Chickwood Forest comes in a relatively modest box but is a full-grown game of scouting castles, grabbing loot, giving alms, and earning glory.

Whoever earns the most glory wins the game. To this end, the players scout the castles for fruitful targets. They play cards from their hands to these castles, sometimes face up, sometimes face down. Next, they each raid one castle, hoping to steal its precious treasure while avoiding any nasty surprises. With their bags bursting with riches, they can then give to the poor by placing their alms on the village cards, thus showing who is the most generous.