My First Castle Panic is a seemingly simple board game that has become an unexpected favorite in our house. Out of all the games in our collection, this is the one we’ve played the most. No matter how often we lose—and we lose a lot—my kids keep setting it up again and again!
How We Discovered My First Castle Panic
When I first discovered gameschooling, I put way too many games on my wishlist. Even better, many of these popular games had junior versions. I already had Castle Panic on my wishlist, so when I saw My First Castle Panic, I added it too. I didn’t think too much of it at first—the back of the box made it look too easy! I assumed it wouldn’t entertain my kids. It looked like Candy Land all over again (I know many people have fond memories of Candy Land, and I do too… but my kids? Absolutely not fans!).
Originally, gameschooling wasn’t working out well for me. My kids used board games in therapy, and to be honest, it wasn’t going well there either. Some of the biggest meltdowns happened as a result of losing a game. I needed a way to model how to win and lose gracefully and, more importantly, to help them get used to the feeling of losing—without it being such a singled-out, isolating experience.
That’s when I kept hearing about cooperative board games in Facebook groups. More importantly, My First Castle Panicwas a cooperative game, which was exactly what I needed in my collection at the time.
How to Play My First Castle Panic
There are a few versions of Castle Panic. There’s the original base game and several expansions, but here, I’m talking about what’s essentially the junior version. I do have the regular version because, after enjoying this one so much, I thought it would be a good idea to get the “big kids” version—but so far, we haven’t broken it out yet. (I admit, I have a collection of games we aren’t quite ready for, but I’ll be ready when we are!)
The basic premise of both versions is the same: work together to keep the monsters out of your castle. If they get in, your whole team loses. In My First Castle Panic, gameplay is simplified. Goblins take a path from the start to your castle, with a wall in front of it. You throw the goblins in the dungeon by matching the shape and color on the path marker with a card in your hand. During your turn, you can ask another player to help you get rid of a goblin if you can’t do it—or if you want to get rid of one that’s closer to your castle.
Why My Kids Love This Game
From a skills perspective, this game is great for color and shape matching. At first, it seemed like it would be “for little kids” (as my 9-year-old insists on pointing out). But even though it’s deceptively simple, the luck factor and the teamwork involved make it immensely entertaining for everyone. It’s also simple enough that my kids can break it out and play on their own.
The whole game takes on a new dynamic when you’re suddenly hoping your sibling gets the right card to send the goblin closest to the castle into the dungeon!
The Challenge of Luck-Based Play
Now, on that note, the game can sometimes feel frustrating. Since this is a very simplified version of Castle Panic, there isn’t a lot of strategy involved. You just have to hope that you—or one of your teammates—gets the correct card before the goblins reach the castle.
We have actually lost more games than we’ve won. That makes a victory feel extra rewarding when we do win, but after a few consecutive losses, we sometimes take a break from this one for a few game sessions. That said, it always finds its way back into the rotation.
Final Thoughts
My First Castle Panic has been a game-changer (pun intended) for our board game time. It’s fun, easy to set up, and fosters cooperation instead of competition. If you’re looking for a board game that teaches teamwork while still being engaging, I highly recommend giving it a try!Want to check it out? You can find My First Castle Panic here (← Add your affiliate link here!). If you’ve played it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!