Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
Keys to the Castle is a tile-based game of strategy and luck. Players must open and close doors (the tiles) to move along a path and be the first to cross to the other side.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Grid Movement
Move pieces between adjacent spaces on a regular grid.
Hand Management
Time and sequence a limited hand of cards to preserve future options.
Lose a Turn
Certain outcomes cause a player to skip a future turn or action.
Modular Board
Build the play area from interchangeable sections that vary between games.
Take That
Direct negative effects at selected opponents.
Read the full game description
Keys to the Castle is a tile-based game of strategy and luck. Players must open and close doors (the tiles) to move along a path and be the first to cross to the other side. Special cards are played to hacksaw through barred doors, use a skeleton key to unlock padlocked doors, throw a net on a player to stop them in their tracks or use secret passageways to maneuver your way to the other side. The game is easy to learn and quick to play. With the tiles acting as the "board", there is a new outcome to each game every time the tiles and cards are shuffled.