6 Castles

About this board game

6 Castles is a historical board game for 2–4 players, with playing time of approximately 45 minutes. Set in the XII century during the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, it places players in the role of representatives of the Portuguese king.

Portugal is emerging as a new country along the Atlantic coast, while its early kings direct scarce resources toward expanding southward and defending newly claimed borders. Across the region, castles are constructed and land-use contracts are granted to small villages, allowing them to grow in size and importance.

The game draws its setting from the line of six castles in what is now the County of Idanha-a-Nova. This defensive line helped protect Portugal and maintain distance from the Kingdom of Leon, while supporting the development of a region that had held great importance in the interior of the peninsula since Roman times.

As representatives of the crown, players seek to promote four important aspects of the kingdom:

• Agriculture to support the growth of the land and its settlements
• Free trade to encourage prosperity
• Religious faith within the developing kingdom
• Wealth for the nobles who help shape the realm

With its focus on Portugal’s medieval frontier, 6 Castles combines a strong historical setting with the challenge of advancing the kingdom’s interests. Released in 2019, it offers a compact experience for groups of two to four players.

Solo rules are available online, but they are not included in the game box.