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Apart from being played professionally, the game is also considered to be a ‘gateway game’ and has served as a jumping point for players to further delve into the board gaming hobby. Though perhaps not as well known, there are many games on the market that will appeal to those who enjoy Catan.
5 Ticket To Ride Is One Heck Of A Ride
Ticket to Ride is a competitive game where up to 5 players will attempt to build railway lines and expand their train networks. The game is considered a classic and is well-loved around the world, it’s no surprise why. Ticket to Ride is easy to learn, quick to play, and available at most local game stores. The game also has several expansions featuring several maps and a deluxe edition with premium components.
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Where it differs from Catan is that it offers players a more cut-throat experience as players will not only expand their railway networks but also seek to block off their opponents. Those familiar with Catan will recognize this mechanic that is reminiscent of Catan’s road network. It essentially is but ramped up ten-fold. Players who are looking for a more intense and brutal board gaming experience should try out this seemingly cute and unsuspecting classic.
4 Small World Is A Blast
Fantasy lovers will be enthralled with Small World. Similar to Risk, Small World is a game of area control where players must control areas on a map with their units to score points. Where it differs from Risk is that Small World has players select a fantasy race with a defining special power that is randomized in every game.
However, like any rising power and empire, it will soon go into decline. To win, players must know when to over-extending an empire into decline and start a new race to ride the wave to victory. Races in decline are weak and can easily be taken over by new races. Players will score points depending on the special ability of their race and the number of territories they occupy.
Once players understand the mechanics of the game, the game can become extremely fun, quick, and replayable. Furthermore, the game has expansions that include more strategies, races, powers, and options to achieve victory. There’s even a Small World of Warcraft for fans of the Warcraft franchise.
3 King Of Tokyo Is One Big Monster Brawl
Fans of Catan looking for a more confrontational board game experience need not look further. King Of Tokyo (and its other variants) puts players in the shoes of giant monsters, mechs, and aliens vying for control over the city. The rules are simple, whack all the other monsters and swat away the pesky military to become the ultimate monster in all of Tokyo.
The game rules are extremely simple and the mechanics utilize dice to resolve attacks, gather energy, and acquire health. Special abilities can be acquired throughout the game which will allow players to upgrade their monsters with additional dice, body armor, and over-powered death rays. The victor is the player who accumulates 20 points first or is the last monster standing.
2 Citadels Amps Up The Tension
A game of bluffing, social deduction, and medieval city-building, Citadels is a competitive card game for up to 8 players. To win, players must have the most points based on the quality of their buildings. The game ends when a player has erected their 8th building (or less depending on player count). What makes the game interesting is its emphasis on roles and social deduction.
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Each round, a player will select 1 of 8 different roles, each with a special ability. The player who goes first is the king and will select a role from a deck of cards and then pass it on to the next player. Once everyone has selected a role, each person reveals their choice according to the order of cards (their value).
Some cards, like the assassin, will skip a player’s turn whilst other cards like the thief and warlord allow players to steal money from other players or destroy their buildings respectively (sparking intense hatred). Fast-paced and extremely replayable, Citadels offers a great experience for fans of Catan.
1 Champions Of Midgard Will Make Players Feel Like A Champion
Set in a fantasy Viking world, up to 4 (or 5) players will compete with one another to slay monsters and become the next Jarl of the village. Champions of Midgard is a worker placement game in which players will commit their workers to acquire resources and manpower. Each round, players will pick a location to gather a specific resource (wood, food, or spearmen) and add it to their reserves. To win, players must acquire the most glory points.
To earn glory, players must fight the various trolls, draugrs, and monsters that threaten the village. In order to fight, players will need to gather warriors (in the form of dice) to take out these monsters and receive rewards. There are several types of warriors (swordsmen, spearmen, and axemen) that offer various advantages and disadvantages and players will need to recruit them to vanquish the threats surrounding the Viking settlement.
Immersive and surprisingly competitive, Champions Of Midgard is a game that can be played by anyone and is easy to find. The Dark Mountains and Valhallaexpansions should also be considered. They offer even more meat on the bone and feature a higher player count, additional mechanics, new monsters, and more soldier types to choose from.
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