Castle Panic: Deluxe Collection

Castle Panic: Deluxe Collection is a cooperative game for 1 – 6 players. During the course of the game, players will be working together to defend the castle from monsters who are emerging from the forest. In order to win, players must have at least one tower standing after defeating all 49 monsters. 

The deluxe collection is a true beauty, housing the base game, all expansions, and upgraded miniatures for every monster in the game. I can confidently say that this is one of the games in my collection with the largest table presence, in the best way possible. 

Game Overview

• Publisher: Fireside Games

• Designer: Justin De Witt

• Player Count: 1-6 players

• Playtime: 60 Min

• Genre/Category: Cooperative

• BGG Rating: 7.5

• My Rating: 8

Components and Art

From the moment I opened the box, I was simply blown away by the amount of game inside. The box itself is stunning and a true display piece. 

One of my favorite components of the game is the game mat. As I am sure you will come to learn, I am not usually a huge fan of game mats. I feel like they take up a lot of room and don’t really add too much to the game. In Castle Panic, however, I feel the opposite way as the mat gives a flat level that a normal board simply can’t offer. This is important since there will sometimes be boulders rolled and in order to have the full experience, you need a flat surface to roll it on. 

My other favorite components from the game are the monster bases. The monsters in Castle Panic have a certain level of health, and as you attack them, their health goes down. With this being said, in a lot of games, keeping track of monster health is no easy task. In Castle Panic, the monsters are housed on a rotating base that displays their health underneath them. This is a huge addition to the game as it eliminates the need for keeping track of their health on a piece of paper or tablet.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Castle Panic is a cooperative game, meaning that players must work together in order to win. This was new to me as people in my family describe my gameplay as “playing hard” since I sometimes play to win. I must admit that this style of co-op gameplay was refreshing since I was really able to have fun and not be as competitive with my fellow players.

An interesting mechanism to the game is the ability to trade cards with your fellow players. This is important as sometimes you will only have one chance to kill a monster, and might need another player’s card on your turn to do so. This works to really drive the idea of cooperation in the game rather than self preservation, since if one player messes up, it affects the entire table.

One thing to keep in mind is that after every turn, two new monsters are drawn and placed on the board. This is important since you only have a few turns to defeat them before they reach the castle. 

Strategy and Replayability

Castle Panic is a game where you always need to play 2-3 turns ahead of the current round. Think about the monsters all around the castle, not just the closest. Sometimes you can line them up for a combo, while other times you’ll feel like you had a wasted turn dealing a single hit point. Both of these turns are necessary and help to defeat the monsters in the long run.

The Replayability of Castle Panic is off the charts. Since the monsters are drawn from a blind bag, it is unlikely you will receive the same monsters in the same order from game to game. The idea of drawing cards for attack also adds to the replayability as in some games you will have the perfect lineup, and in others you’ll feel like you started up a creek without a paddle.

Player Interaction

It is imperative that players are constantly strategizing together on how to defeat the monsters. Our first game we didn’t realize this till about half way through and our castle suffered because of it. Ask if somebody has a card you need. Be willing to trade cards. The goal is not self preservation, it's to save the castle.

Complexity

While castle panic is a strategic game, I would say the complexity is pretty low. I really like this about Castle Panic as it means that I can bring it out when we have new people over for game night, or if I’m looking for a game that isn't going to take 20 minutes a turn.

First Impressions

Our first game was a lot of fun! We rolled out the mat, put out the pieces, and started with the base game. I think that it was one of Huntly’s favorite games in my collection and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The rules are pretty straightforward and easy to learn. 

Who Would Enjoy This Game?

Personally, I feel like everybody would enjoy this game, especially if you like co-op games. This was the first co-op game in my collection and I really enjoyed getting to play with people rather than against them!

Overall, I really enjoyed Castle Panic: Deluxe Collection and think it would make a great addition to any board gamer’s collection. If you’re on the fence about trying out Castle Panic, I would suggest picking up the base game from a store near you to see if it fits your gaming style. While it is less thematic than the Deluxe Collection, it still packs the same amazing mechanics.

If you have any questions about the game or suggestions for future reviews, please drop a comment below 🙂

About The Board Gaymer:

Joey is a student, board gamer, and content creator based in Atlanta, Georgia—most days, he’s somewhere between a study session and a cardboard filled game night. When he is not spending time with his partner or family, you can find him sharing about his favorite board game moments on social media as @TheBoardGaymer. One of Joey’s favorite accomplishments was being named one of Best Self Atlanta’s 40 Under 40 Inspiring Innovators alongside his partner.