Every Game is Awesome 43: The Castles of Burgundy: The Card Game

[@lasttruegypsy]

This is one of my favorite games. I travel with this one and it is so much easier to take it than carrying around the bigger box game. My wife and I usually play this in 30 minutes and it is always rewarding and fun.

[@Mentat1231]

CoB is one of my favorite games of all time. I have yet to play the card game except as a Solitaire variant (against "Aaron"), which I LOVE. So, now I'm looking forward to playing the card game against other players and seeing what they think vis-a-vis the original.

[@geneinkc]

I own the board game and the card game. The board game is one of my favorite games in my collection, and the card game isn't going to replace it; however, the card game does do a great job of feeling like the same game. It really does feel like I'm playing CoB, and I appreciate that. The card game is great as a breezy filler between heavier games. It's also terrific as a "travel edition" of CoB. I am definitely keeping it in my collection.

[@TeChNoWC7]

Some interesting additions in the card game; the dice system (saving a dice for next turn, knowing that you could play it or save and play a different dice), the bonuses are different but interesting in their own way, and the ability to cash in workers or silverlings for points, which makes for interesting decisions whether to save up or use them.

[@carlstevenwilletts]

I own this game and completely agree with the review. I haven't bought the original game, due to it not offering a solo option, but I really like this game and the solo variant is very enjoyable. The table space required is surprising however.

[@plouf1969]

I had played the board game only once then got the card game. It felt extremely similar. But then when I went back to the board game, I felt it is so much better. - The tile placement, is much better. You often need to decide if you put a new hex as is, or you use workers to put it in a place that connects to more hexes later on. Also, in the bg, some regions have different sizes, while in the card game it's just having 3 of the same kind, which makes the game a bit bland, and less strategic (in the bg, you're wondering if you should start a 3-tile region or attack a 5-tile). That limitation of 3 cards is probably the worst compromise they had to make for the card game. - The goods display is more exciting in the bg, where you can see what's out there, while in the card game you only see 2 goods. - The animals scoring is also a bit weird, there's not the excitement of the board game where you get the points as you go. - The knowledge tiles are one of the most exciting parts of the bg, they allow you to strategize based on special powers. The knowledge cards in the card game are super basic. - The black market in the bg is really an exciting part, I am not clear why in the card game version you draw random cards instead of being able to see what you may purchase. - The cloister is a nice addition I must say The part that makes the card game similar to the bg is the idea that you can sometimes chain several actions in one: putting a castle, which lets you do another action, where you may in turn place another tile (if you place one of the special buildings). And one thing that's def better with the card game is that the setup is much faster.

[@jameskirk4692]

Thank you for detailed descriptions of differences between the two. I am trying to decide which one to get, so I really appreciate it and it helps.

[@cromusz]

I have the card version but not the full boardgame version. I really enjoy the card game. It takes up a ton of room on the table for a game using cards that small, but the game plays very quickly and easily.

[@MrRadialdrift]

it does, just sold mine as it takes up way too much table space

[@AndyVandercoy]

Brad Scaggs I just took a single card for completed sets and slid those under the estate card. still a lot of space but it works

[@dieselkilgore]

I just bought this game and set it up tonight. Never having played any version of Castles of Burgundy ever before. A little difficult locating and placing the cards, especially with the amount of cards/space it takes. But with this video and the booklet, which is actually decent, I got the setup down pat. I mainly bought this for solo and 2p play and I'm going to have to dive in to really get a feel for how it plays and to figure out the mechanics. But so far it's right up my alley. Tomorrow I'll dig deeper. It didn't help that I opened the box an hour before bed. ;)

[@Atlas-FM8]

For context, original castles of burgundy is sitting at an 8.11 on BGG after 20,000+ ratings while the card game sits at 7.33 with 1,200 ratings.

[@neverboardofgaming]

Atlas Films not sure it can beat it, but I think it'll break the 100's

[@Atlas-FM8]

I don't know. It'll need a big spike in quantity and quality of the ratings. The lowest rated game in the top 100 is Jaipur with a 7.54 and almost 16,000 ratings.

[@jeremysnyder8848]

I think it's weird that the cards have dice faces on them. Why not numbers?

[@69robtaylor]

Can't believe I missed Jason at Essen,top guy,hope you'll come to ukge next June.

[@MatthewMSanchez]

Great review guys. I echo everything you have said and I will add that it makes a great solo game. I've played it at every player count and have had no regrets.

[@justinrrizzo]

I can't believe you like this more than CoB. I sold my copy after two plays. Should have gave it the "Seal of Nap".

[@lmizutani47]

I have this game because of the solo variant and like it. I do know some people who prefer the board game version to the card game but I'm keeping this one :)

[@mobileuploads3623]

Lillian Mizutani Grear video.

[@TeChNoWC7]

I like it, but it doesn't hold a candle to the original (which is more different than Tom and Jason let on). The silverlings system works better in the original, the knowledge tiles are more complex, placement is more strategic and complex and yet I think it's just as APless as the card game. Also the animals are way more interesting, the interaction is more interesting, it's just a better game in many ways.

[@dabearz27]

Cult of the New alert! Other than being shorter, the board game is far better. I think Tom needs to go back and try it again.

[@christianjohansson9309]

Hmm yeah I don't really like the card game version either. It's ok mechanically but nothing feels exciting while I'm playing it

[@dabearz27]

It's not even that the card game version is bad, but like Tom said in the review, they're very similar. Why play the card game when the board game has more depth?

[@MatthewMSanchez]

Because It plays faster and is easier to teach. I personally prefer the card game but I will be going back and giving the board game another try..

[@christianjohansson9309]

Hmm, maybe I just don't like either version of Castles of Burgundy. Guess I should play the old version again

[@tamponslayerify]

guess i have to buy this game now

[@69robtaylor]

It's a real table devourer

[@neverboardofgaming]

First solo score on this game: 30-26 (win) Everybody post yours I'd like to compare! :-) Loving this game, it is better than its older sibling for me.

[@AndyVandercoy]

Lewis S. dang just lost (31-29). those cloisters kill

[@victorgonzalez2927]

My problem with the game is it has no knowledge bonuses or bonuses for completing areas because of the lack of board. What I do like is it’s portability and it’s solo mode of play. It feels like COB but it is missing certain aspects of the original, which is why I like this less.

[@wroot_lt]

I like that it is shorter and simpler (though i don't like it takes so much space). But that mechanism of replicating dice with card draw just looks meh. They wanted to make it Card game only and had to come up with this mechanism. This could probably be just Light version, but still with dice. Just without board (which i didn't liked in the original).

[@AndyVandercoy]

solo is great

[@Timxrb1]

I really like both, but the board game is a much more rich experience than they are giving it credit for, compared to the card game.

[@heavysighs]

It just seems to me like a great game but in a messy presentation sprawled out all over the table.

[@aweso]

I don't know, to me CoB is already a little too simple, so to see that they decided to take away even more, I don't really see the appeal personally. I really don't get the love. I'd say the only truly great games Feld has made have been Trajan, Bora Bora, and maybe Luna.

[@keseph7749]

This was a complete miss for me. Doesn't replace the board game. I think it's way less elegant and its a card game that takes more space than the tabletop version, which in itself is reason enough not to get this. Play the original board game, which kicks ass!

[@TeChNoWC7]

Mines don't give you income? Knowledge tiles all do the same thing? You have to buy random stuff with your silverlings? No board with choice of placement? It's a good game but come on, it has nothing on the original.

[@MrRadialdrift]

Just sold my copy, takes up more table space than the original

[@mellophonium1]

I don't like the small cards

[@billlynch3704]

I'm pretty surprised by the wrap-up here. The game looks so much less fun and exciting than original Castles. Ok, it's faster. If you hate long games I could see this being your preference. Other than that? Borrrrring! Small cards too? Yuck.

[@TeChNoWC7]

I find it to be not much quicker anyway. Like, maybe even close to the same amount of time.

[@tmon6219]

Speed isn't everything!

[@tonyorsini4209]

Theres no comparison between this and the boardgame. The boardgame is superior on all levels. Just give Tom a game set in outer space and thats the best game ever. Cosmic Encounter schlock.