Introduction
Castles of Mad King Ludwig was one of the first games we learnt when we began to explore board gaming, and to this day it's still one of our favorites. Castles of Mad King Ludwig is a tile-laying game, where players take on the role of builders competing to create the most impressive castle for King Ludwig.
The idea of building your own castle immediately appealed to us, as there is something enjoyable about watching your castle grow throughout the game. However, there is more to the game than simply choosing the rooms you like. Players need to think carefully about which rooms they buy, how much they are willing to pay and how the different rooms work together.
Unboxing
Castles of Mad King Ludwig comes in a large box with artwork that fits the unusual and slightly eccentric theme of the game. The room tiles are particularly interesting, as there are lots of different shapes and designs that help make each player's castle feel different.
There are a lot of components in the box, including the different room tiles, coins, scoring markers and other pieces needed during the game. The components are generally well made, although the number of different pieces can make the first opening of the box feel a little daunting.
One thing I particularly like is the variety of room designs – especially when you realise that the majority of the rooms depicted on the titles are really rooms that existed in Ludwig’s castles! As the game progresses, you end up creating a castle that looks very different from the castles being built by the other players.
Set up
Setup takes a little longer than some of the lighter games we play, mainly because there are a number of different room tiles to organise and prepare before the game can begin. It also requires a large flat surface to play on; with 4 players our entire table is covered.
After playing a few times, setup becomes much easier as you become familiar with the different tiles and where everything needs to go.
Game play
Gameplay in Castles of Mad King Ludwig revolves around choosing rooms and adding them to your castle. The interesting part is that the rooms are not simply available at a fixed price. One player acts as the Master Builder and decides the price of the rooms available for purchase.
This creates some interesting decisions, as you need to consider not only which room you want but also whether another player might be willing to pay more for it. Setting the prices can be just as important as choosing which rooms to buy.
Once a room is purchased, it is added to your castle and can provide different benefits depending on the type of room and how it connects to the rooms already built.
I particularly enjoy the way the castle develops throughout the game. At the beginning, you are mainly thinking about which rooms will be useful, but as the castle grows you start considering how everything connects together and how you can maximise your points.
There is also plenty of interaction between players. You are constantly watching what rooms the other players are taking and trying to work out what they might be looking for. This makes the pricing system particularly interesting, as setting a room at the right price can benefit you while also stopping another player from getting exactly what they want.
The game does require some forward planning, but there is enough variety in the rooms available that you need to adapt your plans as the game progresses.
Suitability
Castles of Mad King Ludwig is well suited to players who enjoy tile-laying games and games where you have to plan ahead. The basic actions are relatively straightforward, but there are enough different scoring opportunities and room abilities to give the game some depth.
It is probably better suited to older children and adults, particularly those who are comfortable with basic math and planning. Younger players may be able to understand the rules but could find some of the scoring and pricing decisions more difficult.
For experienced gamers, the combination of room placement, pricing and scoring provides plenty to think about without making the game overly complicated.
Final Thoughts
Castles of Mad King Ludwig is an enjoyable building game that gives players plenty of freedom to create their own castle. I particularly like that there is no single way to build your castle, with different room combinations and scoring opportunities encouraging you to change your approach from game to game.
The pricing system adds a good level of player interaction and means that you are never completely focused on your own castle. You need to keep an eye on what the other players are doing and consider how much they might be willing to pay for the rooms they want.
While the game takes a little longer to set up and explain than some of the lighter games in our collection, once you get into the game it flows well. Watching your castle develop from a few rooms into a much larger and more unusual building is one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience.
Overall, Castles of Mad King Ludwig is a game that combines tile placement, strategy and player interaction in a way that gives you plenty of choices without making the game feel overwhelming. If you enjoy games where you can build something of your own while still having to keep an eye on your opponents, this is definitely one to consider.
