We’re so thrilled to announce that CASTLE PANIC 2ND EDITION has been chosen as the winner of the Best Gift in the Games & Puzzles category for Pop Insider’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide!
This fifth annual holiday gift guide is Pop Insider’s biggest one yet, and it’s filled with all sorts of fun stuff. We couldn’t be happier to get picked to part of this collection, and we’re excited to hear from new players that get to experience Castle Panic for the first time!
We’re ecstatic to share the news that The Spruce recently added Castle Panic to their list of Best Games! Not only did Castle Panic rank in The 11 Best Cooperative Games but it also was the Top Pick for Best for Families!
The Spruce is a prestigious lifestyle website that helps 385 million annual readers find the best products for their homes, from gardening, home improvement, and cleaning products to décor, furniture, and gifts. If you can find it in your home, The Spruce has a review to guide your decision making.
They research, test, and review independently, following a rigorous editorial process. So, readers can depend on an unbiased recommendation from them. Adding to their credibility is their impressive social media presence: 561K Instagram followers, 742K on TikTok, 868K on Pinterest, and 1.3M on Facebook. The Spruce doesn’t sleep on getting the word out about the amazing products they recommend. Check the main page out as well as the article that lists Castle Panic, and start sprucing up your home!
We’re beyond thrilled to be part of Gen Con 2023. As the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection takes center stage, we invite you to join us at booth 2434 and at our large events. Get ready for exclusive editions, amazing discounts, engaging events, and plenty of gaming fun. Let’s dive into the thrilling plans we have in store for you!
Castle Panic Deluxe Collection and More: Prepare for a gaming feast as we present the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection at our booth. This extraordinary collection includes the highly sought-after deluxe versions of the Castle Panic base game, all four expansions (The Wizard’s Tower, The Dark Titan, Engines of War, and Crowns and Quests), a playmat, plus all of the promos ever made for the game. Immerse yourself in the ultimate Castle Panic adventure with the monster minis on rotatable bases, wood tokens, plastic castle pieces, and more.
Deluxe Bundle Offer: Looking for deluxe versions of just the most popular expansions? Our Castle Panic Deluxe Bundle is designed to deliver just what you want. During Gen Con, we’re offering the Castle Panic Deluxe Bundle at a special discounted price. This incredible package includes Castle Panic Deluxe, The Wizard’s Tower Deluxe, Crowns and Quests Deluxe, and an epic playmat. Normally valued at $310, you can snag this exclusive bundle for only $250 (while supplies last). Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to elevate your Castle Panic gameplay!
Small Games Bundle: Looking for travel-sized gaming adventures? Our Small Games Bundle is here to deliver! Priced at only $75 (a $110 value), this bundle features Here, Kitty, Kitty!, Bears!, Dastardly Dirigibles, and Stringamajig. As a special treat, we’ve included free promos to enhance your gaming experience even further.
Promos Galore: We believe in sharing the love of gaming, which is why we’re thrilled to offer a free promo with every game purchase at Gen Con (while supplies last). These game-enhancing goodies are our way of saying thank you for being part of the Fireside Games family.
Exciting Events: Step into Castle Panic Adventures: Get ready to embark on thrilling Castle Panic adventures with our exclusive Gen Con events:
We can’t wait to see you at Gen Con 2023. Visit us at booth 2434 to immerse yourself in the Castle Panic universe. Discover the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection, take advantage of the Castle Panic Deluxe Bundle and the Small Games Bundle, and collect free promos with your purchases. Don’t miss our thrilling events centered around The Wizard’s Tower and Crowns and Quests expansions. Let’s make Gen Con an unforgettable gaming extravaganza together. See you there!
We are so thrilled to announce that My First Castle Panic has won the PAL Award (Play on Words.com). The PAL Award was established to recognize “exceptional toys, games and books/media that, through their design, content, quality, and character, promote play that advances language” and is led by Erika Cardomone, MS, CCC-SLP. Erika’s training as a speech-language pathologist and her 15 years of working and playing with children has prepared her to analyze and offer keen insights on how products can support learning and communication.
When Ms. Cardomone saw My First Castle Panic, she recognized the ongoing developmental focus on the game. Her review specifies the way My First Castle Panic helps children sequence information, use temporal words (such as first, next, then, and last), tell stories, and develop language generally. She also notes how the cooperative nature of the game encourages conversation and strategic planning. You can read her full review here.
It’s an honor to be included in such a stellar group of products and to be acknowledged for the language support inherent in My First Castle Panic. We feel seen!
Justin recently sat down (virtually) with Richard for a fun chat on the We’re Not Wizards podcast.
They discussed the thermodynamics of tea, what kind of kid Justin was growing up, selling games in today’s market, and “squeaky bum” moments. It really is all that and a bag of chips, or “crisps” rather.
You can listen to the podcast on the player above, or visit We’re Not Wizards to hear all the shenanigans for yourself.
Engines of War 2e is available now in your favorite stores! We’re so excited to announce that today is the day you can pick up the second edition of Engines of War, the expansion to Castle Panic that adds a simple economic system to the game experience. With a brand-new look for this expansion, players are introduced to the Engineer to build new weapons and defenses. Monsters are always lurking nearby, and this Monster army attacks with new ranks and powerful Siege Engines! Good thing players can order up a barricade or a catapult.
The new Resource deck and Engineer build options provide new interesting choices. Should you set a Spring Trap for that Troll coming into the Red Swordsman area? Or shoot the Ballista at the Breathtaker in the Blue Archer space?
The new Monster abilities and threats also require broader strategy decisions. Should you take out the Shaman, who heals all Monsters in the same color for 1 point of health every turn? Or focus on whittling down the Battering Ram, which takes no damage from Castle structures, before it gets to the Castle ring? Every new Monster affects the conditions of battle differently.
The new Keep, Catapult, and Ballista tokens enhance the 3D look of the game. It’s fun to actually place the defensive weapons on the board as the Monsters approach.
The Second Edition includes not only all new art but also heavier card stock and a few rules updates.
Of course, Engines of War is also available in the Castle Panic Big Box, which is the all-in-one collection! This huge box includes Castle Panic base game and four expansions—Engines of War, The Wizard’s Tower, Crowns and Quests, and The Dark Titan—plus 13 promo items in the new art style of second edition.
Engines of War Second Edition is a great way for fans to deepen and extend their Castle Panic experience. Pick a copy up in stores today!
We’re thrilled to announce that we have retained KidStuff PR effective February 1, 2023. This respected firm will handle our media, influencer, and awards relations, with a focus on promoting My First Castle Panic and Castle Panic.
One of a very small number of public relations agencies focusing only on children’s products and toys, KidStuff PR offers a unique and targeted approach to publicity, promotions, and creating a buzz. The 29-year-old agency’s specialization has led to close relationships not only with key media influencers, but also in the toy industry community.
KidStuff PR has fostered relationships with a vetted group of over 200 influencers for over a decade. Recently, the agency has mentored and sought out partnerships with influencers who are families of color to diversify the life experiences of influencers who review clients’ products.
KidStuff has a strong track record of supporting smaller publishers in crafting and communicating company and product stories. After hearing from families who have bonded over our games for so long, we’re eager to have even more families find time around the table together through the reach of KidStuff.
About KidStuff PR
KidStuff PR takes a light-hearted approach to writing and content creation, but founder Lisa Orman takes seriously the job of providing reporters with stories about the best products and services for children and families. Every month, she receives dozens of calls from prospective clients but only takes clients for whom she has a true passion, since it helps her do a better job, try harder, and makes work more enjoyable. She has been awarded many recognitions in her field and in the industry, notably one of the only people to receive two Women In Toys awards: for best Consultant and Online Social Networker. Find out what the buzz is all about at www.KidStuffPR.com.
Castle Panic® has earned the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award®. Having been rigorously evaluated by a panel of MCA evaluators, Castle Panic is deemed to be among the best products for families.
The MCA evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal, and cost.
“We are thrilled to earn the Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence Seal of Approval,” says Anne-Marie De Witt, co-founder of Fireside Games. “We know all the great things the MCA does to connect consumers, educators, and caregivers with the best products and services available for families.”
To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five (5) identical samples for testing. Entries are matched to evaluators in the MCA database. Evaluators are bound by a strict code of ethics not only to ensure objectivity, but also to ensure that the evaluation is free from manufacturer influence. The five evaluations are submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final review and approval.
“Our aim to introduce families and educators to best-in-class products and services,” explains Dawn Matheson, Executive Director of the Mom’s Choice Awards. “We have a passion to help families grow emotionally, physically and spiritually. Parents and educators know that products and services bearing our seal of approval are high-quality and also a great value. The MCA evaluation program is designed to incorporate the expertise of scientists, physicians and other specialists; but we also engage parents, children, educators, and caregivers because they are experts in knowing what is best for their families.”
With the evaluation now complete, the testing samples of Castle Panic will be donated to schools, libraries, hospitals and nonprofit organizations.
The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for children, families and educators. The program is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. The organization is based in the United States and has reviewed thousands of entries from more than 55 countries.
Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media look for the MCA mother-and-child Honoring Excellence seal of approval when selecting quality products and services for children and families.
Learn more about the Mom’s Choice Awards by visiting their website: www.MomsChoiceAwards.com.
