Catan Universe

It kind of intrigues me that there is such a market for board games directly transformed into video games. Not that there's much different from their original physical versions, but I guess it just makes them more portable. Catan Universe is the digital version of the Catan board game - one that I have no history with. Nor one that I know anyone that has.

In retrospect, that makes Catan Universe a little more compelling to play. You'll be able to get the full scope of the digital version while learning what made the board game famous in the first place. I've been told it's kind of like an empire-builder - I'm curious to see how this translates from a board game into a video game format.

Let's Settle On It

Catan has been popular enough that there have been numerous games based on it. However, Catan Universe attempts to break boundaries by incorporating a complete experience - board games, card games, expansions - and everything in between. For those that haven't played Catan, this would all sound a bit obscure. It's probably worth going into the basics before analysis.

The game is set out in a hexagonal format with the narrative of settling the island of Catan. You'll accomplish this by playing resource cards to build settlements. The objective is to achieve 10 victory points through establishing a city and settlement presence on the board. There are a few rules in between regarding trade and how you can progress, but give the game a go if you're interested in learning more.

Now I've attempted to explain what the game is in an elementary format - how does it play as a video game? Catan Universe is pretty faithful to the original concept. However, it seems not a whole lot has been done to excite the experience. There isn't much visually offered that differs from a physical board game, bar some animations noting successes, player prompts, and failures.

It's safe to say that Catan Universe has been built only to take the physical gameplay directly into your pocket or PC screen. The mechanics are incorporated flawlessly, but you can't help but feel there could be extra flair added to make the battle for Catan more immersive. But they aren't seeking a new player base here - so why stray far from the original concept?

Upholding Traditions

Catan Universe does a decent job of simplifying and streamlining gameplay into a digital presence. Obviously, the online modes allow players to compete from wherever and whenever. Not forgetting that nothing is inherently wrong with how the game plays - but without enhanced visuals, the game does feel bland.

Pros:

• Bringing the complete Catan experience onto every prominent device
• A clean interface allows straightforward game management
• Faithful to the board game

Cons:

• Those with little experience in Catan might struggle
• Visuals are uninspiring and bland
• Players will find an issue with this particular free-to-play model