Catan- Console Edition review

Catan- Console Edition is a functional interpretation of the classic Eurogame that flaunts detailed visuals. But beyond that, the $19.99 base game doesn’t deliver many frills.

As digital adaptations of tabletop games go, Catan- Console Edition makes a stunning first impression. After panning across a ridiculously faultless ocean, our point-of-view settles on a cluster of nineteen hexes that form Catan’s playfield. With a swelling orchestra and a sweeping camera that recalls the opening credits of Game of Thrones, it’s evident that this interpretation of Catan is visually ambitious. Zoom in on the island and you’re able to witness the island workers toiling away, which is about as useful as rendering animated cars on Monopoly’s streets and boulevards. But hey- it sure looks nice.

In comparison, Game Republic’s 2010 interpretation of the board game (which was delisted two years later) seems visually passé, lacking the sparkle and delightful whirlwind animations that play whenever resources are acquired. But save for a few innovations like QR-code integration so local players can keep track of their building materials on their mobile screens, additions are minimal. Don’t like the almost universally ugly character portraits? You’re stuck with them. There’s no way to pit a SOCOM operator against Ferdinand Magellan, like the previous console version.

Instructional Videos Impart the Basics

After a few matches against CPU-controlled opponents, you’re likely to notice elements that are inexplicably absent- such as being able to set the intelligence level of your challengers. Then, there’s the economic elephant in the room. Co-developer and publisher Dovetail Games are behind the DLC-dense Train Sim World, Train Simulator, and Bassmaster Fishing franchises. Given the presence of a $4.99 Championship Map pack at launch and how none of the nine expansions are included here, know that Catan- Console Edition feels utterly bare-bones. In keeping with contemporary gaming trends, there’s more flash than substance. Some of the perks in the Deluxe Edition include a dice and hex frame skin- the type of things that used to be earned for free inside  games.

But if basic Catan is all you’re after, this console edition is a serviceable digital reworking. If you’ve never played Klaus Teuber’s board game, Dovetail and Nomad Games provide some assistive videos that explain the fundamentals. Essentially, you represent one group of island-based migrants, who construct settlements, cities, and connecting roads. Every time that it’s your turn, you’ll roll two dice, with the outcome usually producing resources on the corresponding hex. So, if you roll a nine, you’ll acquire whatever material (brick, lumber, ore, grain, or wool) is on the island’s nine spot.

Robbing the Other Side of the Island

Much like Monopoly, success in Catan centers on the control of physical space. Any settlements that border on a rolled hex also receive resources. Since these materials are required to build these villages, the rules tend to provide momentum to those who already own resources. This is counterbalanced by The Robber, an entity that starts in the desert hex. Any player who rolls a seven can move him around, preventing materials from being produced. Additionally, if players have more than seven resource cards, they’ll forfeit half of them whenever a seven a rolled.

But unlike Hasbro’s legendary skewering of capitalism, it can be hard to obtain an early lead in Catan without interaction with your opponents. As such, on every turn you’ll have the option to trade resources with any other player. That said, the reliance on dice rolls for materials means that a game of Catan can’t usually be won through sly negotiation alone. Oddly, you’re supposed to be able to turn off CPU bartering requests, but I wasn’t able to.

Alas, Only the Essentials

With AI or online opponents, many of the nuances of negotiation are lost. When playing the board game with other people, rivalries and allegiances organically emerge. Witnessing the ire of a scorned player contributes to the sense of enjoyment. But this is completely lost when playing with CPU rivals. Although the developer tried to inject some personality through idiosyncratic decision-making styles, most of the time opponents just aim to take down the current leader. The result is a game that can be sterile and a bit predictable. Perhaps that could be counterbalanced through a campaign or a procession of unlockables. Regrettably, Catan- Console Edition only offers the basics.

Ideally, the developers would have tweaked up a few elements to keep Catan’s pace lively. Waiting a few seconds for AI to determine their next move isn’t a deal breaker. But when combined with a user interface that requires a protracted hold button to end your turn and animations that can’t be turned off, games can feel a bit lethargic.

Providing players with options doesn’t automatically produce longevity. But ideally, the developers could make a few changes to better distinguish Catan- Console Edition from its cardboard counterpart.

Catan- Console Edition was played on Xbox Series X
with review code provided by the publisher.