Between Two Castles: Essential Edition

The king demands a castle! You are a world-renowned master builder who has been asked by the king to help design his grandiose residences. Projects of such significance require the expertise of more than one person, so for each assignment you are paired with another master builder to execute your plans. Between Two Castles: Essential Edition is a competitive drafting and tile-placement game that challenges your ability to negotiate, plan, and balance your attention between two different projects.

In this unique game, every tile represents a specific room in a castle. You work together with the player on your left to design one castle, and with the player on your right to design another. On each turn, you select two tiles from your hand, reveal them, and then collaborate with your partners to decide where they should be placed. Because your final score is determined by the lower of the scores of the two castles you helped design, you must ensure neither project is neglected.

This Essential Edition is the definitive way to play, combining the original base game and the Secrets & Soirees expansion into one comprehensive box. Whether you are playing a quick game with a friend or hosting a large gathering of up to eight builders, the intuitive drafting mechanics and shared goals create a social, strategic experience that rewards careful planning and effective partnership.

Key Features:

• Complete Collection: This Essential Edition combines the original Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig with the Secrets & Soirees expansion for the ultimate gameplay experience.
• Unique Cooperative-Competitive Hybrid: Players work with their neighbours to build two separate castles, but only one player will emerge as the winner based on their lowest-scoring castle.
• High Player Count Support: Features flexible mechanics that support 1 to 8 players, making it an excellent choice for solo play, small groups, or large game nights.
• Tile-Drafting Mechanics: Engaging gameplay where players must choose two tiles each turn and negotiate placement with partners to maximize room synergies.
• Premium Stonemaier Quality: Includes high-quality tiles, tokens, and a streamlined rulebook that incorporates all expansion content into a single cohesive system.