.jpg)
With a new version of Starfarers of Catan set for release by Christmas 2019 and the Asmodee reprint of Struggle for Catan being dropped earlier this year, the charming gaming juggernaut that is Catan shows no signs of slowing its colonisation of the tabletop gaming world. From a Star Trek version to a Game of Thrones version, there has been no shortage of ways to enjoy Catan (including the oft-forgotten and delicious Chocolate Edition…). There has also been no shortage of writing about the Catan base game and its many expansions and versions. However, relatively little has been written about the portable versions of Catan, the travel-friendly iterations that pack in lots of settling goodness into shorter play times, smaller playing areas, and with fewer players (the minimum player count of 3 for the original game has long been a common bugbear).
So here for your delectation is the Cthulhu Reviews guide to the portable versions of this classic board game!
Struggle for Catan
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30 mins
Age: 10+
Designer: Klaus Teuber
Publisher: Asmodee (previously Mayfair Games)
RRP: £11.99
Struggle for Catan is a 30-minute card game for 2-4 players. As in the original Catan, the aim of the game is to gain resources, build developments, and be the first player to get 10 victory points (VP). Unlike the board game, Struggle for Catan features no dice, and so the gaining of resources is no longer down to pure luck. Instead, each player draws 2 resource cards per turn, and players can gain additional resources depending on the number and type of developments they have (for example, a knight allows you to draw 1 more resource card per turn).
Another notable change to the Catan formula is that the number of developments are limited, and certain ones (roads and knights) can change hands from player to player if you continue to build them once the pool has been depleted. This gives an additional strategic ‘Take That’ element to the game, making players think carefully about what they build and when. Another new feature is the City Expansions, which earn you lots of extra VP and come with special abilities that help you and hinder your opponents, such as protecting your roads and knights from theft or allowing you to use 1 resource as another type of resource when building.
The game is a fast-playing, to-and-fro card game that allows players to scratch that Catan itch in around half the time it takes to play the board game. Also, for those who might be lamenting the lack of luck involved, when trading in Struggle for Catan you can choose to take a random card from an opponent's hand if you want to take a chance!
On a sad side note: the Asmodee 2019 reprint features a noticeable drop in component quality, with thin card stock and a game box that is unlikely to stand up to much transportation.
Summary: Struggle for Catan is a lighter card version of Catan that suits variable player counts, features less luck, and an exciting ‘Take That’ element.
Catan Dice Game
Players: 1-2
Playing Time: 15-30 mins
Age: 7+
Designer: Klaus Teuber
Publisher: Mayfair Games
RRP: £11.99
Catan Dice Game is a Roll-and-Write version of Catan. The game consists of 6 colourful dice and a pad of double-sided sheets that feature 2 different islands for a 1 or 2 player game. The aim of the game is, of course, to gain resources and build developments. In the 1-player mode (Island 1 – the green side) the aim is to get as many VP as possible, whereas in the 2-player mode (Island 2 – the red side) the goal is to be the first player to get 10 VP. Each D6 features the resources that players need to build developments (brick, lumber, wool, grain, ore, gold). Each round, players get 3 rolls to try and get the resources they need, keeping the dice they want and rolling again the dice they don’t want. As you build developments, you cross them off on your Island sheet and keep track of your VP.
During a 2-player game, as in the board game, the points for the longest road and largest army can change hands as the game progresses. While the developments that can be built are the same as the board game (roads, settlements, cities, knights), Catan Dice Game comes with a couple of key differences. The knights act as ‘resource jokers’ that may be used once per game to change a die to a particular resource (as specified on the knight). Through the strategic building and use of knights, you can get some exciting chain-building going on late in the game. The other big change is the gold resource; if you roll 2 golds you may change 1 of those 2 dice into any other resource type.
With it being all about the dice rolling, there is an exciting ‘push-your-luck’ element to the Catan Dice Game, and crossing off your developments on your sheet as you build them is very satisfying. This game is essentially a simple and untaxing way to spend time in the world of Catan. However, if you don’t get excited by the rolling of dice (in other words, if you have played Zombie Dice and didn’t enjoy it) then this game probably isn’t going to tick your boxes.
Summary: If you love dice and Catan, this is the one for you! Heavily luck based, with a fun ‘push-your-luck’ element, this is a great introduction to the world of Catan.
Catan: Traveler Compact Edition
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 40-90 mins
Age: 10+
Designer: Klaus Teuber
Publisher: Mayfair Games
RRP: £41.99
Catan: Traveler Compact Edition is a travel version of the Catan board game. The game comes in a really neat box with a handy carry handle, which makes it highly portable. Inside the box is a trapezoid plastic case than opens up to form the classic hexagonal Catan shape. The tiles that form the actual island are modular, which ensures a certain amount of variation to the layout, and all the components are securely stored in drawers around the edge of the plastic case.
The flow of the game is almost identical to the board game. Players try to be the first to get 10 VP, roll dice to gain resources, trade resources with opponents, and build the classic range of developments. The dice are tiny and come in a little encased hexagonal shaker, which is great for portability and playing in a limited space, but is definitely not as satisfying as rolling proper dice. The cards are also very small, but again, are ideal for the travel-friendly format.
I love that the Catan: Traveler Compact Edition features a 2-player variant, which includes Trade Cards that allow a player to force a trade with the other player (the player who plays the card takes 2 cards from their opponent, who gives the player any 1 card in return).
Summary: Catan: Traveler Compact Edition is literally Catan-on-the-go, and does a great job of shrinking the game down to a small but still-playable size.
Catan Universe
Players: 1-4
Playing Time: Variable, but at least 20 mins+
Age: 10+
Publisher: Asmodee Digital
RRP: Free (with in-app purchases)
Platforms: PC, Mac, Android, iOS.
Catan Universe is the digital version of Catan. For free, you can play the basic Catan base game and the introductory mode of Rivals for Catan. After you have completed the tutorial, the single player and custom match modes for the basic Arrival on Catan scenario are also unlocked. You can pay to access the full Catan base game, as well as the Cities & Knights and Seafarers expansions.
There is a really clear tutorial for new players, the touch-screen controls are intuitive and well-implemented, and the 3D perspective effectively recreates the feel of being at a table playing the board game. You can easily see your opponents’ stats along the top of the screen, such as how many cards they have in their hands, how many knights they have, etc, so you can easily adjust your strategy accordingly.
You can play against other humans online or against AI opponents which have variable difficulty settings. Another couple of nice touches are the customisable avatars, and the stats that appear at the end of a game, including things such as the distribution of dice roll outcomes. However, the dice do not actually roll, which I found a bit saddening – you just click on the ‘Roll’ button and the numbers appear. Also, trading with AIs can be hit-or-miss (they rarely accept any offers I offer them – even very generous ones!).
Summary: Catan Universe is an enjoyable, free-to-play implementation of Catan that does a pretty good job of recreating the fun of the board game in a digital setting. The multi-platform availability of the game means that this really can be played anywhere!
So there we have it folks! I hope you enjoyed reading about the different portable versions of Catan. What is your favourite portable version of Catan? Did I miss something absolutely key with this guide? Let me know in the comments!
Note: I have omitted Rivals for Catan from this guide, as while it is essentially a more streamlined version of the board game, it has a substantial playtime (I’ve even known a 120-minute game!) and in my opinion actually has more complexity than the board game. Also, it does require quite a bit of table space!
Comments