Castle Combo – Clever Tableau-Building Card Game

Welcome to the King's Combo Party! Recruit characters, build your perfect medieval court and create powerful combinations in Castle Combo by Catch Up Games.

This clever card-drafting game challenges you to build a 3x3 tableau of nine characters, combining their abilities and scoring conditions to create the highest-scoring kingdom. With simple rules, satisfying combos and games lasting around 25 minutes, Castle Combo is an excellent quick strategy game for families and experienced gamers alike.

What Is Castle Combo?

Castle Combo is a tableau-building card game for 2–5 players aged 10+, designed by Grégory Grard and Mathieu Roussel, with artwork by Stéphane Escapa. Each player recruits nine characters from two open markets: the Village and the Castle.

Every character has a unique ability or scoring condition, so the position of each card can make a huge difference. The challenge is to combine your recruits into a perfectly synergised 3x3 tableau.

How to Play

Two rows of character cards form the available markets, representing the Village and Castle. The Messenger pawn determines which market you can recruit from.

Spend Gold to recruit a character and add it to your tableau. You can also spend Keys to influence the Messenger and change which market is available to you.

Every new character can trigger an immediate effect, while some cards reward particular positions, neighbouring characters, colours, types or combinations at the end of the game.

You have just nine turns to complete your 3x3 tableau, so every recruitment matters. Manage your Gold, use your Keys wisely and look for combinations that allow your characters to work together.

Once everyone has completed their tableau, players score their characters and end-game bonuses. The player with the most points wins.

Why You'll Love Castle Combo

• Satisfying card combos: Build combinations where characters enhance one another.
• Every placement matters: Your 3x3 tableau creates opportunities and restrictions.
• Simple to learn: Straightforward rules with surprisingly deep decisions.
• Quick to play: Around 25 minutes makes it perfect for repeat games.
• Great card drafting: Compete for the characters you need before someone else takes them.
• Lots of replayability: Different characters create new combinations every game.
• Compact strategy: Plenty of decision-making in a small box.

Castle Combo was also recognised at the 2024 Golden Geek Awards, winning Light Game of the Year.

Who Is Castle Combo For?

Castle Combo is ideal for families, casual gamers and strategy fans who enjoy drafting cards, building combinations and creating efficient tableaus.

It's particularly suited to players who enjoy Faraway, Sushi Go!, 7 Wonders, Splendor, Gizmos or other games where carefully combining cards is the key to victory.

Main Mechanics

• Tableau building
• Open drafting
• Card drafting
• Set collection
• Combo building
• Multi-use cards
• Resource management
• Spatial planning
• End-game bonuses
• Character abilities

Games Like Castle Combo

Looking for more quick card-based strategy? Try Faraway, Sushi Go!, 7 Wonders, Splendor, Gizmos or Courtisans for more drafting, combos and clever scoring.

Game Information

What's Included?

• 78 Cards
• 1 Wooden Messenger Pawn
• 96 Tokens
• 1 Game Aid
• 1 Scoring Pad
• 1 Rulebook

Castle Combo FAQ

How many players can play Castle Combo?
Castle Combo supports 2–5 players.

What age is Castle Combo for?
It is recommended for players aged 10 and over.

How long does Castle Combo take to play?
A game takes around 25 minutes, with some listings giving a range of 10–25 minutes.

What is the goal of Castle Combo?
The aim is to build the highest-scoring 3x3 tableau by recruiting nine characters and combining their abilities and scoring conditions.

What does the Messenger do in Castle Combo?
The Messenger determines which of the two character markets you can recruit from. Keys allow you to influence its position and access different cards.

Is Castle Combo a good family game?
Yes. The rules are accessible and games are short, while the card combinations provide plenty of strategic depth for more experienced players.

Buy Castle Combo from Roll The Dice Cornwall

Ready to create the ultimate medieval combo? Add Castle Combo by Catch Up Games to your collection and recruit nine characters, build clever combinations and squeeze every possible point from your 3x3 tableau.