Castles of Burgundy

Castles of Burgundy is one of the most famous "Euro" style board games, published in 2011 and widely praised. In 2019, this new edition came out and it basically includes the base game plus eight expansions, seven of which were previously released as promotional items and one new to this release. So basically you get the same game but with more variety through new player boards. There is no reason to buy the original edition over this one - if you're interested in this game, either buy this 2019 edition or wait for a future edition (there is one planned for 2023). What is this game all about? The Castles of Burgundy is set in the Burgundy region of High Medieval France and each player is an aristocrat looking to expand their kingdom through building castles, trading along the river, exploring silver mines, etc. In a turn, each player rolls two dice and uses the results, which can be manipulated with the aid of workers, to get tiles from a common board and then eventually placing them onto their kingdom. Placing tiles gives you bonuses and allows players to chain combinations, while also awarding Victory Points. The game is played over a fixed number of rounds (25 total) and, at the end, the player with the most VPs is the winner. Positives: + Easy to learn but with good depth + Ideal to start non boardgamers into the hobby + Variability with the new player boards and two games never play the same also because of random tile placement + Allows 1-4 players + Great value for money, the game is surprisingly cheap compared to other board games Negatives: - The kingdom boards are extremely flimsy. This is something that hasn't been changed from the 2019 edition and I understand this is meant to keep both the price and the box size down. - Plays best with lower player count, wouldn't recommend it with 4 players - Diehard board gamers might not enjoy the dice mechanic Highly recommended!

Purchased as a birthday gift for an avid board gamer. This met all the recipients must-haves. The components withstand handling and repeated use. The instructions are clear and easy to understand, not overly complicated. Everything needed was in the box, and the box is very strong and will last for repeated openings, reboxing and closing. The colors of the components are contemporary for the era of the game setting (eg, they are muted earthy tones, yet clear and precisely printed on each component). This was very much enjoyed by the recipient and played often with his friends. Everyone liked it so much, it was on the table many times, and players said it was enjoyable and not overly complicated but competitive in a friendly way. It was one of the games taken frequently from the shelves. If considering as a gift or for your own play use, this is something I recommend.

When bought I had never played or even seen the game before but now own the App version as well. I only play solo and the game includes specific solo rules that are based upon completion of your "Duchy" rather than just beating your high score. The game seems quite complex at first but it really isn't. You seek to build a Duchy, selecting and placing hex tiles obtained from a main board by allocating dice rolls that can be modified in intriguing and thematic ways. Turns are quick and simple although the rulebook using the words "Phase" and "Round" threw me at first. Having now seen online content comparing this "Anniversary" version with the previous one, I concur with many of their opinions. The components are only of middling quality. I particularly had a problem with the hex tiles being extremely small and very difficult to see and understand. Yes I'm not young but I even had to use a magnifying glass until I could learn what each one was. The boards are correspondingly not just small but flimsy too with a thickness that would be fine for Christmas cards. When I bought what was admittedly described as a "Collectors Edition" of another well known tile laying town/ city building game, that had hex tiles that were 25% bigger than the original and were chunky and a pleasure to handle. Castles of Burgundy is very very disappointing in component quality in what seems a stingy and cost cutting way. Anniversary should be changed to Economy. The game could be almost beautiful but it is just ordinary. All that said, I really like the gameplay and it would be a delight to both solo and competitive players. In effect I would give just 1 or 2 stars to component quality but 4 to the gameplay experience. The latter would be 5 but the integral experience of handling poor quality of the components drags this down. Pity but buy it.

This is a great game but it takes a while to learn how to play. We suggest nominated one player to read the guide and the teach everyone else! Once you’re playing strategy is key but there is also an element of luck so it’s not always the same person winning. Nice size box but lots of little pieces which could easily get lost. Just be careful packing it away and you’ve got no issue.

Brilliant game and I cannot believe how quick the delivery was just 12 hours between ordering and delivery!

We binged this game when we first got it. Several games a night for a couple of weeks. It is a perfect 2 player game, but we also enjoyed it as a 1 player game and a 3/4 player game. The way the games adjusts ever so slightly for the number of players is perfect (1player/2or3player/4player). The boards and tokens are high quality, with great detailed and summarised instructions. Also, comes with three (i think) optional expansions in the box. These can be added or removed as your mood dictates, and they really add some variety to the gameplay. All in all, highly recommend this game to anyone who likes board games.

Thematically vaguely set in Medieval France. Each player is an aristocrat controlling a domain. They develop settlements, castles, trade, mines and knowledge. This is done with 'Settlement tiles' placed gradually into your territory. Each has a function and is only suited to certain regions. There are five phases, each of five rounds. The game board starts with settlement tiles and goods tiles. To begin players roll their dice, which decides what options and goods are available. Players then DO two of four possible actions: 1. Take a settlement tile into reserve. 2. Place a settlement tile from reserves onto their player board. 3. Deliver goods . 4. Take worker tokens. Settlement tiles: Each offers various benefits: additional actions, additional money, advancement in your order of play, more goods tiles, die roll adjustment or victory points. The game ends after the fifth phase and most victory points = Win. What makes this edition by far the the best of all the many others, is that it includes eight expansions, seven of which were optional extras or promotions and one new to this release. It was very hard to find them all together. It is a bit of a classic and was a Spiele des jahres recommended 2011, and has 10 other prizes or nominations. I suspect the game is good enough to get another printing of this edition and the one bad feature (thin box card) will then be corrected. The components are otherwise fine. I've put a fablon sticky plastic book cover protection on my box and it's needed! This is a step up from my popular Catan (with less luck) and Alhambra (with more features) and it is a step in a good direction. The more players the merrier, 4 is best. Note: Some items sold under this title on Amazon-UK, are Italian, French, German or earlier editions. Some are from overseas sellers with ridiculous postage (sometimes nearly more than the cost of the game itself). This game is widely available in UK without that 'complication'. Watch your picks! RECOMMENDED

This.game is a must have for boardgamers! The rules are not the easiest to follow, however, I would recommend watching a playthrough on YouTube. It plays well with 2 players, and with 3 or 4 too. It is fiddly to set up as there are lots of components, but so worth it!

Suveränt brädspel till ett bra pris!

A true classic, The Castles of Burgundy delivers some of the most magnificent dice play in board gaming. Every roll becomes a strategic decision, with plenty of ways to manipulate your fate. The game is full of sweet combos—place a tile, trigger bonuses, and watch your turn snowball into something beautiful. You’ll constantly compete for the best tiles in the shared market, where timing and turn order are everything. With endless replayability, fast turns, and deep strategy, this timeless Euro continues to shine. It’s a must-own for fans of clever, satisfying gameplay.

Alles goed ontvangen en in goede staat.

🎲 The Castles of Burgundy (2019) 🤓 Stefan Feld 🏭 alea . 📝Spark Notes: ⚡️Kingdom building in 15th century France ⚡️Tile placing, dice manipulation ⚡️Mine silver, sell cargo ⚡️Expand territories, create combos . 💼Brief Review: 🟢High replay-ability 🟢Exciting combinations 🟢Incredibly well-designed 🟢Simple yet solid mechanics 🟢Player-mat provides clear direction 🟢Good variety of options and strategy 🟢Workers can mitigate unwanted dice rolls 🟡The theme and art don’t feel special 🔴Iconography is tiny and requires frequent referencing . 📝Description: Players export goods and construct farms, mines, villages, and castles to expand their kingdoms. Each turn dice are rolled and players draft or place tiles with restrictions based on their roll results. Points are scored for completing territories, selling goods, tile abilities, and leftover resources. . 🎬Final Take: There’s a reason Castles of Burgundy continues to show up in “best games of all time” lists over the last 10 years—it’s such a fun and well-designed experience. Despite the randomness of dice, there’s enough options that allow you to take control and make meaningful decisions. A "bad roll" rarely exists, as there's always something productive you can do with each die value. Tile-placing games typically don’t excite me, but the variety and strategy available makes this one an exciting and rewarding experience, and it's become one of my favorite games. The alea 20th anniversary edition offers a more colorful aesthetic and loads of expansions, including solo and team play, and I strongly recommend this edition over the classic. If you like strategic puzzle-like games you may love Castles of Burgundy.

Increíble juego. Había leído malas reseñas sobre el empaque y aunque la caja llegó un poco golpeada, es muy mínimo. En la primera entrega el repartidor no me lo entregó pero Amazon se hizo responsable y me lo volvieron a mandar. En general el juego se siente de muy buena calidad y algo que me gustó es que ya incluye bolsas para guardar las piezas, además trae instructivo en 6 idiomas. Vale totalmente la pena.