Castles of Mad King Ludwig [Micro]

By What's Eric Playing? on August 5, 2024

Base price: $70.
1 - 4 players.
Play time: 75 - 90 minutes.
BGG Link
Buy on Amazon (via What's Eric Playing?)
Logged plays: 3

Full disclosure: A review copy of Castles of Mad King Ludwig was provided by Bezier Games.

The nice thing about board gaming these days is companies are starting to release updated editions of games I got into playing board games with. Is my copy of 7 Wonders a little worn? Yes. Is it compatible with Armada and Edifice? No idea. But now there's a shiny new version that probably has even nicer card backs than some of my slightly-chewed ones (I used to have some truly garbage friends who would absentmindedly put game components in their mouths). It's tempting. But I digress, as usual. This review's about Castles of Mad King Ludwig, a 2014 title from Bezier Games that really captured my imagination. So let's talk about that.

In Castles of Mad King Ludwig, players take on the role of builders serving under the eponymous monarch as he seeks to fulfill his life's dream: build the weirdest castles on God's earth. Could he have been interested in governance? Yes. Was he? No. So you need to fulfill his whims and build some of the strangest, most threatening castles to ever grace the countryside. Do doors need to go anywhere? It's just a suggestion. External entrances? At least one, probably. Outdoor rooms right next to indoor rooms? Sure, why not? The sky's the limit. Each round, players will get to purchase a room from the Master Builder (another player who sets the prices) and add the room to their Castle. The rooms are worth point on their own, but generally rooms will score more points (or lose points!) based on the rooms they're next to. Nobody wants to sleep next to the Flute Room. It makes sense. As you complete rooms, you'll get additional bonuses which will help you build the ultimate castle. But be careful! The King's Favors are set at the start of the game and they'll be awarded to the player who best follows Ludwig's whims. What kind of castle will you build?