Settlers of Catan

by Kyle Chadrick
(St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada)

Old Box Front

Players are the settlers of a new island known as Catan in this wonderful Settlers of Catan game. The game board is made up of numerous hexagon shaped pieces, each representing a specific resource type. The game board is a random layout, so the board changes each time you play. The core game can be played by 2-4 people, while an expansion allows up to 6.

The game ends when a player manages to accumulate 10 victory points. This end can be accomplished in numerous ways, road building, upgrading settlements or buying development cards.

The game itself is simple to learn. It is suggested for players age 8 and up, but I have played with those as young as 6.

It is also educational as well as fun. It teaches about probability, as each hex has a different number 2-12, with dots that represent how many combinations of a number can be rolled on 2 D6. It also fosters a spirit of cooperation, as players are encouraged to make trades of resources.

The average game is 45 min to an hour, but can run longer with more people.