Yep you nailed it. A fun and easily accessible game but I think regular players may be left wanting something more. My favorite part (and most Euro games have this in common but I feel like Catan does it really well) is that all players are competitive up until the end. I've never played a game of Catan where it felt I had no chance of winning. To contrast that with another game you've reviewed, Robinson Crusoe, a couple bad roles and you might as well start over or spend the next hour getting your face stomped. I also think its funny that this game is well known amongst people who play a lot of board games and those that don't. Here is an abbreviated conversation I had: Me: I like board games Friend: Oh! Me too! I own and play Monopoly and Risk all the time! Me: Yeah, those can be fun but sometimes I like games with a bit more depth and theme. Friend: Ah, you must be one of those people are really into intense games like Catan. Me holding Twilight Imperium, Gloomhaven, and Nemesis: uh, yeah, games like Catan.
I think people talk about Catan so much not because of it being a good game, but it is a very important game to the hobby. I learned a lot about it's history and importance in the documentary Gamemaster.
I was never a big Catan fan, but Seafarers is my favourite expansion for the game. (I used to enjoy the 2-player card game version - "Rivals For Catan" - more than the original game until I got tired of how mean/cut-throat it was.)
I've been in the hobby for 8 years. Before that, I *did* have Catan, Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne. I loved Catan and I agree with you that it is an amazing design. I had one friend that played it all the time and would only play it. I grew to really hate Catan because you really start to see the flaws come through (especially when you are as deep in the hobby and you and I both are). I still think it's a pillar in gaming and I'm glad it's in the masses....but your example with literature is dead on (there is nothing wrong with liking HP or LOTR...but there is probably SO much out there that is fantastic). Anyway, in my group of 6...I think there are two that haven't played Catan either. I'm glad you did experience it! If I can offer some unsolicited advice: dig deep into some Reiner Knizia designs. I'm sure you have played something of his like Lost Cities or Modern Art...but at first blush: they can appear to be just ok. There are some that are garbage, but the man has designed around 600 games! However, if you take a game of his and just play it a few times: you'll get the Knizia 'click' in your brain where you see the simple genius. He has very easy rules but the strategy is there on a few plays. Ra, Modern Art, Medici, Tigris and Euphrates, Samurai, Through the Desert, Babylonia, Battleline, Ingenious, Indigo, Lost Cities, Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation and High Society are some of my faves! Thanks for the video!
I love Catan. The only expansion I’ve played with so far is Cities and Knights, and that adds a whole lot to it. I haven’t played with it enough to really fully understand it, but it is fun. I’d like to play many of the other expansions sometime. -T
I my opinion, the expansions make the game, the base game to me feels as though there are very limited actions for the player to make on their turn. I also found that a lot of the actions that rewarded victory points were unsatisfying, a good example is how the person with longest road tends to have a snake of roads going nowhere since it is cheap to build roads but expensive to do anything with them. I have played seafarers and cities and knights and they both add a lot to the game. Cities and knights is honestly just an improved version of the base game and seafarers adds some new ways to play with the scenarios it give you in the instructions. I could honestly talk so much about how the two expansions that I've play improve the playing experience and the depth of the game.
It was years of board gaming before I tried Catan and as much as I love what it’s done for the hobby as a gateway I find it to be a terrible game compared to most all the options we have now that it helped spawn.. tried it with the seafarers expansion and it just made a terrible game longer. For something to do when it isn’t your turn, I show newbs space base instead..
I appreciate it but it's not on my favorite list. I think the way you gather resources is pretty ingenius but most likely you'll spend a lot of time waiting for something to happen. You could say that a game that offers more meaningful choices each turn is a better game - and there are lot of those. But I'm not some Catan hater, like so many people in the hobby.
Yep you nailed it. A fun and easily accessible game but I think regular players may be left wanting something more. My favorite part (and most Euro games have this in common but I feel like Catan does it really well) is that all players are competitive up until the end. I've never played a game of Catan where it felt I had no chance of winning. To contrast that with another game you've reviewed, Robinson Crusoe, a couple bad roles and you might as well start over or spend the next hour getting your face stomped.
I also think its funny that this game is well known amongst people who play a lot of board games and those that don't. Here is an abbreviated conversation I had:
Me: I like board games
Friend: Oh! Me too! I own and play Monopoly and Risk all the time!
Me: Yeah, those can be fun but sometimes I like games with a bit more depth and theme.
Friend: Ah, you must be one of those people are really into intense games like Catan.
Me holding Twilight Imperium, Gloomhaven, and Nemesis: uh, yeah, games like Catan.
I’ve eventually come to see Catan as a platform, a basic structure and collection of components that I can use to build a wide variety of games.
I think people talk about Catan so much not because of it being a good game, but it is a very important game to the hobby. I learned a lot about it's history and importance in the documentary Gamemaster.
Great review Ali! I’ve never played Catan either, but I’ve been wanting to.
I was never a big Catan fan, but Seafarers is my favourite expansion for the game. (I used to enjoy the 2-player card game version - "Rivals For Catan" - more than the original game until I got tired of how mean/cut-throat it was.)
You have to try Cities & Knights and Seafarers. Regular Catan seems boring after you play with the expansions.
I've been in the hobby for 8 years. Before that, I *did* have Catan, Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne. I loved Catan and I agree with you that it is an amazing design. I had one friend that played it all the time and would only play it. I grew to really hate Catan because you really start to see the flaws come through (especially when you are as deep in the hobby and you and I both are). I still think it's a pillar in gaming and I'm glad it's in the masses....but your example with literature is dead on (there is nothing wrong with liking HP or LOTR...but there is probably SO much out there that is fantastic). Anyway, in my group of 6...I think there are two that haven't played Catan either. I'm glad you did experience it!
If I can offer some unsolicited advice: dig deep into some Reiner Knizia designs. I'm sure you have played something of his like Lost Cities or Modern Art...but at first blush: they can appear to be just ok. There are some that are garbage, but the man has designed around 600 games! However, if you take a game of his and just play it a few times: you'll get the Knizia 'click' in your brain where you see the simple genius. He has very easy rules but the strategy is there on a few plays. Ra, Modern Art, Medici, Tigris and Euphrates, Samurai, Through the Desert, Babylonia, Battleline, Ingenious, Indigo, Lost Cities, Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation and High Society are some of my faves! Thanks for the video!
Yeah, it took me like 3 years into the hobby to finally play Carcassonne. Just bought it this week and me and my wife are loving it.
(but I'm yet to play Catan lol)
I guess I have to admit I haven't played Carcassonne yet 😅
I love Catan, we never play it anymore, but I'm always down to play it. No other game has the social trading down like this one.
I love Catan. The only expansion I’ve played with so far is Cities and Knights, and that adds a whole lot to it. I haven’t played with it enough to really fully understand it, but it is fun. I’d like to play many of the other expansions sometime.
-T
I my opinion, the expansions make the game, the base game to me feels as though there are very limited actions for the player to make on their turn. I also found that a lot of the actions that rewarded victory points were unsatisfying, a good example is how the person with longest road tends to have a snake of roads going nowhere since it is cheap to build roads but expensive to do anything with them. I have played seafarers and cities and knights and they both add a lot to the game. Cities and knights is honestly just an improved version of the base game and seafarers adds some new ways to play with the scenarios it give you in the instructions. I could honestly talk so much about how the two expansions that I've play improve the playing experience and the depth of the game.
Love that fiction analogy.
It was years of board gaming before I tried Catan and as much as I love what it’s done for the hobby as a gateway I find it to be a terrible game compared to most all the options we have now that it helped spawn.. tried it with the seafarers expansion and it just made a terrible game longer. For something to do when it isn’t your turn, I show newbs space base instead..
Why to play Catan, if Terra Mystica exists? :) Never played Catan myself tho.
@4:06 Um, have you ever played a little game called... "Monopoly"?!
That game has been ruining families for decades. Lol.
#LFLR
"VBW"
I appreciate it but it's not on my favorite list. I think the way you gather resources is pretty ingenius but most likely you'll spend a lot of time waiting for something to happen. You could say that a game that offers more meaningful choices each turn is a better game - and there are lot of those. But I'm not some Catan hater, like so many people in the hobby.