Catan: 25th Anniversary Edition Comparison - with Tom Vasel

[@MrGourd]

Catan will always have a special place for me because it was my gateway game into board gaming many years ago. The mechanics just blew my mind when it came out. It opened me to a world beyond Monopoly and checkers.

[@LanceEhlers]

This is basically for people who don’t already own Catan but are ready to dive in. Get the base game, the 5-6 player expansion, and one of the popular small expansions for less than it would cost to buy them separately.

[@Milkysragdolls]

Exactly it's actually really decent value. It also comes with card holders which a pretty nice!

[@hatchimmmmm]

What is the best expansion? I want to buy catan and one of the expansions, but don't now wish one to choose

[@LanceEhlers]

@@hatchimmmmm In my opinion, Traders & Barbarians. It’s packed with a bunch of fun mini-expansions.

[@LunaGirl196]

I never had Catan before so the 25th Anniversary edition was a good starter pack for me.

[@aurellianatasyah]

Why?

[@JoshConsalvo1]

Tom: "It doesn't mean I don't think it's a bad game and it also doesn't mean I would highly recommend it to people" I really think you meant the opposite of both statements 😂😂

[@comiccarnival]

Just came to the comment to say the same thing!

[@Skarpo89]

Me too 🤣🤣🤣

[@AltarenGalil]

Hidden message, he actually really actively dislikes it.

[@DrakesHobbiesAndGames]

Did he?...

[@LordCyler]

It could mean exactly what he said

[@TheManofDew]

You said it, should have been a big upgrade. Reminds me of the latest Ticket to Ride anniversary with shiny trains.

[@GretSeat]

They should have at least made 3D tiles and a base that holds all the friggin tiles in place since they always slide everywhere. Settlements and cities should also have details on them. It's the same game... Exact same. Even the card backs are the same. They don't even say "25th anniversary" or something.

[@ConeDefense]

Should have been called “Catan Big Box Edition”. Then you’re not expecting deluxified, rather bonus content. That said, it doesn’t include everything any how...

[@ThomasBeckingham]

Agreed ... And actually added more to warrant it being called a big box edition.

[@quadparty]

1. Helpers of Catan is sold separately. 2. The reason they haven't changed the tiles, etc. is so that it is backwards compatible with pre-existing Catan expansions. Ticket to ride expansions work with the new ticket to ride fancy editions, so the upgrades they used don't present a problem. If you want to add Seafarers of Catan, then the hexes have to be basically the same, or it isn't going to work.

[@Skarpo89]

That didn't stop them before, my copy is not compatible with the new versions u.u.

[@Urutsini]

Upgrading the artwork would not make the game incompatible with expansions

[@tomasxfranco]

As long as the shape and backs stayed the same, there'd be no issue with using the expansions.

[@SirSethery]

There's always the 3D edition coming later this year if you want a pretty version (and if you have $300 laying around).

[@ezy.doesit]

I got the german version, which comes with some extra map and the seefahrer extension too.

[@SimulationKris]

Aren't the tiles the same to keep it compatible with expansions?

[@tomasxfranco]

You could have kept the back and size the same but added embossing or some foil details.

[@tomihawk01]

They should have called this the Family Edition or something, marketing it to people looking for a game to play with bigger groups at this time of year (the obvious 2020 restrictions aside). Anniversary Edition suggests a celebration but there's nothing celebratory about putting all the same old components in a slightly bigger box. As you said, Ticket to Ride Anniversary was an edition that people who owned the original would still buy because it looks great. Pandemic went even further with their amazing metal case. Nobody who owns Catan would go out and buy this as a 25th Anniversary celebration to add to their collection. Maybe Pandemic and Ticket didn't sell many anniversary editions so they just didn't bother putting any effort in for this.

[@tomihawk01]

Ah, I just went and re-watched the Pandemic 10th Anniversary review and the comments are full of people complaining about that too. I guess there's no pleasing board gamers these days.

[@Sebby_Nineteen]

A Catan Family Edition already exists, as a separate product.

[@constancio1923]

Are the town, city, and road pieces in the 25th anniversary the same size as the original pieces?

[@mileswentland854]

I swore I read that they were planning on making the 25th anniversary edition as deluxe as the 10th. Its a real bummer that they decided to go with that.

[@mack_r-s]

It looks like they just took the character gimmick from Game of Thrones Catan, and dropped it into the original. A little strange if you ask me, but I do really like the charterer aspect so I can live with them reusing some ideas where it's needed.

[@AltarenGalil]

Why get rid of the insert? Seems like a really good organizer ...

[@son_of_durin]

The first edition of Catan that came out 25 years ago is very different from the 25th anniversary edition. The version you compared the new one to was the 2015 edition of Catan. This is the 6th edition of Catan and all vary in some way. I too am disappointed that they didn't change much, but the new edition is vastly better than the 2015 edition because of the larger box, card sleeves, and 5-6 player expansion included. Good video!

[@heathert8895]

Just found this channel and it has helped me so much with Christmas shopping. Would you ever consider doing a video on "games for people who are bad at understanding games"? or "games for moms who want to play with their kids but don't understand anything and don't like war or gore"? ;)

[@zachcarmichael699]

Isn't there an issue with some hexes not fitting properly?

[@SumerNivek]

Mine fit perfectly for this edition. Just a FYI

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

"Obviously the new box is bigger and it incudes things." Okay, now we're talking!

[@ccggenius]

Just makes me glad my sole Catan purchase is the Star Trek one.

[@trollponch]

can't believe you got rid of the plastic stuff meant to keep it all in order inside the box... my OCD is just not helping right now!

[@nithipluemhathaikij8821]

What games did you moved on to?

[@benjoslin3782]

The tiles are made of much thicker cardboard than the original. The thin tiles were one of my biggest complaints.

[@tomasxfranco]

They should added some foil or embossing/relief to the tiles and maybe done some new art.

[@Sebby_Nineteen]

But then they would clash with the expansions. I've seen pictures of 5th Edition Catan, and 4th Edition Seafarers, and the difference in artwork (especially water tiles) is distracting.

[@ianblackburn5935]

It should have been a bit fancier, something special. Pretty much just adds 5-6 players but makes you pay for it like buying the 2 separate 🤷‍♂️

[@giovannifusco00]

Everywhere in Europe, but in a place called United Kingdom, Catan has nice plastic components. Now I know that even the 25th anniversary edition of the American game still has wooden components. Puzzling.

[@yuuhemi]

It felt weird to see the wooden pieces

[@blackjack2150]

It's a different publisher in Europe (Kosmos) and they also did a 25th anniversary edition, which seems to have more interesting content included. I would love if Tom got sent a copy for a review: boardgamegeek.com/image/5215272/catan-25-jahre-jubilaums-edition

[@rabidsamfan]

@@blackjack2150 now That looks like fun. Wish there was an English version!

[@oranjb]

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t think it is a bad game” is....is that a triple negative? I’m so confused 🤨

[@wolflarson71]

"Tom speak" ;-)

[@tonymammel3542]

They totally screwed the pooch on this! Should be big box with the top two or three expansions (and the 5-6) for all of them....plus a sweet upgraded terrain hex system. Missed a golden opportunity. Fools.

[@JerreMuesli]

A bit strange that you don't review the custom card trays. We don't even get to see them. But yeah, that's a weak anniversary edition.

[@Spellenreporter]

Catan - A Game of Thrones also has the helpers :)

[@elesvazul]

Is it me or only I don't understand why American copies have wooden componenets. here in the EU all Catan copies have plastic figures

[@nickhayes1626]

Yeah it stinks that it doesn’t look a lot nicer. I have the original version before the name change, and while I love Catan it’s just hard to justify $80 for an anniversary edition that so little nuance went into.

[@Khaine85]

I think they did a much better 15th anniversary edition when they released the all wooden set.

[@ghstrdio]

Dang it. I just bought the Amazon sale one....

[@rah_sollest]

I have this game on hold for a couple of weeks and....yeeeaaaah I'm not too impressed with this anniversary edition. It's basically the base game (plus the 5-6 expansion and the helpers) with a bit of coat of paint but only to the pieces, which doesn't wow me all that much. The sleeves and the card trays that comes with it is a good addition, but it all doesn't make this a "25th Anniversary" worthy aside from the Catan Chest with 3D modeled tiles, buildings, roads, etc. Sure they were way more expensive, but it did felt like it's worthy of being a anniversary edition than this...shallow experience. So if those want to own a copy of Catan, just buy the base game which is pretty much all you need to play. No need for the expansions unless you really want to and it's optional.

[@DrityD]

25th edition should have been the catan chest. With the 3d models.

[@stevensum2011]

What the point of this? Waste of cardboard design..... Wait for this to drop price. Tom you to nice to them. Expensive too...

[@ClearanceCollector]

Sparkling?! They should’ve them glitter!

[@Sebby_Nineteen]

I don't have Catan, but I got into it and plan to get the 25th Anniversary for my birthday. I'm actually glad the hexes are NOT different. This is actually better, for one main reason: Clashing. I've seen pictures of people playing with 5th Edition Catan and 4th Edition Seafarers, its VERY noticeable which hexes belong to which box. It's distracting seeing water hexes in different styles next to each other. So I'll be glad that the 25th Anniversary will seamlessly be integrated into Explorers & Pirates, or the upcoming Treasures, Dragons, & Adventurers. I am a little sad the roads and buildings aren't very shiny or sparkly :(. Hopefully it's just your camera.

[@TylerAndToast]

Wow this edition is disappointing

[@zocknroll7162]

I had the same issues with the Inka-Catan, lame quality (or worse than the standard Catan) and I think the Settlers versions were better equipped.

[@GGdeTOURS37]

Wood pieces? Woaaaw! Here we only have horrible plastic roads and houses!

[@charleslatora5750]

Never played Catan. Helpers? Expansions? To me seems like items to fix a game that's not very good to start...though maybe Star Trek Catan, is it any, really, a better version of Catan????

[@willvgo2950]

The theme is different, but the only real difference is the helpers.

[@charleslatora5750]

@@willvgo2950 thanks.

[@ScytheNoire]

Pathetic excuse for a special edition. Just as bad as the latest Ticket to Ride anniversary. They aren't even trying.

[@LordCyler]

This shouldn't exist. I'm going beyond Tom and saying this needed to be MUCH nicer. No reason for this other than to trick people into spending more on the same game.

[@SumerNivek]

I actually saved money by buying this version. $60 flat compared close to $80+ if I bought everything separately. Mind you, I didn’t have Catan before buying the 25th edition, so it definitely is the best starting place for us new Catan players (especially since I have 4 kids and WILL be playing the 5-6 extension quite a bit)

[@kobedoggy824]

Quality is bad on this edition. Received resource cards that have the printing cracked and peeling off on multiple edges. Also, 5 cards for each resources have borders that are lighter yellow color than the rest of the 95 cards. The number tokens slot on the insert is garbage. The card tray is also useless specially if you are going to be transproting the game as the cards would just end up all over the place. If you already own the 5th edition, I strongly suggest not to purchase this to avoid disappointment.

[@josephshatrowsky]

Catan just has spotty production all around. I have the game and expansions and cards from different boxes are slightly off in color. And then the roads and cities from the extension are slightly smaller than the pieces from the base game. I thought I had fake copies, but after careful inspection, I'm certain they're all real. Even the box I bought from a physical store has production issues. It's disappointing coming from such a large franchise. They need to refresh the game and fix consistency and quality if they're going to charge as much as they do. Still a fun game.

[@britshell]

Hope they painted the robber black for this one. [EDIT] nope he is still the the new grey.

[@wolflarson71]

Weak sauce. Good grief take a risk with some more interesting art.

[@Cameronwatt]

This game gives me a headache. I been boardgaming for two years, I feel like I found "my" classics in that time, brass Birmingham, quacks, undaunted Normandy, scythe, azul, root etc... but I've never played this game and it messes with my head. Is this game necessary in 2020?

[@alcovitch]

Games don't become obsolete because it's 2020. It sold 30 million copies. That should tell you something.

[@raymyers700]

@@alcovitch agreed. I have completely burned out on Catan but I played it and loved it for a long while. I still highly recommend it to people. It deserves it's place as a beloved game. Get the base game and don't play 5-6 players

[@Cameronwatt]

@@alcovitch I bet Monopoly sold more than that. I know I said I've only been gaming 2 years, well I used to play risk and I would say that time hasn't been all that kind to it.

[@alcovitch]

@@Cameronwatt People still play Monopoly though? And you can still buy risk. Catan is a very popular game. It's still being played. Thanks.

[@tomasxfranco]

Not really, there are much better games available, and I don't feel it holds up to the competition.