[My First Castle Panic Review] The definitive cooperative fantasy game for ages 3 and up! Perfect for a first board game!
Castle Panic is a classic family-friendly cooperative board game, and My First Castle Panic is its toddler-friendly version.
Designed for families with younger children, with children as young as three able to fully participate, this game is not only fun but also has educational value, helping children develop important skills such as colour and shape recognition, cooperation and turn-taking.
In this article, we will thoroughly analyze the appeal of My First Castle Panic based on the experiences of parents who have actually played with their young children.
Game Basics
It's a strategy game for young children, designed as a cooperative board game .
My First Castle Panic is a cooperative board game for 1-4 players ages 4 and up that takes about 20 minutes to complete.
It was published by Fireside Games in 2019 and was designed by Justin De Witt and illustrated by Cam Kendell.
The basic game mechanics are very simple.
All players work together to protect the castle from the monsters that are advancing towards it.
Each player can use a card from their hand to capture a monster if the shape and color of the card matches the shape and color of the monster's location.
Captured monsters are sent to the castle's dungeon (game box).
- Players: 1-4 (community recommended: 2-4, best: 3)
- Playtime: 20 minutes
- Ages: 4+ (community recommendation: 3-8 years old)
- Complexity: Very Easy, 1.12/5
The appeal of My First Castle Panic: cooperative learning with cute monsters
It is designed to be easy for even young children to understand and fun for the whole family to enjoy together.
An intuitive system that even young children can understand
Every space on the game board is represented by a color (red, blue, green) and a shape (circle, square, triangle) . If there is a monster in the blue triangle space and you have a blue triangle card, you can use that card to send the monster to the dungeon.
This easy-to-understand matching system means no reading is required and it's designed for preschoolers to play.
According to parents who have actually played the game, 5-year-olds can easily recognize shapes and colors, no reading or writing skills are required, and they can understand the monsters' special abilities after just a few plays.
Co-op fun for the whole family
The best part about this game is that it can be played completely cooperatively, as everyone holds their cards face up and there is no need to keep secrets .
If you're having trouble using your hand, you can ask for help from other players and your teammates will play cards for you.
A parent who actually played with their 3-year-old daughter said, "I'll never forget how excited she was when she drew the card that allowed her to rebuild the team's wall. She said, 'I helped!' and had the biggest smile on her face."
High educational value
My First Castle Panic not only teaches colors and shapes, it also teaches patience, sharing, and waiting your turn.
Also, having the option to "ask for help" teaches children from an early age that there is no shame in asking for help when they are in trouble.
The game develops the following skills:
- Active listening and communication
- Counting and Mathematics
- Logical and critical decision-making ability
- Pattern and color matching
- Strategy and Tactics
- Risk and Reward
- Visual-spatial skills
- Cooperation and team play
- Hand and Resource Management
Moderate difficulty and thrill
The win rate is around 66% , making it moderately difficult, requiring players to manage their risks and it's possible to lose, but not enough to cause panic.
Some monsters have special abilities that have the following effects:
- Shuber: Move yourself and all monsters forward one space.
- Marcher: Adds one more monster after moving forward
- Runner: Jump in front of the monsters on the front line
Concerns and solutions
There are some drawbacks, but they can be overcome with the right measures.
Randomness in difficulty
The biggest drawback is that it relies too much on luck .
Depending on the luck of the cards, the game can be very difficult or too easy.
Especially in the early stages, you start with only one card in your hand, so you may not be able to draw the right card and be unable to defeat the monster.
Countermeasures:
- If the game is too easy: Draw two monsters per turn, start with no walls.
- If it's too hard: All players start with two cards, and if no one has a card to play, they draw a new card.
Short play time
One review noted that "my 3-year-old daughter's only complaint is that the game time is too short."
Sometimes kids want to play longer.
Solution: My Second Castle Panic's idea is to buy two sets, lay out the boards, and shuffle all the cards, allowing for two paths, two castles, and more strategic play.
Lack of consideration for color vision deficiency
Friends who are red-green color blind have problems, and children who are red-green color blind can easily become frustrated.
Countermeasures: The system can judge not only by color but also by shape, so this can be done with the support of parents.
Recommended for these people and occasions
It is particularly suited to certain player demographics and scenes.
Specific player image
Families with children ages 3-8: This is a versatile experience, with 3-year-olds able to fully participate and 6-year-olds having just as much fun.
It is described as a "sweet spot for kids aged 4 to 5" and is particularly suited to this age group .
First board game experience: "This is the first game my 4-year-old daughter was able to fully understand and play without having to be reminded of the rules or coached on strategy."
Families who want to experience cooperative games: "Whether we win or lose, we all share the experience and everyone has fun" - they can learn the joy of cooperation.
Recommended play scenes
Family Game Night: "Finding games that truly work for everyone, that evoke the spirit of a true family game night, is invaluable in our home with a 3-year-old and a 3-year age gap."
Indoor play on a rainy day: With a short play time of just 20 minutes, you can play as many times as you like.
It has been reported that "the first time they played, they played three times in a row, and then they kept requesting to play again."
Educational playtime: "Not only does it teach colors and shapes, but it also teaches cooperation and taking turns," making learning fun.
Expected effects
It's got the full Child Geek seal of approval and Parent Geek also praises it as a great family game.
It has been described as "a great educational tool and a fun game with simple rules that require thought, encourages conversation and cooperation, and visually conveys the need to stay focused on the goal."
My First Castle Panic is designed to be "a milder, less stimulating entry in the Panic game line, using only the foundational elements."
My First Castle Panic is definitely a game we recommend as an introduction to board games for young children and as a tool to deepen family bonds.
Why not enjoy watching your child grow up with these cute monsters?
Check the product on the online store page
Free shipping throughout Japan. Orders placed before 3pm will be shipped the same day.
Reference source/quote source
- Board Game Quest - My First Castle Panic Review
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- The Geek Kitty - Board Game Review! My First Castle Panic
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- Board Game Geek - My First Castle Panic Data