What Makes Catan Special

Originally released as "The Settlers of Catan" in 1995 by designer Klaus Teuber, this game fundamentally changed how people think about board games. Before Catan, most board games were either abstract strategy games like Chess or luck-based family games like Monopoly. Catan bridged this gap by combining accessible rules with meaningful strategic decisions.

The game takes place on the fictional island of Catan, represented by a modular board of hexagonal tiles. Each tile produces a specific resource: brick, lumber, wool, grain, or ore. Players build settlements on the intersections of these hexes and collect resources based on dice rolls throughout the game.

How the Game Works

Each turn begins with a dice roll that determines which hexes produce resources. All players with settlements adjacent to the numbered hexes collect the corresponding resources. This means you are always engaged, even when it is not your turn.

On your turn, you can trade resources with other players or with the bank, and spend resources to build roads, settlements, cities, or development cards. Roads extend your network across the island. Settlements provide additional resource collection points and victory points. Cities upgrade settlements to double their resource output. Development cards offer various bonuses, from extra resources to victory points.

The goal is to reach 10 victory points. Most points come from settlements (1 point each) and cities (2 points each), but you can also earn points from development cards, having the longest road, or controlling the largest army.

The Trading Element

What elevates Catan beyond typical strategy games is its trading system. Resources have different values depending on what players need at any given moment. A player desperate for brick to complete a road might offer generous trades, creating opportunities for shrewd negotiators.

Trading adds a social dimension that pure strategy games lack. You need to build relationships with other players, understand their needs, and sometimes make deals that benefit both parties. This dynamic keeps the game interactive and prevents any player from being completely shut out.

Strengths

Easy to learn, difficult to master
High replay value due to modular board
Engaging player interaction through trading
Balanced gameplay with multiple paths to victory
Excellent component quality

Considerations

Dice luck can sometimes feel unfair
Poor initial placement hard to recover from
Base game limited to 4 players
Games can run long with new players
Robber mechanism can create conflicts

Expansions and Variants

The Catan family has expanded significantly since the original release. The most popular expansion, "Catan: Seafarers," adds ships and island exploration. "Cities and Knights" introduces more complex mechanics including knights, commodities, and barbarian attacks. "Traders and Barbarians" provides several smaller variant scenarios.

For groups of 5-6 players, expansion packs add the necessary components and rule modifications. There are also standalone variants like "Catan Junior" for younger players and themed versions set in Star Trek and Game of Thrones universes.

Strategic Tips for New Players

Starting position matters enormously in Catan. Place your initial settlements to maximize resource diversity. Having access to all five resource types reduces your dependence on trading with potentially uncooperative opponents.

Pay attention to the numbers on hexes. Numbers 6 and 8 are rolled most frequently (each has a 14% chance), while 2 and 12 are rarely rolled (about 3% each). Prioritize spots adjacent to high-probability numbers, but do not completely neglect rarer numbers if they offer strategic advantages.

Development cards are often undervalued by new players. They provide flexibility, surprise elements, and can be decisive in close games. The Longest Road bonus is visible to everyone, but Knights from development cards can quietly build toward Largest Army.

Where to Buy Catan in Czech Republic

Catan is widely available in Czech Republic through multiple retailers. The game has been published in Czech language by several distributors over the years. Current options include:

Blackfire - Major distributor of board games including Catan
Alza - Electronics retailer with board game section
Svet her - Dedicated game store with physical locations

Prices typically range from 700-1200 CZK for the base game, depending on the edition and retailer. English language versions may be slightly cheaper but check compatibility if you plan to add Czech expansions later.

Final Verdict

Catan remains one of the best gateway board games nearly three decades after its release. Its combination of resource management, strategic planning, and social interaction creates memorable gaming experiences. While luck plays a role, skilled players consistently perform better over multiple games.

The game is particularly recommended for families with older children and groups new to modern board gaming. If your group has extensive board game experience, you might find the base game somewhat simple after repeated plays, but the expansions add significant depth.

For more board game recommendations, explore our reviews of Ticket to Ride and Azul, or return to our homepage for our complete collection of reviews.