Castle Keep (Gamewright, ISBN 1-932-812-12-1) is a game for ages eight on up that reinforces what children have learned about castles. It is also a strategy game that requires thought into the shapes and colors of the castle that you are "building."
Each player's goal is to be the first to complete his or her castle. A completed castle has four towers, four walls, and a keep in the center. During each turn, a player can attack their opponent's castle or build onto their own castle.
Castle Keep is an easy game to learn to play, and it can be made more complex when younger children get the hang of playing by the basic rules. For example, when playing the game, a player can build their castle using matching colors or matching shapes. To make the game more difficult, players can focus on making their castle in all one color or shape.
Since each game lasts only five to ten minutes, Castle Keep is a perfect game to use in school settings. It helps to develop children's strategy skills and keeps them quietly busy while other students are working.
In my home, Castle Keep is played almost nightly. My two children and I love playing Castle Keep because it is fun and we can make the game more challenging. I am also surprised at how well the game has held up to our constant use. After almost a full year of playing Castle Keep, the strong cardboard tiles and the box the game comes in still look brand new. That's saying a lot in my household.
