90

Caylus is a strategy-oriented worker placement game where players act as master builders competing to construct a castle and develop the surrounding city in 13th century France. Players earn prestige points by building the King's castle and developing the town, with the game featuring intense strategic depth and constant calculation. It is considered one of the games that popularized the worker placement mechanism in modern board gaming.

90

The Verdict

based on 8 reviews

Positive 0%
Deep strategic gameplay with very little luck involved.
High replayability due to variable game setup and player-driven town development.
Significant and direct player interaction, a distinguishing feature for a Eurogame.
Multiple viable paths to victory, requiring flexible strategies.
Creates a tense and challenging experience through tight resource management.
The gameplay can be unforgiving and is often described as "mean" or "stabby," which might not suit all tastes.
A dry, abstract theme of building a medieval castle that is not well-integrated with the mechanics.
Dated graphic design and component quality compared to contemporary board games.
The game can be long and is not considered suitable for casual gamers due to its complexity.
95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Board Game Guys, JoshArticle

Caylus is lauded as a phenomenal euro-style board game, offering immense strategic versatility and exceptional play balance, despite a potentially confusing initial learning curve.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Rahdo Runs Through, Rahdo (Richard Ham)Video

This video offers a detailed runthrough of Caylus gameplay, demonstrating its mechanics. It concludes with Rahdo's final thoughts, sharing his personal experience and overall impressions of the board game.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
BoardGameBollocks, BoardGameBollocksVideo

The reviewer expresses a strong appreciation for Caylus, calling it one of the best worker placement games still available today, though they note some minor issues with its five-player experience and the Provost mechanism.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Meeple Mountain, Justin BellArticle

The reviewer highly praises Caylus as an excellent and enduring worker placement Eurogame, especially when played by those who embrace its tight, interactive, and 'stabby' elements. He notes that playing it as a standard, non-interactive Euro can make the experience feel average and dry.

90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Topping the Table, Jamie HopkinsArticle

This review praises Caylus as a masterful board game, highlighting its intricate worker placement, dynamic castle construction, and deep strategic gameplay. It notes exceptional component quality and high replay value, rewarding strategic planning and resource management.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the BoardVideo

The Chairman of the Board awards "Caylus" an "elite shield," highly praising its enduring and fantastic worker placement design. He appreciates its tight resource management and interactive passing mechanic, acknowledging its demanding nature.

80
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Board Game Review, Ashley PerrymanArticle

If on the other hand, you want a deep and complex worker placement game with some interesting and innovative mechanics, and one that in terms of opinion and rating has stood the test of time, then Caylus may be exactly what you are looking for.

80
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Zatu Games, Ashley PerrymanArticle

If on the other hand, you want a deep and complex worker placement game with some interesting and innovative mechanics, and one that in terms of opinion and rating has stood the test of time, then Caylus may be exactly what you are looking for.

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