Disclosure: Meeple Mountain received a free copy of this product in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This review is not intended to be an endorsement.
Castle Combo finds the table. I’m not sure I can pinpoint a singular reason. I love Stéphane Escapa’s art—not unlike the style of the current iteration of Mr. Peabody and Sherman, playfully disproportionate and colorful. I also love the simplicity of the turns—buy a card for a 3×3 grid. Far from frivolous, though, this simplicity is coupled with meaningful decisions that come from the interaction of cards within the grid. The playful nature of it all creates a feel-good, but engaging after-school family play.
Ease
Players select a card from two rows of three, at first restricted by the location of the Messenger token. One spent key could move the Messenger or refresh the current row if the options aren’t quite right. After paying the coin cost, the card enters the grid and triggers an immediate effect. These effects typically provide coins or keys based on any number of conditions. The Messenger might move as the cards are replenished (indicated by the placed card), and play moves on.
In the event that none of the cards are appealing after exercising options with the keys, cards play face-down into the grid and grant coins and keys as a near-sighted boon. After nine turns each, the grids are full and the scorepad comes out. Each grid location receives a score and keys are counted to determine the winner.
Challenge
Cards score in the endgame based on their relative positions. Some score relative to their location in the grid—by row, column, corner, etc. Others score relative to one another. There are six shield types scattered about the cards, some will score a particular color in their row. Others might score the abundance (or scarcity) of shields. Some allow for the collection of coins, which are otherwise useless, for points. And those face-down cards with their near-sighted boons? They are almost worthless in the end, a far-sighted blight.
No one is really sweating during Castle Combo. The stress of finding the right card is the best sort of stress—the sort that knows this game only lasts a half-hour. The game is short enough that random, off-beat strategies are worth trying. The game is long enough that the decision is above mere dismissal. I appreciate the card-shopping sweet spot in this small box.
Aiding that sweet spot is the shield distribution in the decks. The top-row castle deck is heavy on blue nobility, purple faith, and green scholarship shields, while the bottom-row village deck is heavier in red military, yellow peasantry, orange craftsmanship. As a design decision, this makes it possible to engage the randomness of the card draw in pursuit of a lucrative card with a timely refresh (that might simultaneously eliminate a card that helps an opponent). There is just enough to think about here to keep it interesting from start to finish.
Playing into the economic struggle, there are several cards that offer purchase discounts, and some that cost nothing at all. These villagers and nobles generate a bit of excitement, a bit of conversation, and a hint of intrigue. I’ve loved watching the varied reactions to what Castle Combo introduces in its short playtime.
And Ease
Despite my hobby-esque need for component organization, I can get behind a game where I don’t feel compelled to separate or bag the bits. The small box is partitioned to hold the cards in one bay and the rest in the other. After a quick dump onto the table, the materials are sorted in no time. Clean up is a breeze—a quick sweep, and the game is back on the shelf.
The early plays might feature some over-analysis as players get to know the cards and the system, but as this one becomes a familiar favorite, both speed and investment ratchet up. Castle Combo is an easy recommendation: as in easy to set up, teach, play, and tear down. It’s light, but it’s good, inviting in style and content. It just keeps finding the table.
Castle Combo details
- Designer: Grégory Grard, Mathieu Roussel
- Artists: Stéphane Escapa
- Publishers: Catch Up Games, Hachette Boardgames UK, KOSMOS, Maldito Games, Pandasaurus Games, White Goblin Games
- Release Date: 2024
- Player count : 2 - 5
- Age range : 10+
- Time range : 10 - 25 minutes
- Mechanism(s): Open Drafting
- BGG Geek Rating: 7.52153 - converted to Meeple Mountain scale: 4.0.
- More articles about Castle Combo.
Like you, I love the artwork!