Cities and Knights of Catan - Buy/Read Reviews  

The Manufacturer's Board Game Review of The Cities and Knights of Catan:

Dark clouds are gathering over the peaceful island of Catan. Wild barbarians, attracted by the wealth of Catan, sailed to attack the country. Fortunately, warning has given Catan time to meet the danger. The size of the barbarian army corresponds to the number of cities in Catan. Thus, for Catan to fend off the barbarian attack, the players must form a knight force as strong as the barbarian force.

In addition to the barbarians, players compete to build the three great metropolises of Catan. Each of these magnificent centers are worth two additional victory points. To build a metropolis, players must invest in city improvements. To acquire these improvements, players must acquire the three new types of Trade Cards: Coinage, Paper, and Cloth. These cards can only be gained by building a city next to mountain, forest, or pasture hexes.

Rainy Day Game's Board Game Review of The Cities and Knights of Catan:

There are several expansion sets available for The Settlers of Catan board game. The Cities and Knights of Catan is probably our favorite.

The addition of barbarians, armies, and metropolises really change the board game a lot. While the Seafarers of Catan extends the base game, The Cities and Knights of Catan really makes a new different game. New winning strategies are possible. And players play more "against" each other, making the game more adversarial than the original board game.

The best thing about The Cities and Knights of Catan is that with the greater variety of strategies and the exterior threat of the barbarians, it is much less likely for there to be a run-away winner or run-away loser in the game. The board game has a tenser, down-to-the-wire feel to it that we love. The Cities and Knights of Catan board game is the perfect addition for the gamer who is looking for something to spice up the original game.