The Castle Doctrine header image
Want
Played
Favorite

The Castle Doctrine

Jason Rohrer
Jan 29, 2014 - PC
Weak

OpenCritic Rating

59

Top Critic Average

11%

Critics Recommend

IGN
4.5 / 10
PC Gamer
85 / 100
Game Informer
7 / 10
Polygon
5 / 10
GameSpot
4 / 10
Destructoid
7 / 10
Hardcore Gamer
3 / 5
God is a Geek
5 / 10
Share This Game:

The Castle Doctrine Media

The Castle Doctrine Trailer thumbnail

The Castle Doctrine Trailer

The Castle Doctrine Screenshot 1

Critic Reviews for The Castle Doctrine

A a grim, unsatisfying and morally dubious exercise in frustration and empathy suppression.

Read full review

A merciless and thoughtfully-designed online strategy game whose clever systems enable a unique and troubling experience.

Read full review

This is definitely a niche title, but those looking for something well off the beaten path won't be disappointed

Read full review

The Castle Doctrine posits a no-win scenario

Read full review

GameSpot

Nick Capozzoli
4 / 10
GameSpot

The Castle Doctrine is a poorly balanced structure built on an unstable foundation.

Read full review

The Castle Doctrine is certainly an experience unlike any other, but I also find it hard to recommend since it's so obtuse and seems to want to put new players at a huge disadvantage, increasing the skill gap between the best and the worst. Intense research and work must be put forth to succeed, but there's no real motivation except bigger and better death traps. If you have a penchant for creating complex death traps with a limited toolset, The Castle Doctrine may be just for you. Otherwise,do some research before moving into the most dangerous neighborhood of all time.

Read full review

The Castle Doctrine has innovation oozing out of every pore. By combining well-developed puzzle design with massively multiplayer strategy, the game is simply unlike anything else on the market right now.

Read full review

My cranium is red raw from tearing strands of hair from my scalp in frustration and I'm sure plenty of others will be bald within an hour of playing The Castle Doctrine. It's a shame that this is the case because there are some interesting options available to players, but the cutthroat design choices are a step too far.

Read full review