Catan Universe

"Catan Universe" is a digital adaptation of the popular board game Settlers of Catan, where players build roads, cities, and trade resources to become the dominant force on the island of Catan. The game offers the original board game, card game, and expansions, and allows cross-platform play between desktop and mobile devices. Players can compete against others worldwide, with a focus on strategic planning and diplomacy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

48%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,924 reviews

gameplay79 positive mentions

stability809 negative mentions

stability
823 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and freezes that severely impact gameplay. While some players find enjoyment in the game when it functions properly, the overwhelming consensus is that the experience is marred by persistent technical issues, making it often unplayable, especially in multiplayer scenarios. Overall, the game's stability issues detract from its potential as a fun digital adaptation of the classic board game.
- “No glitches or bugs to report.”
- “No dropouts, no glitches, no bugs.”
- “No glitches at this time (the ones that were present in the past, they patch very promptly).”
- “This game is so buggy that it is actually unplayable.”
- “The game constantly freezes which makes it unplayable.”
- “I would recommend catan to everyone, but unfortunately, this game is too buggy to be playable.”
gameplay
257 mentions
31 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Catan Universe is generally well-received for its faithful adaptation of the classic board game mechanics, offering intuitive controls and engaging strategic elements. However, players frequently report significant issues such as bugs, server instability, and frustrating dice mechanics that disrupt the experience. While the game can be enjoyable when functioning properly, many users express dissatisfaction with the overall execution, particularly regarding the balance and clarity of gameplay.
- “In comparison to similar strategy games, Catan Universe stands out with its engaging mechanics and interactive gameplay, but falls short in terms of graphical quality.”
- “The gameplay is well designed and when everything is working it feels just like playing Catan at the table.”
- “The asynchronous turn-based gameplay allows for flexibility, enabling players to participate in multiple matches simultaneously without feeling rushed.”
- “The game has struggled with a destructive interface and gameplay bugs going back 5+ years, and at one point a failed update rendered the servers unavailable for months.”
- “This recurring imbalance in dice rolls and card sequences points to a deeper issue with the game's mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is not explained well, so unless you've actually played Catan, you'll get frustrated quickly.”
graphics
231 mentions
42 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the vibrant visuals and attention to detail, while others criticize them as outdated or poorly optimized. Many users note that while the graphics can be appealing, they often come at the cost of performance issues and a clunky user interface. Overall, the game's graphical quality varies significantly, with some players finding it satisfactory for a digital board game, while others feel it falls short compared to competitors.
- “The graphics are stunning, and everything from the map to the resources and cards is made with great attention to detail.”
- “I love the graphics and the fact it stays true to the real game.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and consistent.”
- “The graphics suck and they try to milk you for every little thing.”
- “This game shows all signs of a cash grab, as it has improper implementations all over it, and even the graphics resemble Tabletop Simulator a bit too much.”
- “The graphics are horrid yet still make my computer lag.”
monetization
173 mentions
6 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
34 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with many players expressing frustration over the necessity of in-game purchases to access basic gameplay features and expansions. While some acknowledge the potential for enjoyment, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game misrepresents itself as free-to-play, leading to a negative user experience marred by excessive microtransactions and poor customer support. Overall, players feel that the monetization strategy detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Optional expansions and cosmetic upgrades are available for purchase, providing a fair and balanced approach to monetization that does not compromise the core Catan experience.”
- “If you like Catan in real life then this game is good; the real thing costs £40, so the few microtransactions to unlock the whole game is well worth it!”
- “I understand microtransactions; it's fine if you're going to sell stuff like expansions and the like in-game.”
- “This game is complete bull; it's not okay to advertise a free game just to make people pay for it then 'lose' everybody's accounts just for a cash grab.”
- “It's a shame because it seems a lot of work has been put into this, but they care more about microtransactions than the user experience.”
- “You have to purchase the game through microtransactions to continue playing once your single-use 'scrolls' are used up.”
optimization
51 mentions
24 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
37 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting severe performance issues, lag, and crashes across various platforms, particularly on desktop and mobile. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay, the general consensus highlights a lack of proper optimization, leading to frustration with connectivity problems and resource demands that seem excessive for the game's design. Overall, the game's performance is described as clunky and poorly optimized, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Catan Universe's user interface is sleek, user-friendly, and optimized for both desktop and mobile devices.”
- “Runs smoothly, pretty quick to pick up online opponents and the AI ones vary in strength sufficiently.”
- “I experienced no performance issues while using basic graphic options on my 'coal powered PC', which was nice.”
- “Very poorly optimized; how can you make a turn-based game laggy??”
- “Extremely poorly optimized, very GPU hungry for no reason, kills laptop battery life and demands high fan speeds on desktop.”
- “This game has now been around for a few years and still suffers from basic issues with unstable servers and poor performance overall.”
music
48 mentions
38 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players noting that it is often too loud and repetitive, leading to frustration. While some appreciate the relaxing and immersive qualities of the soundtrack, others find it annoying and lacking variety, with only one track playing on loop. Overall, the music is described as average, with potential for improvement in both volume control and diversity of tracks.
- “Great music and sound effects too!”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, I am in love with it.”
- “The music is relaxing, but maybe too relaxing.”
- “The only bad thing I have to say about this game is that the music is too goddamn loud when you first open it.”
- “Has only 1 song that plays during a game.”
- “The music was deafening with no way to turn it down, couldn't connect to server, no auth code sent to register account.”
humor
33 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-6 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as a mix of genuine hilarity and frustration, with players finding amusement in both the gameplay and the glitches. While many enjoy the funny interactions and chaotic moments, the overwhelming presence of bugs and server issues detracts from the experience, leading to a sense of irony where the game's shortcomings become a source of laughter. Overall, the humor shines in social play, but the execution leaves much to be desired, making it a double-edged sword for players.
- “It's particularly sad-hilarious that apparently a whole lot of time was spent working to fix server issues, only for the servers (at least for custom/private games, where I spend my time) to absolutely crater, especially in the last week or so.”
- “The RNG is hilarious.”
- “This game has the most simple rule: gain as many points as shown using the cities and such, but if you play it with your friends, it is funny as hell.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
- “The attempts at comedy just made the game awkward.”
story
28 mentions
7 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The story aspect of Catan is generally viewed as lacking depth and variety, with many players noting that it often feels repetitive and uninspired. While some appreciate the background lore and the personal stories that emerge from gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game does not offer a compelling narrative experience. Many reviews highlight the absence of a meaningful story, leading to a sense of stagnation in gameplay.
- “The story of how Catan, the board game, was made is fascinating, and I can regale you with my own experiences of playing Catan over the years.”
- “The story for Catan could go in a few different directions, including the narrative on the back of the box.”
- “Admirable graphics, but lacks in story depth.”
- “Played this so many times and always the same story.”
- “I have tried about 15 - 20 times and it's the same story every time.”
grinding
20 mentions
10 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring players to endure long sessions with minimal progress due to poor mechanics and luck-based outcomes. Many users express that the interface is confusing, particularly in trading, and that the overall experience can feel unfair and drawn out, leading to a desire for more streamlined gameplay. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant detractor from the enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Honestly just had the two slowest, most tedious games ever.”
- “One game every 12 hours is tedious and absurd.”
- “Graphics are lacking, the interface is confusing and not intuitive, trading (arguably the main part of the whole Catan experience and the thing that makes the game work in the first place) is tedious and the game doesn't feel fun.”
replayability
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is enhanced by expansions and a mix of strategy and luck, offering a fresh experience with each playthrough. However, limitations in the free version and issues with AI gameplay detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about its value. Despite some bugs and connectivity issues, many players find the base game still offers significant replay value for its price.
- “Just enough strategy and luck to have high replay value.”
- “Every game is fresh and new, allowing almost limitless replayability.”
- “I'd say don't waste your money, but even the free option is lacking in replay value.”
- “Even so - for 8 bucks the base game has a ton of replayability, so this isn't necessarily a dealbreaker for me.”
- “The inclusion of expansions enhances the replayability, introducing new dynamics and challenges that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits strong reactions, with players feeling deeply engaged and even moved to tears, while also highlighting the potential for negative interactions among players that can detract from the experience. The narrative can shift focus unexpectedly, leading to feelings of frustration and empathy, particularly in social settings. Overall, the game successfully captures a range of emotions, though it may challenge the emotional stability of some players.
- “Hard to pin down exactly what I like most about it, but I'm certainly emotionally and mentally engaged throughout.”
- “Made me cry; it made me feel a range of emotions.”
- “So that more emotionally stable people can just enjoy a good game without being harassed by people who really don't know any better.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its cozy and engaging qualities, enhanced by nice graphics. However, some users feel that it lacks social interaction compared to playing the physical board game, suggesting that it is better enjoyed offline with friends.
- “Great atmosphere.”
- “Catan universe has nice graphics and atmosphere when you play the game.”
- “The atmosphere in the game is much more focused on the game itself as you are not interacting with the people as much as sitting down and playing on a card table with them, and any extra rules you may set when playing the board game are unavailable.”
- “The atmosphere in the game is much more focused on the game itself, as you are not interacting with the people as much. It feels like you're just sitting down and playing at a card table, and any extra rules you might set when playing the board game are unavailable.”
- “The game lacks a compelling atmosphere, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging experience.”
- “There is a distinct absence of immersive elements in the atmosphere, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight significant dissatisfaction with character development, citing counterintuitive and inconsistent design choices, poor character design, and an overall negative experience that detracts from the game's quality.