Catan

In 1995 the world first experienced the wonders of Catan, and board games have never been the same since. At first known as The Settlers of Catan, this board game from Germany became an international sensation, spawning multiple expansions, extension, variations, scenarios and spin-offs.

The gameplay of Catan is a departure from most of the board games that dominated the 20th century. Like most previous game, dice rolls add some element of chance to the game, but much more important are strategic analysis, planning and decision making. Because the board is built from randomly placed interlocking hexagonal pieces, players need to study a new board each game to determine the optimal places for settlement. Resource management for expansion and development is the key to success. Every roll of the dice is meaningful for every player on every turn, right up to the end of the game.

While it isn’t the only game that changed the way we think about board games, nor even the first, few other board games in this century have had the same impact on the world of gaming. If you haven’t yet experienced the world of Catan, do yourself a favour and give it a try.

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November is International Games Month @ Your Library