Catan

Catan

Board Game
3-4 Players
About 60 Minutes
Grade 5 and Up
Game Schooler Recommendation

Catan is a modern classic. It was released in 1995 and introduced a whole generation of players into tabletop gaming. That alone makes Catan worthy of being a recommended game from Game Schooler. Even if it falls out of favor with hardcore gamers, it’s still an amazing game. Behind its lineage and accolades, you’ll find a game brimming with risk management and probability. Players must carefully manage resources, think strategically, and capitalize on opportunities as they build roads, settlements, and cities. On top of that, Catan offers players a chance to negotiate and trade with their opponents and flex their persuasion skills. Even though the game can run a bit long, the gratifying gameplay is worth it every time.

Game Overview

The women and men of your expedition build the first two settlements. Fortunately, the land is rich in natural resources. You build roads and new settlements that eventually become cities. Will you succeed in gaining supremacy on Catan? Barter trade dominates the scene. Some resources you have in abundance, other resources are scarce. Ore for wool, brick for lumber - you trade according to what is needed for your current building projects. Proceed strategically! If you found your settlements in the right places and skillfully trade your resources, then the odds will be in your favor. But your opponents are smart too.

Skills
  • Competition Competition
    Develops healthy competitive habits as two or more parties compete for a goal that cannot be shared.
  • Persuasion Persuasion
    Players are encouraged to convince others through reasoning.
  • Risk Management Risk Management
    Players must identify, evaluate, and prioritize options to reduce the impact of unfortunate events or risks.
  • Strategic Thinking Strategic Thinking
    Encourages players to develop a process or long-term strategy for accomplishing a goal.
  • Tactical Thinking Tactical Thinking
    Challenges players to make decisions based on currently available information.
  • Resilience Resilience
    Teaches players how to quickly recover from and cope with difficulties.
Game Details
  • Type: Family Game
  • Category: Board Game
  • Designer(s): Klaus Tueber
  • Published: 1995
  • Game Length: About 60 Minutes
  • Players: 3-4 Players
Awards
  • 1995 Spiel des Jahres Winner
  • 2001 Origins Awards Hall of Fame Inductee
Have We Talked About This Before?
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