Castles Of Mad King Ludwig Second Edition

Categories: Post-Napoleonic, Puzzle

Mechanics: End Game Bonuses, Hidden Victory Points, Increase Value of Unchosen Resources, Pattern Building, Set Collection, Tile Placement, Turn Order: Progressive

Players: 1–4

Ages: 13+

Playtime: 90 Min

In Castles of Mad King Ludwig, players take on the role of builders tasked with creating an extravagant castle for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, known for his iconic Neuschwanstein Castle. Each player starts with a simple foyer and adds rooms to their castle one at a time.

The game features a dynamic pricing system where one player, the Master Builder, sets prices for a selection of rooms that other players can purchase. The Master Builder then chooses from the remaining rooms. Players earn castle points based on the size and type of the rooms they add, as well as bonuses for their placement within the castle. Once a room is fully connected to the rest of the castle, players receive special rewards.

After each round of purchases, a new player becomes the Master Builder, and the process repeats with new room sets. The game concludes after several rounds, with additional points awarded for bonus goals, popular room types, and how well players met the King's evolving demands. The player with the highest castle points at the end wins.