Number of Players: 4 (although you can buy an expansion set)
Age Range: 12+
Cost: $23-$38
Settlers of Catan is an adult game from Germany that is quickly growing in popularity across the United States. I enjoy games that are a combination of luck and skill and this is one of the best. The premise is simple yet difficult to master. It is fun to play with just two players, but four adds an extra challenge.
The Settlers of Catan is a game about building and trade. Each player uses five resources – wood, ore, wheat, wool, and brick – to build roads, settlements, and cities. Resource cards are the key. Players receive resource cards by rolling the die and getting the number they have a settlement on or by trading resource cards with other players. Any time a number is rolled everyone on that number receives a resource card, but you are only allowed to build on your turn. You have to watch out for the thief, who moves every time a seven is rolled. He prevents you from gaining resource cards. The first player to reach 10 points wins. Points are received for every settlement, city, through development cards, and by having the longest road or most soldiers.
One of my favorite things about The Settlers of Catan is that each time you play the game it is different. The game board is made up of hexagon resource tiles. The tiles are laid down in a different pattern each time the game is played. The numbers (which correspond to the die) are randomly placed on each tile. So the game is never the same.
There are a number of extensions available that you can add to your original Settlers of Catan game. You can buy an extension that allows you to play with up to 6 players (adds more game pieces, cards, and buildings). There is also a Cities and Knights addition, which adds further complexity and a new dimension to the game, as the players have to work together to protect their cities from attacking barbarian hordes. The Seafarers of Catan allows players to take to the sea with additional board pieces, ships for each player, and a pirate ship. Players sail from the mainland for additional resources all the while watching out for the pirates.
This site lists the least inexpensive versions of the game.