Stats:
No. of players: 1-5
Amount of time to play: 60 min
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: 10-15 min

Castle Ravenloft Rules Description:

Castle Ravenloft is a cooperative Dungeons and Dragons board game. You explore the castle that is filled with monsters and try to meet scenario-specific goals.

Before I got Castle Ravenloft I had Wrath of Ashardalon (the second D&D board game in this line). The rule books for these games are almost the exact same. When I reviewed Wrath of Ashardalon (WoA) I went over the rules and gameplay. Read that review if you are looking for those details. I am going to talk about the differences in the two games.

Castle Ravenloft has most of the same character classes as WoA, but there is a ranger instead of a paladin. The hero daily powers in WoA are a bit more powerful too.

Treasure is not as helpful in Castle Ravenloft. In WoA it seems they made all the items more useful. For example, getting a treasure to remove a condition has to be used immediately whether anyone has a condition on them or not. In WoA you can hold onto most treasures until you need them. Castle Ravenloft has no boon cards either.

As you would expect the monsters in Castle Ravenloft are mostly undead with a few kobolds and some animals. Sentries are unique to WoA. As are locked and trapped doors, chamber tiles, and long hallways.

The conditions in Castle Ravenloft are immobilized and slowed instead of poisoned and dazed.

The games play almost the exact same, but Castle Ravenloft is a bit harder since your treasure cards are not always useful.

A Quick Review of Castle Ravenloft:

Castle Ravenloft has the same strengths and weaknesses as Wrath of Ashardalon. (again to see my Wrath of Ashardalon review click here).

The two can play well together, but mixing some components (monsters or tiles) without editing what you add can result in game-balance issues. The heroes can be mixed easily.

Some people might ask if I was only buying one which would it be. I think I might buy Wrath of Ashardalon first but it is mostly personal preference. I like the figures and monsters better (I am a sucker for dragons).

I am happy to have both and if you play the Dungeons and Dragons RPG you’ll be happy to have more miniatures.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 3 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 3 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 3 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6