooms connected to a kennel, specialty rooms near a library).
  • Simultaneous action selection — Players secretly choose two tiles from their hand to place, then reveal them simultaneously to be placed in adjacent castles.
  • specialty rooms — Throne rooms, outdoor rooms, and grand foyers are specialty rooms with unique scoring or placement rules.
  • Tile Placement — Tiles are placed adjacent to existing tiles, or supported from below if not on the ground floor. Certain room types have placement restrictions based on level or adjacency.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • between two castles of Mad King Ludwig designed by Ben Raza and Matthew O'Malley and published by Stone Meyer games
  • in this game you're going to be working with the players on either side of you to construct castles between you and at the end of the game each of these castles is going to provide you with the score but you'll only get points for the lowest valued castle
  • if you ever place the third one of the same type anywhere within your castle you immediately stop what you are doing and resolve a special bonus
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Xzw1A0-J0MI watch it played Rules Teach at 0:13 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64077 · mention_pk 157564
watch it played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • castle construction and scoring based on room placement
  • The King has hired you and the other players to each construct a castle
  • procedural with thematic framing around the king's whims
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • coin-based purchasing and coins-on-tile — Coins on tiles can reduce the cost; leftovers are kept by the buyer if coins exceed the tile cost, and spent coins go back to the supply.
  • completion rewards — Completing room types yields immediate effects such as extra turns, coins, or drawing from a bonus stack.
  • end-of-round restocking — At the end of a round, one thousand dollars are added to each room remaining in the market.
  • Final scoring — Final scoring accounts for empty stacks, King’s favors, bonus cards, and total castle size to determine the winner.
  • market pricing and tile selection — The master builder arranges room tiles under market spaces with prices; players select tiles and pay the price directly to the master builder.
  • placement and connection rules — New rooms must connect to an existing entrance, can be rotated, at least one external entrance must remain, and overlapping is not allowed.
  • round structure — The game proceeds in rounds with five steps: draw, price, buy, add coins, and pass the master builder token.
  • scoring and boca bonuses — After placing a room, you score points from the room and trigger central icons, connection bonuses, and completion rewards.
  • upstairs/downstairs mechanics — Some rooms are downstairs and require stairs to connect to upstairs or other downstairs rooms; stairs have dual sides and placement rules.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • The King has hired you and the other players to each construct a castle.
  • The game is played over a series of rounds and each round is broken into five steps.
  • the player with the most points wins.
  • no room can be placed so that it's adjacent to the fenced edge of an outdoor room.
  • when you complete a living room you immediately rescore the points printed on its tile.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xS-6Se4Qds0 watch it played Rules Teach at 3:25 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 64020 · mention_pk 157524
watch it played - Castles of Mad King Ludwig video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Architecture/king's whims
  • Castle building under a king; designing rooms to satisfy the king's whims
  • Sketch-based planning and scoring with visual layout
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card/Chit Market — End of round, discard unused market cards; create new market based on number of players
  • Courtyards — Fully enclosed areas with entrances scoring points at end of game
  • Downstairs rooms and secret passages — Downstairs rooms require connections and can grant secret passages to connect rooms
  • End of round and refill — End of round, discard unused market cards; create new market based on number of players
  • Entrance connections — Every new room must connect at least one entrance to existing ones; some rooms connect to walls or borders
  • Final scoring — Calculate points from circles, completed rooms, outdoor rooms, moats, courtyards, and king's favors
  • market draft — On a turn, a player takes a card from the market along with a matching color pencil
  • Moat reward — Declare and draw a moat, which affects scoring and can remove entrances
  • Rewards system — Different room rewards (sleeping/blue, living/purple, red activity, yellow food, green outdoor) grant various effects
  • Room placement on blueprint — Draw the room into a valid space, align entrances, and rotate rooms 90 degrees as needed
  • Room sizes and types — Rooms have a size and a type, color-coded by category (e.g., red activity rooms, orange utility rooms, etc.)
  • Royal Decrees — Decrees grant special benefits including extra turns or end-game points
  • Special rewards and flags — Special rewards give flexible scoring via flags and track their use
  • Swan tokens and markings — Fill in Swan icons on score sheets when rooms have Swan symbols and manage a Swan track
  • Tile Placement — Draw the room into a valid space, align entrances, and rotate rooms 90 degrees as needed
  • Turn order and rounds — Game proceeds in rounds; order determined by top card values; ties broken by subsequent cards
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • the game is played over a series of 10 rounds
  • you win the game
  • you must align one of its entrances to one already sketched on your sheet
  • The Leftovers are returned to the box
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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