Do you love Star Trek, and want a different version of Catan? Star Trek Catan might be the perfect game for you!
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Like the original game, you have to set up your playing space using 19 hexagonal tiles and the six edge pieces. On each of the tiles that is a planet, you place a token with a number on it. My family has always had a hard time keeping things organized after this point, so if we place a large piece of plexiglass over the top, it works much better for us.
Star Trek Catan vs Original Catan
Like the original Catan, Star Trek Catan is made for 3-4 players, and I don’t think there are any expansions for this version of Catan. You’re also trying to collect resources in this version, but it’s tritanium, food, oxygen, dilithium, and water. Instead of the Robber, the Klingon Battle Cruiser lives in the asteroid field and steals resources from other planets.
The development cards are a bit different. They are Victory Point cards (you still need 10 VPs to win), “Starfleet Intervenes” cards, and Progress cards. When you play a Starfleet intervenes card, move the Klingon battle cruiser. The player with the most Starfleet intervenes cards (at least 3) gets the “Largest Starfleet” card and two victory points.
Development cards
Support Cards
Things really change with the Support Cards. There are ten support cards, each featuring a different crewmember, and each with their own special abilities. You can use the special abilities on your support card twice before you have to trade it in for a different card. Spock is definitely my favorite; he allows you to collect a resource of your choice when you wouldn’t otherwise be able to.
Similarities Between Star Trek Catan and the Original Catan
The overall theme of colonialism is still present in Star Trek Catan. It’s in space, but you’re still gaining resources from other worlds and using those resources to build your society. You’re also still directly competing with your opponents for space on the map. I still like that everyone needs to see if they get resources with every roll.
I think I got my husband this game. We got it because our family loves Star Trek. There are some differences from the original Catan, but I don’t think it’s worth having both. (We actually left our original Catan with all its expansions in storage when we moved into our bus.) So if you’ve played Catan and enjoy it, but don’t yet own it, then look for the version that resonates with your family best. If you love Star Trek, then Star Trek Catan will be a winner.
