Catan – Board Game Review

Catan - An Overview

Catan, or as it was originally known, Settlers of Catan, is one of the games credited with ushering in the modern era of board gaming. It was released in Germany in 1995 and in the United States in 1996.

Catan - How It Plays

I really like Catan. The game board is modular, giving you a unique map to play on each time. This gives players new challenges and strategies in every game. Catan also has many expansions for it, so you can customize the gaming experience you want.

Players need to manage their resources, trade with other players, and expand their settlements to achieve victory. There are multiple paths to victory, and the ever-changing game dynamics present new challenges.

I like games where every turn is interesting. In some games, you take your turn, and then just sit and wait for everyone else to take theirs until it’s your turn again and you can do something. In Catan, when the dice is rolled, regardless of whose turn it is, everyone pays attention. That’s because the dice roll determines the resources being generated. Resources are very important in Catan. The dice roll may also trigger the robber, a little guy we’ll talk about later. 

Players use their resources to trade with other players, build roads and settlements, or exchange for other resources. Exchanging one resource for another can be expensive. This is why trading with other players is usually the better choice, as long as you have something another player needs.

There are also two different cards worth two victory points each that get passed around as the game goes on. One goes to the player with the longest road, and the other goes to the player with the largest army. So, you may have the longest road card…for now. As soon as another player adds to their road, making it the longest, you have to hand those sweet victory points over to them. So, you may have to add to your road and get that card back. It’s the same idea with the largest army card. One particularly fun thing to do is watch two players go back and forth over possession of the longest road card, only for you to jump in right at the end of the game and take it from both of them, giving you the ten victory points needed to win the game! Let’s face it. It was always going to belong to you.

Catan - What Makes It Fun

One of the best things about Catan is the player interaction. The gameplay encourages negotiation, diplomacy, and competition among players. Players will trade resources, form alliances, and compete for control of key locations on the island of Catan. Sometimes, you desperately need a sheep, and no one seems willing to give you one, no matter what you offer in trade. In that case, it’s time to come up with a new strategy, preferably one that makes the others sorry one of them didn’t trade a sheep to you.

Catan is a great social experience. It encourages communication among players. I really love games that do this. There’s just something that is so satisfying about sitting around a table with friends and laughing while desperately asking one of them for a sheep. The game generates memorable gaming moments.

Catan - Things to Consider

One game mechanic adds a little unpredictability to Catan: the robber. The robber triggers when a player rolls a seven or plays a Knight development card. The robber has several effects, including causing players to discard resources and blocking an area from producing resources. There can be other effects too, but just know that the robber is a little game-changer (pun intended) that can cause a player to change their strategy in an instant. You may start wondering why that little guy isn’t in jail already.

I feel that most players enjoy the robber, even if it causes frustration, because it can add an unexpected twist to the game.

Also, because this game has been around for so long, many experienced board gamers may not want to play it anymore. This isn’t because the game is bad at all, but because they’ve probably played it a million times and there’s always another game they would rather play. 

Catan - Conclusion and Rating

Catan is easy to learn. The rules are not only very simple but also very intuitive. The game is accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. It’s great for experienced gamers and those new to gaming.

I still love playing it. I even have the Star Trek version that adds character ability cards.

Catan has been around for a long time, and many board gamers credit it with their introduction to modern gaming. It’s a modern gaming classic and will always have a place on my board game shelf.