Description
Monkey Palace (Opičja palača in the Slovenian edition) is a family building game from the LEGO games series, nominated for the Golden Geek award for Most Innovative Board Game of 2024. Long ago, a magnificent palace was built in the jungle, and it then lay abandoned for many years. Now you are rebuilding it – out of real LEGO bricks that grow taller on the table.
How to play Monkey Palace
On your turn, you build one staircase out of arches, single bricks and pillars. Each arch must be higher than the previous one, and the staircase must attach to the palace that is already standing. At its end you place a decoration in the color of the floor where the staircase begins. The number of arches is your monkey credit, and you get extra credit if your decoration is the highest one of that color.
With your credit you buy monkey cards in the color of your decoration. They give you bananas and new bricks – either once or every turn. A staircase with at least five single bricks earns you a bonus card. The game ends when the bricks run out, and the player with the most bananas wins.
Why you will like it
- The LEGO brick palace grows taller on the table and is different every time.
- You build on other players' bricks and look for the highest spot for your decoration.
- Monkey cards give you more and more bricks for bigger staircases.
- Four floor layouts and the Butterfly and Frog mini expansions add variety.
Who is Monkey Palace for
It is for two to four players aged 10 and up, and a game takes about 45 minutes. The rules are moderately simple, and players like it best with two. It suits families and anyone who loves building with LEGO bricks.
What you might not like
Building in three dimensions takes a good sense of space, and the staircase building rules take some learning. It may not suit those who dislike spatial puzzles.
What's in the box
- LEGO bricks: 80 arches, 80 single bricks and 16 pillars
- decorations: bamboo leaves and gold bricks
- 67 monkey cards, 14 bonus cards and 3 trophy cards
- main board with 4 corner pieces and 4 player boards
- 2 sheets with 4 floor layouts
- brick box
- monkey, butterfly and frog figures
- rulebook
