Defend Castle Itter as US soldiers, Wehrmacht infantrymen, an SS officer, an Austrian resistance fighter, and freed French prisoners of war unite against the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division. This strategy simulation game puts you in command of the historic defenders on May 5, 1945, near an Austrian village. Survive until the SS deck runs out while blocking SS counters from reaching the castle.
Score points for surviving defenders and deduct for leftover SS counters on the board-the higher the total, the better your outcome. As the next Valiant Defense series entry and sequel to Pavlov's House, it delivers quick-play wargaming with light rules rooted in real history. Individual heroes hold the line against heavy odds, appealing to fans of compact, story-driven simulations.
The Battle of Castle Itter was fought near the Austrian village of Itter on 5 May 1945, in the last days of the War in Europe during World War II. US soldiers joined forces with Wehrmacht infantrymen, an SS officer, an Austrian resistance fighter, and recently freed French prisoners of war to defend the castle against an attacking force from the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division.
During a game of Castle Itter, you take the role of the force that defended the castle from on 5 May 1945. The goal of the game is to last until the SS deck is depleted, without allowing SS Counters to reach the castle. You score points for each Defender that survives the assault and lose points for each SS Counter remaining on the board at the end of the game - the higher your score, the better.
Castle Itter is the next design in the Valiant Defense series, and the sequel to Pavlov's House, one of the top rated wargames of 2018. The Valiant Defense series allows you to play amazing stories of courage, with small forces holding the line against unimaginable odds. Games in the series focus on the individual defenders and are deeply rooted in history, while providing a quick play experience with a light complexity ruleset.
The Design Team
Castle Itter was created by David Thompson, the designer of War Chest, Pavlov's House, Armageddon, Undaunted Normandy and Orc-lympics. The artist for the project is Matt White, the designer of Panzer Orders and Until the Bitter End.
