Start Here
BOARD GAMES Catan
Catan Review
Posted: 3 months ago, last updated 4 weeks ago.
Author: Rob Prior, @GeekDadGamer and Jo Robertson.
Overview
You start by creating the island from hexagonal tiles that represent different resources. Players then place two initial settlements on the boundaries of these tiles and take turns to roll dice that determine which tiles produce resources. You get these resources if you have settlements on the right card, even if it's not your go.
As you accumulate these resources you can play them in different combinations to build further settlements, cities and roads to increase future production as well as score points. If you don't have the resources you need you can try and trade with other players, although taking care not to inadvertently help them too much.
As play progresses space becomes more limited, but resources become more plentiful. The aim of the game is to be the player best placed to take advantage of this bounty, establishing yourself as the most powerful kingdom and taking the victory. It is a really social game that forces players to fight for the limited resources available, whilst forming uneasy alliances to make needed trades. It creates a fascinating interplay between chance and the competing strategies of each player on the island.
There are a number of expansion packs that give players more options and create more ways to score points. They are:
- 5-6 Player Expansion Pack adds pieces and tiles to play with more players.
- Seafarers of Catan adds ships, gold and further islands to explore.
- Cities and Knights adds knights to defend settlements and some extra resources to compete for.
- Traders and Barbarians adds extra cards, pieces and game mechanics that allow players more complex trade options.
- Explorers and Pirates adds ships to explore the sea, new resources to find and pirates who steal those resources.
Game Details
Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds
Release Date: 01/01/1995, updated in 2013
Price: 34% off
Genres: Collecting, Communication, Strategy and World Building
Accessibility: 37 features
Pieces: Bag, Cards, Dice, Figures, Placeables, Score Board and Tokens
Developer: Asmodee USA (@Asmodee_USA)
Players: 3-4
Lists
View our choice of games like Catan. This game is good if you want to:
Duration
When playing for the first time, you should:
- Set up the board in the "Starting Map" formation.
- Ensure that you understand the probability of each number being rolled during the game.
- Consider leaving out the development cards for the first few games.
- Take time to discuss initial placements and possible strategies before starting.
- Play the "Friendly Robber" rule, so that the game gets going quicker.
Play Time: This game will take between 1 hour and 2 hours to complete. Game time is very dependent on numbers of players playing and the speed of each player.
Play Style
You can play this game in the following styles:
Age Ratings
Skill Rating
10+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. This is a fairly complex game, which requires a fair amount of patience to learn. Youngers players may be able to access this game, but may need support with strategy and understanding some of the more involved rules within the game.
Content Rating
We rate this suitable for 7+ years-olds.
Costs
Catan
Settlers of Catan
Accessibility
This report applies to the latest version of Catan. Older versions may have different accessibility profiles.
The game can be played in configurations that support colour blindness, but suffers most at the full player count where the yellow and orange pieces may lack easy differentiation. A catch-up rule is provided, but some stigma is attached to it in the culture. Sometimes called 'The Welfare Option'.
The game comes with a frame into which all its hexes fit, which technically means 'no sprawl' but the board is likely to require slightly more space than is usual for games tagged in this way. While the game does require a good understanding of probability, it does support this need with coding on the board.
Report informed by Meeple Like Us assessment which offers an extended review.
Board Games Like Catan
Our experts have hand-picked the following board games that offer a similar experience or theme to Catan. These are good alternative games to Catan.
Video Games Like Catan
Our experts have hand-picked the following video games that offer a similar experience or theme to Catan.
Dorfromantik
