- BGG rating
- 7.0
Catacombs & Castles: Keystones & Keeps
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,916
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Catacombs & Castles
2017
Rules assistance for Catacombs & Castles
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 30–60 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Catacombs & Castles
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Catacombs & Castles is a board game released in 2017 for 2–8 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Aron West and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Team-Based Game, and Flicking.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Catacombs & Castles: Siege Defender
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- 2017
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About the game
Catacombs and Castles is a standalone game featuring a "Catacomb" team of heroes vs a "Castle" team of heroes. The game serves as an introduction to the Catacombs world and dexterity game system, so it features simplified, fast game play with some new mechanisms. As in Catacombs, players flick pieces around a board to simulate combat, with cards and special powers dictating how you can move and attack. Catacombs and Castles supports up to eight players competitively (in "Team Mode") and up to four co-operatively (players teamed against an 'Overseer' player called "Boss Mode"). The game is compatible with the third edition of Catacombs, serving as an expansion for that title with a new board, and will be compatible with the Catacombs: Wyverns of Wylemuir expansion.
Designers
Publishers
- Schwerkraft-Verlag
- Elzra
Questions and answers
Catacombs & Castles supports 2–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Catacombs & Castles is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Catacombs & Castles for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Catacombs & Castles has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Catacombs & Castles belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Team-Based Game, and Flicking. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Catacombs & Castles are: Aron West. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Catacombs & Castles as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.