Carcassonne Labyrinth: Crossover of the Summer

Have you ever considered what it would be like if you were to take the shifting mechanics of the ever popular Labyrinth, and combined them with the tile laying strategy of international favourite Carcassonne?

Well, Ravensburger have done exactly that with Carcassonne Labyrinth. The board game that brings both classics together to create a completely new game which is bound to excite families. If you need an enticing way to keep everyone occupied during the holidays, this clever interpretation of the two popular games would be a great choice.

Read on to find out our thoughts on Carcassonne Labyrinth.

Labyrinth is a game that dates back to 1986 and has been through different variations over the years. This classic game of moving mazes is designed for between 2 and 4 players and is a simple but fun game with high replayability. In the classic game, players must navigate an ever shifting board layout and collect the hidden treasure cards in order to win. There have been lots of versions of the game over time, featuring characters from Pokémon, Minecraft and Spongebob Squarepants to name a few!

Carcassonne is a popular, strategic tile laying game where players build up their cities, roads and monasteries, whilst placing meeple on the board in order to score the most efficient points. Carcassonne is considered by many to be a gateway game to the hobby, much like Catan. There are plenty of expansions of the game to keep fans entertained. 

Carcassonne Labyrinth blends both worlds intuitively across a 10-round game which plays out like this:

1. Shift the Labyrinth: Just like classic Labyrinth, you push tiles into the main maze layout to find a clear path to your target treasure.

2. Build Your Map: When you successfully claim a treasure tile, you then use it to build your own personal map of cities and roads, showcasing that iconic Carcassonne tile-laying feel.

New to both games? Don't worry! The rules are incredibly easy to follow, and Ravensburger has you covered with a fantastic, highly accessible video explanation that gets you playing in no time.

The important question is, how do you decide who wins? The biggest departure from the original games is how the winner is decided. Instead of point-counting, you stack your tiles and tokens. The biggest stack wins!

We played this game with two adults, a 14-year-old, and a dyslexic 10-year-old. The visual stacking of the tiles was a massive hit and made deciding the winner incredibly clear, which helped keep things completely argument-free, which is always a good thing!

We think Carcassonne Labyrinth is a wonderfully creative interpretation of two timeless games. The components and tokens are beautifully designed and highly tactile, making the actual act of building your map feel exciting, fun and sure to be enjoyed by all ages.

We were seriously impressed by how seamlessly these two distinct games combined to make an entirely fresh experience. We found the game to be accessible, fast-paced, and with just the right amount of strategy for a family game night. We think Carcassonne Labyrinth is sure to be a hit over the holidays! If you prefer your games a little darker, why not check out our look at the upcoming release Horrified: Ravenloft, it is absolutely packed with Gothic horror!

Do you think you will be adding Carcassonne Labyrinth to your collection? Let us know over on our socials. Also keep an eye on our News and Events page for more fun games to play this summer!