Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
If you love Catan and want a fresh roll mechanic, Event Cards add spice without hassle.
Highlights
- Replaces dice smoothly
- Introduces unique events
- Easy to integrate
- Low complexity
Keep in mind
- Rare events may be overlooked
- Relies on card memory
- Doesn't change core mechanics
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Catan: Event Cards is a deck of 36 cards that replaces the traditional dice in Catan, adding a bit more control and a dash of unpredictability to the classic colonization game. Each card represents one of the possible two‑dice combinations, ensuring that result distribution follows real probabilities. For players using the Cities & Knights expansion, the deck also includes single‑die roll cards. A quirky twist: the "New Year" card sits on top of the bottom five cards; when it is drawn, the deck is shuffled immediately, preventing those five cards from being used in that cycle. Of the 36 cards, sixteen trigger no special event. The six cards showing a 7 activate the classic "Robber Attack," while the remaining numbers can spark unique events – some appear only once, others twice – totaling ten distinct events. The set works as a light expansion, easy to learn and slot into the base game without altering the core negotiation, route building, and resource management that fans love. Besides replacing dice, it introduces a small memory element as players may try to recall which cards have already been played. Perfect for 3‑6 players, a game still runs about 90 minutes, and the complexity stays low with a BGG weight of 1.85. If you already enjoy Catan and want a fresh way to roll, the Event Cards spice things up without overcomplicating the experience.
Expansion for
Published additional content
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Best player count
BGG community vote
3
REC
4
REC
5
REC
6
REC
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Catan GmbH, Devir, KOSMOS, Mayfair Games
Designer
Klaus Teuber
Artist
Tanja Donner
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
1,993owners
148wishlist
34want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How many players can use the Event Cards?
The expansion works for 3 to 6 players, just like the base game.
How much extra time does the expansion add?
Usually only a few minutes; the game still runs about 90 minutes.
Do I need Cities & Knights to use the Event Cards?
No, they work on their own, but they include single‑die cards useful for Cities & Knights.
What does the New Year card do?
When drawn, the deck is shuffled immediately, preventing the five cards beneath it from being used.
Do the event cards change Catan’s core rules?
No, they only add occasional effects; the core negotiation and route‑building stay untouched.
Is it hard to remember which events have already occurred?
It’s a light memory challenge since some events appear only once; paying attention helps.