Latest news with #Catan
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Best Prime Day Board Game Deals: Save Big On Catan, Clue And More
Amazon Prime Day is officially live, and if your game closet could use a refresh, now's the time to stock up. Some of the best Prime Day board game deals we've seen include $6 off the family-friendly Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition and nearly 30% off the classic Connect 4. Whether you're looking for easy crowd-pleasers like Candy Land or strategy staples like Catan, Amazon is serving up steep discounts on popular picks—and many of them are under $20. The best Prime Day board game deals on Amazon help you stock up on family game night favorites. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: RETAILER We sorted through dozens of listings and compared historical pricing to find board game deals that are actually worth grabbing. These aren't off-brand knockoffs or obscure titles that only show up during sales—most are bestsellers that have stood the test of time. Whether you're picking up a few for family game night or restocking your gift stash, these are the lowest prices you'll see on some reliable favorites. And while Prime Day tends to focus on big-ticket tech or appliances, it's often these smaller categories where you can score the best value. For more great deals, be sure to check out our full guide to Amazon Prime Day 2025. Connect 4: Now $10, Was $14 (29% Off) The Game of Life: Now $17, Was $22 (23% Off) Catan 6th Edition: Now $42, Was $50 (16% Off) Candy Land: Now $10, Was $13 (23% Off) Guess Who?: Now $13, Was $17 (24% Off) Monopoly Deal: Now $6, Was $8 (25% Off) Chutes and Ladders: Now $11, Was $13 (15% Off) Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition: Now $21, Was $29 (28% Off) Clue: Now $18, Was $22 (18% Off) Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: Now $8, Was $10 (20% Off) Connect 4 is a longtime bestseller for a reason: it's simple, fast and appeals to all ages. This version comes with the classic grid and checkers; there's no bells or whistles, just the original game people know and keep coming back to. Why It's A Good Deal: It's currently $10, which is about as low as it gets for a name-brand version. The Game of Life has been a family night staple for decades, thanks to its mix of chance, decision-making and light-hearted chaos. This edition sticks to the traditional format, with colorful cars, careers, kids and the classic spin-to-win wheel. Why It's A Good Deal: It's marked down to $17 from $22, which matches its lowest price in recent months. Catan is one of the most popular modern strategy games out there, with a strong track record among casual players and serious board game fans alike. This 6th edition includes updated artwork and a few new rules, but the core gameplay—trading, building and racing to 10 points—remains the same. Why It's A Good Deal: It's currently $42, which is a solid discount for a game that rarely drops below $45. Candy Land is one of the easiest games for young kids to pick up, which is why it's often a first introduction to board games. This version sticks to the classic color-based path and familiar characters, no reading required. Why It's A Good Deal: It's down to $10 from $13; that's about as low as this game goes. Guess Who? is a quick two-player game built around process-of-elimination questions, and it's stayed largely the same since the '80s. This version adds a second set of character cards featuring pets, so kids can alternate between classic faces and animals for extra variety. Why It's A Good Deal: It's currently 24% off the standard price and includes extra character variety you don't always get. Monopoly Deal turns the classic property game into a quick and competitive card game that's easy to learn and play in under 20 minutes. It's travel-friendly and a favorite among people who don't usually like the full-length version. Why It's A Good Deal: It's just $6 right now, which is 25% off the regular price. This version of Chutes and Ladders keeps the original design, complete with colorful board, spinner and familiar characters. It's a low-stakes game for younger kids who just want to spin and see what happens. Why It's A Good Deal: You can save a few bucks on an already inexpensive game that rarely drops below $13. This version of Cards Against Humanity is geared toward kids and written specifically for families, with 600 cards that cover everything from butt spaghetti to Mom's friend Donna. It's silly in a fun way and surprisingly replayable, even for grown-ups. Why It's A Good Deal: It's nearly 30% off the usual price, which doesn't happen often for this edition. Clue is still the go-to mystery game for families, and this version includes a card-revealing mirror to help players confirm the final answer. Everything else is true to the original, with six suspects, six weapons and one unlucky victim waiting to be identified. Why It's A Good Deal: It's currently $18, which is less than we typically see for the full version with all included pieces. This fast-paced party game is as chaotic as the name suggests. Players race to slap the pile when certain words or images come up, leading to lots of shouting, laughing and possibly a few accidental elbows. It's made by the team behind Exploding Kittens (which is also heavily discounted right now) and plays in under 15 minutes. Why It's A Good Deal: It's currently $8, one of the lowest prices we've seen for this bestselling card game.
CBC
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
From warzones to lockdown, board games can give a sense of control amid chaos
During the pandemic, Tim Clare was sitting in his "miser's cave" of board games, when he realized there was something missing from his life. "My first moment of real sort of panic was, Oh my goodness, when am I going to get to play games again?" Clare told The Sunday Magazine guest host Nora Young. "I'd sort of taken them so much for granted until that point, it had never occurred to me how much of the fabric of my life they were." Clare is a board game journalist and author of Across the Board: How Games Make Us Human. He's travelled the world talking to people about games, and has found that there's something special about what a game like Catan or Parcheesi can do. He says board games like Monopoly or Wingspan are more than just a fun thing to do on a rainy summer day. They can give people a chance to take control of their circumstances, especially during chaotic times, and make choices in a situation that likely won't affect your life one way or another. Board games in a crisis Clare says board games can be especially important during times of crisis. He says that during the First World War, soldiers were playing Parcheesi in the trenches. "There's a reason they were doing that, and I think it's because it provides a really, really important thing that humans need, which is relief and escape and freedom," said Clare. And there are more recent examples too. Clare recently spoke with a Ukrainian soldier stationed on the front lines of the war with Russia, while his son was in the Netherlands as a refugee. Despite being apart, the two connected online to play a board game called Blood Bowl, a fantasy football game featuring teams of elves, dwarves and goblins from Games Workshop's Warhammer universe. "It was a game that they played together when they were together, and that they were continuing in each other's absence as a way of staying connected," said Clare. "There's literal bombs falling out of the sky and someone's taking the time to set up all these little models.... I think it should tell you something about how important that this is, that that was one of his priorities." Scott Preston says during the COVID-19 pandemic, people who were stuck inside with their family dusted off old copies of games in their basement or found a way to play online with friends. "They just had lots of time to sit and play with each other," said Preston, an associate professor who teaches and researches board game design and history at the University of New Brunswick. So much time, in fact, that it created a board game boom. "The whole industry saw an explosion of sales and interest and new people coming into the hobby during COVID," said Preston. Making choices Preston says board games are set apart from movies and books, or other hobbies that can distract you from life's problems, because they give you a level of choice, depending on what you play. "Games, because they are an interactive medium, you do have a different sense of control over what happens," said Preston. "Games give you the sense that … you are making decisions and have some control over your fate." It's even different than video games, which are also interactive and similarly enjoyed an industry boom during the pandemic, he says. "Board games still give us something that we can't get from video games, that sitting down at a table across from people in a physical space and interacting with them. And that's a very powerful social benefit," said Preston. Clare says it also allows you to tackle social situations that you may not in real life, such as a conquering army in Risk or a shrewd negotiator in Monopoly. "Every game is a form of role play. Every game, even if you're playing checkers, to a certain extent, you're getting into the role of being an adversary against your friend who's sitting across from you in the cabin," he said. "Like, you don't really want to defeat them on this battlefield." Part of the fun, and why you're able to take on these kind of roles, is because the outcome just doesn't matter. When you compare that with the frequent, sometimes weighty decisions a person makes in their life every day, deciding whether you should build a hotel on Park Place in a game of Monopoly doesn't seem like so big of a deal. For the same reason, the uncertainty that comes with many games is also freeing. "When so much seems of such huge import, giving ourselves permission to spend half an hour, an hour, doing something where the outcome, whether we do well or badly, is not going to be hugely disastrous, I think it's an important refuelling place," said Clare.
Chicago Tribune
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Top board games kids will love to play
Video games may be the most popular form of play for children today, but board games still offer a kind of fun that you can't replace. There's nothing quite like setting up a board with pieces and whittling the day away in your own world. The added benefit is they're a lot cheaper and don't involve sitting in front of a screen for a long time. If you want the best board game for kids, check out Klaus Teuber's Catan Board Game. Perfect for children ages 10 and up, this is an intense strategy game that you can play with three to four players. It involves trading, building and settling other places. Consider your players' age group The fun and accessibility of a board game largely depend on the age of the players. While there are simple board games available for toddlers and young children, most board games will lean toward older kids around 10 and up. That's because most board games involve some complex concepts and thinking, like financial management in Monopoly or strategy in Catan. Board games can go on for long periods Unlike video games with levels that can be exited mid-game, many board games take at least an hour to complete. That's likely because there's the time needed for learning, setting up the board and pieces and waiting for others to take their turns. If you're playing with very young children, they may grow impatient with the long playtime. Board games have learning curves Just as players must learn the controls in video games, you need to learn the game's rules, pieces and objectives. For some board games, this may be as simple as setting up a board and following instructions. For other games, it may be more involved and need some setup. Keep this in mind when you decide to play a quick game. Number of players How many people are playing? The more, the merrier, but also the longer the overall playtime. Most board games will allow you to play with up to three or four others and very few games will allow you to play by yourself. This is something worth remembering if you want your children to try a board game. You have to find other people willing to play and board games that support multiple players. Accessibility Each new player will have the same question: is it easy to pick up the game? The more rules there are to remember, the longer it will take to immerse in the board game fully. The fewer rules there are, the more likely other people will want to join. Also, younger players are less likely to pick up complicated board games. Fun Ultimately, you want to determine whether a board game is fun for your kid and not just whether you think it'll be fun. This is a hard one to nail down since it is such a subjective concept and you can't tell whether a board game will be fun until you've tried it. Nevertheless, it's worth exploring certain themed board games or understanding the types of games your child may like, such as logic-based games or creativity-based games. Board games for kids can start at around $21. The more expensive board games can go up to almost $50. What is the recommended age for these games? A. The recommended age can vary, but children ages 8 and up can play these games. Any younger and they may struggle to comprehend the logic and design behind the game. What are expansions? A. These are add-ons to your board game that give you more content, new obstacles or power-ups that switch up the overall gameplay. They usually cost extra and need the base game to work as intended. Top board game for kids Klaus Teuber's Catan Board Game What you need to know: Catan is a popular strategy game where you must trade, build and settle the island of Catan, working with or against other players. What you'll love: The board is randomized so that games will have high replayability and uncertainty. Since it is easy to understand, it can also be challenging to master. What you should consider: Catan can take a long time for even one game to finish, not counting the learning curve and setup required just to start the game properly. Top board game for kids for the money Hasbro Gaming Monopoly Classic Game What you need to know: An iconic board game where players travel around a board to buy, sell, and trade property and try to bankrupt the other players. What you'll love: Simple yet highly entertaining, Monopoly is a must-play for young children as it teaches them the cutthroat nature of capitalism and business. What you should consider: The game takes a long time and involves some basic understanding of math and currency. Worth checking out Ravensburger Disney Villainous Strategy Board Game What you need to know: This Toy of the Year award-winning game features iconic Disney villains with easy-to-follow instructions. What you'll love: The art and design of the game are evocative of classic Disney movies and the pieces themselves are intricate and well made. What you should consider: Villainous has quite a dark theme and may put off some younger children. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
National Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
Best adult board games for a fun night in
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content As a kid I spent many hours with my family around the kitchen table as we battled it out in classic games like Monopoly, Trouble and Snakes and Ladders. Now as an adult I still find myself reaching for board games during get-togethers with friends, only the games have become more complex (but are still just as much fun). Article content Article content I'm not the only one turning to board games for entertainment, either. The board game industry is experiencing strong growth, with sales projected to reach upwards of $248M ($177.5M USD) in Canada in 2025. And with so many options for a range of different interests and skill levels, it's easier than ever to find a new favourite game to play. Article content Whether you're looking for something to liven up a party or a two-player game that won't take up too much time, I've gathered a selection of crowd-pleasers to get you started. I've played all of the options below, and recommend them all for some good old-fashioned fun on your next game night. Article content Summary of the best board games for adults Article content Party game: Hues and Cues Best for larger groups: Codenames City building: Machi Koro Portable game: Bananagrams Drawing game: Telestrations Bluffing game: Skull Strategy game: Catan Canadian classic: Crokinole Digital games: Jackbox Games Article content Article content How to play: This deceptively simple guessing game is great for people just getting into board games, as it takes minutes to learn and provides endless entertainment. Players describe a colour to their opponents using only one or two-word cues, and the closer you guess to the exact hue on the board, the more points you receive. Coming up with descriptors for the colours is an exercise in creativity as well as communication, and may just result in some heated (but friendly) debates. Article content Article content How to play: Best for larger groups, Codenames splits players into two teams as they compete to see who can correctly identify the assassin in their midst. Each team designates a spymaster who knows the secret identities of 25 agents (A.K.A. the cards on the board). Their teammates know the agents only by their code names — single-word labels like 'disease,' 'Germany' or 'carrot'. Spymasters give clues to their teammates to search out their secret agents, without revealing the assassin's identity. Article content
CTV News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Saskatoon takes part in Catan national qualifiers
WATCH: Saskatchewan's Catan community gathered in Saskatoon on Saturday to find the board game's best player. WATCH: Saskatchewan's Catan community gathered in Saskatoon on Saturday to find the board game's best player. Saskatchewan's Catan community gathered in Saskatoon on Saturday to find the board game's best player. 'It's simple, but it also has a strategy to it. So, it's more strategic than Monopoly, but less complex than chess,' Tyrel Wilgosh, the event organizer and founder of Sask. Catan, explained. Catan, formerly known as The Settlers of Catan, is a strategy board game that originated in Germany in 1995, where players compete to build the strongest settlement. When Wilgosh first began planning the event, he didn't expect a turnout of nearly 50 players. The strong attendance even prompted the tournament to move to a larger venue, Gather Local Market. 'It's very surprising Saskatoon had this big of a community. but they're very who don't know how to play the game are taught very easily,' Wilgosh said. The qualifier will determine who is Saskatchewan's best Catan player. They will then go on to compete on a national level, in the hopes of heading to Germany for the world finals. Saskatoon takes part in Catan national qualifiers Rylee Moody, Skylar Elliot, and Hannah Kearnan often play the game with one another. They said what makes it so appealing to so many. 'My favorite thing about playing Catan is that it's a new game every time you play, so every time you're not playing the same board, it's completely different. So, I find it's a little bit hard to strategize because you're playing a new game every time, but that's what makes it fun,' Elliot said. Moody explained that the simple concept makes it easy to share the game with others. 'It's a very approachable game. Anybody who's new to board games tends to really enjoy Catan, so it's a good one to really get people into good board games,' Moody said. Of course, the drive to win is certainly a motivating factor for many. 'I find it's a little addictive as well. Every time I play with these two, they're always winning, and I just want a chance to win,' Kearnan said. Catan lovers can be found across the globe, and events like this one allow the community to connect with one another. 'Sometimes you just want to mix it up and play with new people. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to play with some different strategies, different people, and just mix it up a little bit,' Elliot said. Sask. Catan has additional events planned during the summer. The next one, called 'Connect the World,' will be live streamed across approximately 30 countries.
