CATAN Original

Hands down one of the best board games ever. So many different strategies can be used. Attractive design. Takes a little bit to learn so don’t expect the first time to be easy or make complete sense but by the end, you will ‘get it’. Challenging for intense folks and fun for the laid back ones. A little bit of luck mixes with communication skills and strategy. Love it! Actually bought this one for a friend’s family.

Me and my husband enjoy playing board games and we were not new to Catan, in fact, it has been one of our favorite games since we got into the board game world. We already owned the "Settlers" and "Rivals" versions of Catan and when we learned of the Black Friday deals on board games, we decided it was the time to have our own version of this game as well (especially since we used to play with some friends and their copy, so us recently moving into another city also played as a factor to buy it).As for the game itself, Catan offers a great balance between strategy and competitive gameplay. While luck is almost always a factor in boardgames and Catan is not the exception (dice rolling involved), the game feels more guided and affected by your strategy and decisions rather than by luck, which is good, since this makes the game more compelling and adds weight to the decisions that you make throughout the game. There is also a trading component that allows you to interact with the other players, which is great for stirring some fun arguments and debates. While this game has a competitive approach, it doesn't pit the players against each others through direct confrontation (which is welcomed if you are not looking for an aggressive game where everyone ends up mad at each other), it plays more like a race in which you need to focus on your strategy while keeping watch of the opponents and overall it is extremely fun. It has simple enough mechanics for beginners, but they are also very compelling for more experienced players, specially when you start to play with the randomized board map. It is not a surprise that this is still regarded as a classic game even though it came out a long time ago.The materials and details of the cards, boards and pieces are excellent. It is worth mentioning that one of the "settlement" wood pieces was chipped when we opened the box. While this didn't affect the use or gameplay experience and understanding that there are errors expected in manufacturing processes, we still decided to send a note to the customer service address provided by the game developers (not through Amazon) and they responded very quickly and efficiently, and within a week or so we received a replacement piece on the mail, so extra points to the customer service.Even if you are not looking to get deep into the board game community, Catan is a must if you enjoy playing games with friends or family. And even if you plan to further try more games, most likely you will always be glad to revisit this wonderful game.

I got introduced to this game when it was called "Settlers of Catan" over 7 years ago now. Its an awesome family game. The game by itself can accommodate 4 players. If you buy the expansion set, you can have up to 6 players total.Depending on how you play (fast or chit chat, fun) a game can go from 30 mins to 2 hours. But I tell you, the ones we enjoy the most are the ones that take a long time because they are the challenging ones.The game is interesting because you arrange the hexagonal pieces differently for each game, so each game is different. ON top of that, you place numbers on it (from 2 to 12) so when a dice is rolled, if you have a city or house around it, then you get that resource. There are 5 resources that you need to Build things - such as Road, house, cities, and each item may have points associated with it. You need 10 points to win the game. For example, a house is 1 point, but a city is 2 points - but you cannot build 5 cities. Each time dice is rolled, and if you get that resource, you can save it later - we allowed hiding the resource card (put face down), so you can keep your strategy a secret and its up to others to figure out what you may be planning. If you do not get the resources you need, you can trade when its your turn - but you must trade before the roll of the dice (I think).We play this as a family including 4 and 5 year olds that have now grown up and are masters of this game... The game needs to be played with strategic focus, but dont underestimate the 4 or 5 year olds after they have played this game a few times.We have worn out the old game board, and so purchased this one.. Its one of those things that we do when family gets together.Overall, this is an awesome game.

Super fun game. Well made! We had fun playing as a family with our 11 year old, 14 year old, and seventeen year old!

gift well received! son in law was so happy to get this game for Christmas.

THRILLING game! Have never failed to have a good time playing. It’s always a hit!At first, I thought it was going to be game with a fantasy plot but I was very wrong! Catan is like the farmers monopoly but more interactive with every turn, and not as long of a game time.Pros: I don’t think I’ve ever played a boring game! Basic rules are fairly easy to understand and get the hang of after your first game or two. You can play casually or get deep into strategy. Offers a fun and lighthearted but competitive plot. Perfect for small groups.Cons: There are smaller game play rules that can be tricky to remember, but the game will still flow without them. The quality of the set I received felt a bit flimsy and some of the printing came off of the pieces as I popped them out of their cardboard holders. You can only play with 3 or 4 people unless you have the expansion pack.Overall, I recommend this game and bring it to a lot of game nights.On a separate note: the makers of the game seem to keep making different variations (ex. Starwars, settlers, 3D, new energies, etc). This feels a tad gimmicky to me but I know it’s had a massive following over the years so maybe it’s what the market wants!

I absolutely loved this game! It’s perfect for two or more players and comes with an extension pack that adds even more enjoyment. My family and I had a fantastic time playing it together. The game is both easy to learn and incredibly exciting, making it a great choice for any gathering. I highly recommend it for family events or outings with friends—it’s guaranteed to elevate your fun!