Group games are a great way to help break the ice and forge teamwork among friends. A great group game that is highly popular is Enter the Castle, as you not only encourage friends to work together to win, but you’ll also see everyone having fun as a group.
Features of the Enter the Castle Game
| ★ Game Name | Enter the Castle |
| ★ Group size | small and medium |
| ★ Age | any (8+) |
| ★ Type | active |
| ★ Skill | reaction / balance / running |
| ★ Place | indoor |
| ★ Time | up to 10 – 20 min |
| ★ Preparation | no |
| ★ Materials | yes |
The aim behind Enter the Castle
When playing Enter the Castle, your aim will change according to your role. As a visitor, you aim to make it into the circle known as the castle through the gates. As a guard, your goal is to guard the gates and stop any of the players from entering the castle.
Group Size and Age
Enter the Castle is best played with groups of 3 to 10 players. If you have a large group, you may consider splitting everyone into teams and create multiple castles around the room. You can play Enter the Castle with anyone aged 6 and up.
Preparation and Needed Materials
To play Enter the Castle, you will need to prepare some cones to double as castle gates. Each gate will require 2 cones, so be sure to have enough cones to surround the castle.
How to play Enter the Castle
Setting up to play Enter the Castle is easy. First, you’ll have to create some castle gates. To do this, you will have to place some cones to double as castle gates. The width of the gates will not have to be too big, just enough for a person to pass through. Create several of these gates around a circle. Once the gates have been set up, you’ll be ready to play the game.
Step 1: Select a volunteer who will try to enter the gates and have the other players assume the role of a guard. One of the gates must always remain unguarded. For instance, if you have 3 guards, then you must have 4 gates. Always increase the number of gates and guards to the number of players you have.
Step 2: The player who isn’t a guard must try to enter the circle known as the castle by going through any of the open gates. The guards, however, must work together and move around the gates to stop the player.
Step 3: If the player successfully tricks the guards and enters the castle, they will win. Choose another volunteer when this happens, so everyone will have the chance to be a guard and a visitor.
To make the game more challenging, you can also include a time limit for the volunteer to enter the castle. If the players fail to make it into the castle within the time limit, the guards will be considered the winners.