Introduction
We played Castle Panic many years ago, and it has remained on our wish list ever since. As our family is still quite young, we decided to start with My First Castle Panic before investing in the full game. Overall, we have enjoyed this game as a family; however, it is clearly designed for younger players and offers very little challenge for adults.
Unboxing
The artwork on the box is bright and appealing, featuring funny images of goblins and heroes that immediately catch the attention of younger players. This playful design continues inside the box, which is styled to look like a dungeon. Defeated monsters are placed here during the game, which is a lovely touch and adds to the overall charm and theme.
The game comes in a fairly large box, which feels somewhat unnecessary once opened. The cards and tokens themselves take up very little space, and the oversized box appears to exist mainly to accommodate the board. With a slightly redesigned board, the box could have been made much smaller, which would have been more practical for storage.
Set up
The setup for My First Castle Panic is extremely simple—simple enough that our 5-year-old can complete it independently. With the board laid flat, the castle and wall are set up at one end, while the monster stack is placed at the other. The first three monsters are then placed onto the board, clearly marked with a star symbol on their tiles.
Once this is done, the game is ready to play. The entire set up process takes only a few minutes, making it ideal for young players with shorter attention spans.
Game play
Gameplay in My First Castle Panic is very straightforward. The aim of the game is to defend the castle and prevent any monsters from reaching it. Monsters are defeated by playing a card that matches both the colour and the shape of the space the monster is currently standing on.
This is a fully co-operative game, which was the main reason we wanted to try it. Each player has their own set of cards, which are laid face up in front of them. Because all information is shared, players are encouraged to talk through their options before making a decision. This naturally introduces teamwork, communication, and basic forward planning as a group.
After a card is played, all remaining monsters on the board move one step closer to the castle. If a monster reaches the wall and then the castle, it is removed from play. If any monster reaches the castle then it is destroyed, the players lose the game. The rules also include suggested variations that can make the game slightly easier or harder, depending on the age and ability of the players.
Suitability
My First Castle Panic is a fantastic introduction to co-operative board gaming for young children. The gameplay is simple, clear, and strongly encourages communication and teamwork. The recommended age on the box is 4+, but our 3-year-old is able to play happily and complete their turn with very little help from adults.
That said, the game is likely to feel too simple for older children or more experienced players. While younger kids will enjoy the theme and mechanics, families should expect to outgrow the game fairly quickly.
Final Thoughts
My First Castle Panic has been an enjoyable experience for our family and is easy to recommend as a first co-operative game for young children. It does an excellent job of building confidence, encouraging communication, and introducing the idea of working together towards a shared goal.
However, its simplicity also limits its longevity. After more than ten plays, we have never lost a game, and we have only come close to losing once. While we do not expect—or want—to lose regularly, the lack of challenge means the game has quickly lost its appeal for us as adults.
As a result, we now avoid directly playing and instead focus on encouraging our children to communicate and make their own decisions. Even so, our 5-year-old is already beginning to find the game too easy. For us, My First Castle Panic has served its purpose well, but it is a game we expect to move on from as our children grow.
