Carcassonne (2015)

Transport yourself to the old, medieval, hilltop town of Carcassonne in this tile and worker placement game that has become an absolute staple of the board game world.

Carcassonne is a game suitable for 2-5 players, which sees players selecting a face-down tile from the centre of the table and placing it to continue the landscape of the already-placed tiles on the table. This is the one key rule in Carcassonne. Roads must continue roads, castles must continue castles; you cannot cut off a feature. Then comes the key decision, do you place a meeple on one of the available features on that tile, that feature being anything from a road to a monastery? Or do you keep hold of your meeples and await another placement opportunity that may yield more points?

This dilemma is had by all who play Carcassonne and it is what makes this game so fiendishly fun. While the artwork and the general theme may be quaint and friendly, it is you, the player, who can turn that image around and become rather militant in your tile placing antics!

You may see that a player is about to complete a castle feature and score a respectable eight points. However, you see an opportunity to steal said feature and end up placing tiles away from the feature, joining it up and stealing it from right under their noses, as you will have placed more meeples on that feature than them! This is just one of the many strategies one can employ while playing Carcassonne and it is something that sets this game apart.

With its simple yet rich game mechanics and eighty-four tiles that can be configured into numerous combinations, Carcassonne appeals to beginners and veteran gamers alike. This edition is entirely redesigned and modernised and includes two expansions: The River and The Abbot. This easy-to-play, fast-paced, family-friendly game encompasses everything good about board gaming and will give you an experience you will cherish for many games to come!

Recommended age: 8+

Players: 2-5

Playing time: 30-45 Minutes