When you think of family board games what’s the first game that comes to mind? 9/10 of us will say Monopoly. But wander outside the borders of Park Lane and Northumberland Avenue and you’ll find a whole island of gameplay adventure, known as the CATAN Board Game.
What we love most is that CATAN has a little bit of everything.
- It’s social yet strategic, fun yet fast-paced and competitive yet collaborative.
- It comes with multiple ways to play and allows players to use several strategies to win.
- Best of all, it brings everyone to the gaming table and allows for screen-free family fun (for an hour at least!).
Sure, CATAN may be an oldie but it’s also a goodie. Trust us, you and the kids (even those eye-rolling tweens) are going to love it!
Fun Fact: CATAN is one of the most popular board games in the world. It’s consistently making the Best Board Games lists and there is even a Settlers of Catan movie coming out soon. But there are still plenty of people who have never played it before.
Well, here’s your chance to get in on the CATAN action.
Why CATAN is The New Monopoly Your Family!Â
Monopoly is a staple when it comes to the best family board game, but CATAN also ticks all the best family board game boxes and, in some ways, outshines Monopoly in the gaming realm.
With the CATAN board game, you won’t have to listen to your kids fight over who gets to be the Scottie Dog. It also doesn’t take half a day to play fully through and there’s no chance anyone can cheat being the Banker.
CATAN is designed for kids 10+ but its gaining traction in the 7-8 year old range too. You can play with 2 to 4 players (5 to 6 players with the expansion pack) and the game generally takes around an hour to play. Plus, no Banker needed.
The object of CATAN is to gather resources and build the biggest settlements on the fictional island of Catan. It combines elements from some of the most popular games of today – Minecraft, Monopoly and Risk, for example, but it also brings plenty of unique elements to the table.
How to play the CATAN Board Game
The goal in CATAN is to reach ten victory points, which you can get from building settlements, cities, and development cards, having the longest road and the largest army.
There are several different ways you can set up the board and you can make it more advanced as you learn the strategies and rules of the game, which means every time you play will be a completely different experience.
Plus, because there are so many ways to get victory points, there are many strategies you can use to conquer the game.
CATAN requires players to plan, negotiate, and adapt their strategies based on the evolving game board and resource availability.
- Players must build items based on the resources available.
- Players can trade with other players
- Resources also depend on the roll of the dice so it does come down to a bit of luck!
It’s great for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills and keeping everyone focused and engaged in the game. There’s a bit of luck, a lot of strategy and plenty of social interaction.
5 Reasons we think you’ll love CATAN!
1. FOSTERS FAMILY BONDING:Â It can be hard to find activities the entire family wants to do, especially as the kids get older, but CATAN is a winner for family fun. It’s collaborative but also competitive, and different every time you play. Dish out some snacks and drinks for everyone and let the game begin!
2. SCREEN-FREE INTERACTION: In an age where screen time is prevalent, CATAN offers a refreshing alternative that encourages face-to-face interaction, even if it’s just for an hour or two.
3. GREAT FOR OLDER KIDS: Little kids are easy to entertain but older kids can sometimes be hesitant to hang out. This is one of the reasons CATAN has been so popular for so long – it appeals to tweens and teens and allows them to put those problem-solving and strategy skills to good use. Kids who enjoy games like Minecraft will especially love CATAN – it’s quite similar!
It’s also competitive which means you can earn bragging rights for beating your kids. And vice versa.
4. PLAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN: CATAN is easy to set up and play but what we especially love about it is that you can change the entire structure of the game depending on your skill level. There’s a set-up for beginners and a variable set-up for experienced players, so games can be tailored to suit player skill levels. You can also add more players to the game with the expansion set.
5. A GREAT FAMILY ACTIVITY FOR UNDER $70: For affordable fun, you can’t beat it! CATAN is under $70 and will honestly bring hours and hours of family fun to the table.
These are only a few of the countless reasons why the CATAN Board Game continues to be a firm family board game favourite! If you are after your next family board game to add to your collection, settle into CATAN.
You dish out the snacks and we’ll supply CATAN. Enter to WIN below.
Discover why CATAN continues to be voted one of the best family board games year after year.
Win 1 of 5 CATAN Board Game Prize Packs featuring CATAN and a CATAN Expansion Pack of your choice.
Also check out the additional CATAN games including CATAN Junior and the four expansion packs – Seafarers, Cities and Knights, Traders and Barbarians and Explorers and Pirates. Â
Good Luck!
If you are a fan of board games, check out a few of our other favourite choices:
- REVIEW: Ticket to Ride Europe: All Aboard for a European Train Adventure!
- We’ve Discovered the Easy Way to Teach Chess for Kids as Young as Three
- 60 Families, 5 Games, 1 Review: Exploding Kittens Games Deliver Fast-Paced Family Fun!
This is a sponsored post for VR Distribution
