Catan, dragged bang up to date. New Energies keeps the harvesting, trading and building that made the original a modern classic, then drops you into a very 21st-century dilemma: power your growing island with cheap fossil fuels, or invest in clean energy before the pollution catches up with everyone. It's a full standalone game — no base set required — so it works just as well as a first taste of Catan as it does a fresh challenge for old hands.
At a glance
- Players: 3–4
- Play time: around 90 minutes
- Recommended age: 14+
- Standalone game — no base Catan set needed
- New artwork by Ian O'Toole
How it plays
- Classic Catan foundations: gather resources, trade and build your network
- Power plants and energy tokens add a new build-and-balance layer
- Environmental events mean your choices ripple across the whole island
Chase the win through cheap power or play the long game and keep Catan liveable — either way it's the freshest the island has felt in years.
A modern Catan that earns its place on the shelf. Grab a pack of sleeves if you want the cards to last through game night.
