Carcassonne Game Reviews

• If you loved Settler�s of Catan this a �must�!

  
  By A5IRMCAZ0DL5W on 2003-12-04
  Most people come to this game after they have already been introduced to the European Designer Games by Settlers of Catan. This is a different kind of game than Settlers but in some senses it shares a lot of commonalities.

  The game is easy to learn for a wide audience, it is reasonably quick to play (30 - 40 minutes) and is a very "immersive" game i.e. there aren't long periods of boredom. There are elements of strategy and luck, which makes for a "fun" game experience.

  This game is fun for children and adults. For children the "farmers" are a little too complex, but the game works very well without that element.

  The game consists of laying tiles to build cities, roads and monasteries in the South of France. Points are gained by creating long roads, building large cities or farming multiple farms. It draws elements of building jigsaw puzzles together with a strategy game of competing for territory.
  I have played this game with family members who aren't really into board games and they enjoyed it just as much as gamers.

  There are many expansions to this game which add a few more dimensions as you get more advanced. There is a very high replay-ability.

  I would high recommend this game to people who are bored with standard Monopoly or Cranium type board games that are popular in the US.

  If you loved Settler's of Catan this a "must"!

  Summary:
  General
  o 2 - 5 Players
  o 30 - 40 minutes Playing time
  Audience -
  o Children & Adults
  o Serious and Casual Gamers
  Format
  o Tile Laying
  o Combines Strategy & Luck
  Longevity
  o High Replay-ability
  o Quality Components
  
  

• Where has this game been?

  
  By A1ZO9D554VQO9F on 2005-01-12
  Okay, so the game has been around for awhile, I was just looking in the wrong places. I don't remember how I was led to this game, I was looking at a game site on the Web and they said how this game is consistently rated #1. So I clicked on it, and in a carefree mood I purchased it. I LOVE IT. Even my husband who usually rolls his eyes when a game is pulled out , has said he enjoys this game. We often play it with a 9 and 11 year old, and they are easily able to grasp the concepts, although their strategies could use some work.
  What is so nice about this game is that there are no dice, no money to count and no constantly moving a piece around a board. Instead each player on his turn picks a cardboard tile(nice thick quality) and places it on the table, which acts as your board. You basically create your own puzzle each game, so it is never the same. Rivers match up to rivers, or city to city, road to road. You have to decide the best place to put the piece you just picked.
  Sometimes the games are lopsided, with one person building a huge city and getting tons of points, but that is often due to the other players error and not a game fault. We have only been playing it 2 weeks, but so far I have learned/figured out something new after each game to help with future strategies. It's a quick game, and high quality. I have been so impressed with this one, that I have already purchased some expansions and Rio Grandes new game of Ark of the Covenant and Hunters and Gatherers, both using the same concept of Carcassonne but with variations.
  This game definitely beats out the common store favorites of Clue, Monopoly, Life, Stratego and blah blah blah. There is a reason why it has been a #1 game, try it out!
  
  

• Claim the Country

  
  By A3GKPMHV4U64IY on 2006-06-13
  This is a tile-placement game. Square tiles have roads, monasteries, cities and farmland printed on them. Each player in turn reveals a tile and places it such that all edges match edges already placed. For instance, a road has to connect to a road, it can not just stop. Once a player places a tile, they can claim part of the tile (road, farmland, city, or monastery). As these features grow the player gets more points. Monasteries do not grow, points are gained by filling in the nine surrounding spaces.
  
  The skill comes from knowing just what to claim. Each player has a limited number of claim tokens. Once a feature is completed (road, city or monastery), the points are collected and the claim token becomes available for use again. Players must balance their use of the tokens and work to complete features so they can claim even more. One trick is to complete a short road or small city (just two tiles, sometimes three) and then claim it, thus getting the points and getting the claim token back immediately.
  
  This is a quick game. Playing time is relatively short (thirty minutes or so) and play is easy. No two games are ever the same thus keeping the game fresh. A fun game for two to six players. The game is reasonably small and easy to transport. Pieces are cardboard tiles and wooden claim tokens. If you are looking for a fun game that doesn't take hours, then this one might be for you.
  
  

• Carcassonne -- simple brilliance

  
  By A21T7DWL1DMKWM on 2006-11-14
  To play Carcassonne, you select a tile at random and join it to an existing tile on the table and then decide whether or not you want to claim an object on the just-placed tile. Points are scored during play when a claimed object is completed, such as finishing a wall around a city or creating a road with an intersection (or termination) at both of its ends. There is end-game scoring as well.
  
  Carcassonne is collaborative; players collectively build a unique landscape of cities, meadows, and roads. It is combative; with clever tile placement, a player can put a halt to an opponent's building project or share in the spoils by `sneaking' in on an opponent's city, road or meadow. Carcassonne is balanced, appearing to be almost equal parts chance, tactics and strategy.
  
  An experienced Carcassonne player will probably beat a newbie most of the time, if not every time. Experienced players (especially one on one) can have a nearly chess-like match of tactical and strategical combat.
  
  Strategy and tactics change with the number of players because the tiles available to each player diminishes as the number of players increases. It's probably best not to make grandiose plans when playing a five player game.
  
  The farming element of Carcassonne is perhaps the game's only weakness. I say 'perhaps' because the farms are also what help make Carcassonne such a strategical and tactical success. The main `problem' with the farming element is the tendency for a large central farm. Players have to be especially alert for the little patches of green that extend the farm. Players may not want to get too carried away trying to own or join the big farm or they'll lose too many meeples and miss other opportunities. And yet, that struggle over the central farm can often be why Carcassonne is so agonizingly fun. End game scoring is critical, so take your time and make sure you've got the farms and farmers properly identified.
  
  There are two important things to note regarding the basic original Carcassonne: First, do a search on the Internet for the English interpretation of the German third edition rules regarding farm scoring. I prefer these newer rules to the one included in the English version (which has not been updated). Second, in games with three or more players, consider playing the variant which allows you to draw a tile after your turn is over so you can study it while the other players place their tiles. This helps reduce the dreaded `analysis paralysis' and makes the game more interesting when it is not your turn.
  
  I have played maybe 10-15 times with varying numbers of players and have read other opinions and tips on the Internet. This review reflects some of my observations and knowledge so far. I recently acquired the `Traders and Builders' expansion and I think it's safe to say after one play that it is a must-have. T&B adds a new level of strategy and tactics without making the game overly complicated. It adds a richness to the game that seems to make it better, which is pretty amazing.
  
  Nit Picky Things:
  (1) You need a cloth bag to draw the tiles from and there is not one included in the original game, but there is one included with the T&B expansion.
  (2) Forget the scoring card that comes with the game. One accidental bump and the meeples slide off their score markers. Unless you somehow managed to memorize everyone's score, or remember every object that has been claimed and by whom, you'll have to start over. Just use a paper and pencil.
  (3) The scoring meeple should have been different than the seven playing meeples. It's too easy for people to wind up playing with eight meeples instead of seven.
  (4) The farming and two-tile city scoring rules have different official versions and can be confusing, especially to newcomers.
  (5) There may be one too many cloisters!
  (6) Two-tile cities are easy, maybe too easy, and can quickly fatten up a farmer as well as provide an instant boost to the score, all without a loss in meeples (provided you have a meeple in hand to score with).
  
  
  
  

• a really fun, easy game

  
  By on 2003-07-04
  i first played this game a few months ago. 10 minutes into the game, i was hooked! the concept is simple -- earn points by completing cities, roads, and cloisters, and deploying farmers. figuring out the best tile placement is tricky, but fun. the competition is fun, but not too intense. even my 10-year old daughter plays this, and likes it. if we want a "quick" game, we leave out the "farmer" aspect -- makes for a quicker, easier, but still very fun game. the tiles themselves are just beautiful -- the artwork is gorgeous. the player pieces are great -- wooden man figures that are a nice size -- substantial, and the fact that they are person-shaped and not just a block square, adds to the fun. i'd play this game several times a day if i could-- it really is that much fun. :)
  
  
• Strategy, planning, and resource management!
  By AGY2IFHTBCBN4 on 2003-10-31
  This is a great game of kingdom building that is easy to learn and very fun to play. The games are relatively short (30 to 45 minutes)so it doesn't take an entire evening, either.

  Players take turns drawing land tiles and placing them on the board. Tiles have various structures (e.g. roads, cities, fields) on them that need to be matched up for proper placement. You can't have a road end in an open field, it must be attached to another road.

  Each player has a number of followers to dispatch throughout the kingdom. They can be placed on roads (to become thieves), cities (to become knights), monistaries (to become monks), or fields (to become farmers). Once a structure is completed (roads have two ending points or intersections, cities are completely walled in, etc.) the player scores points for his follower and may remove to follower from the board to place him on a subsequent round.

  This game is a good way to learn resource management. If you place all of your followers you won't have any in reserve for a prime opportunity, should it arise later. Is it better to get quick points with roads or small cities, or try to keep extending the roads and cities for greater scores? There are many strategies to consider and options to contemplate. Yet, this game is easy to learn in a few minutes. And since the players place the board pieces there are no two game boards alike.

  My friends and I have had hours of entertainment from this game. I highly recommend it!
  
  

• Deceptively Addictive
  By A1MB7BO1V2AG66 on 2007-02-01
  When I first read the description of Carcassonne, I dismissed it as something that I wouldn't really enjoy (I've never really liked how luck is the dominant element of tile-laying games). But there were so many fantastic reviews that mentioned how `strategic' it was, we decided to dig into our game fund and buy it! It was an instant hit with family and friends including my wife and daughter, who are not avid game players.
  I won't waste time explaining the rules or details of gameplay, but I will say that learning the game is very easy. The game plays in about a half hour (a bit more with expansions), which is great because people can come and go as they please - no long term commitments here. Even adding `The River' (included in the basic game edition that we bought) and the `Inns and Cathedrals' expansion rules isn't a burden. The only area that can be a bit confusing is scoring for farmlands. We did it incorrectly the first night, but as I was re-reading the rules to clarify it, it became clear on how they should be scored.
  The mechanics of gameplay can be tinkered with to produce variations that you may like. For instance, we don't use the standard rules for placing the river tiles at the beginning of the game. We shuffle all 12 tiles, picking and laying tiles to build the river only until the two ends (the spring and the lake) have been placed. This way, the length of the river (2 to 12 tiles) varies from one game to the next.
  The tile laying aspect of this game is, of course, mostly luck. There's no strategy that can give you the tile you need - you'll either be lucky or not. On one game, my son and I were both waiting to finish cities near the end of the game, needing identical pieces. He drew the tile and scored, I ended up with a zero for that city and lost the game. Had I drawn the tile, I'd have won. Of course, the more players you have, the less chance you have of getting that tile that you really need.
  Placing tiles carefully is the key to strategizing. Should you build a bunch of small cities, or a lesser amount of large ones? Should you finish that road or try to build it as long as possible? Should you expand your own farms, roads, and cities, or `steal' points from another player? There is no one strategy that is fail-safe (at least none that I've found).
  Strategy comes in not only in where the tiles are places, but also in the placement of your followers (`meeples') to score points for roads (as thieves), farms (farmers), cloisters (monks) and cities (knights). Since you have only a small amount of meeples, so managing them wisely is of the utmost importance. .
  When it's all put together, these elements combine to make a fun and unpredictable game that is different every time you play it.
  We purchased the "Inns and Cathedrals" expansion, in which Inns can double the value of roads and Cathedrals score you additional points in cities. But if those cities and roads remain unfinished at the end of the game, the whole city (or road) is worthless! This set also comes with a large follower (worth 2 regular followers) for each color, a complete set of followers for a sixth color (gray), and `50/100' tiles to make keeping score easier.
  There are several other expansions for Carcassone, each adding a twist here or there, as well as increasing the number of tiles. We hope to add some of those to our collection over time, but we don't really find the game lacking anything the way it is, either. While these expansions aren't necessary to enjoy the game, the additional tiles, rules, and strategies really modify the game up nicely. There is also a `big box' available which includes the base game plus five expansions.
  I recommend this game highly. While I can't say that it will replace game nights of taking out a large board game for a 2-3 hour showdown, this game stands on its' own merits, being a fine game for 2 to 5 players (six with the I & C expansion). But more importantly, it's the kind of game that can entice non-gamers into the fold, and every person that I have introduced the game to (both gamers and non-gamers alike) loves it. Carcassonne is proof that a game doesn't have to be massive or have highly technical rules to be challenging and fun.
  
  
  
• Carcassonne - the best game in years
  By A1KW6FZFSPUGO4 on 2003-07-19
  Carcassonne is the best strategy-based board game I've ever played. It's actually composed of about a hundred square tiles featuring roads, cities, farmland, and cloisters. Deploy your small number of settlers to take over each of these features, scoring points for their completion. Score points for your farmers and all your incomplete roads, cities, and cloisters in the end.

  The game works great for two players as well as the maximum 5 players (six with the first expansion) or anywhere in between. The games are varied every time I've played (about 30-40 times so far).

  This game is the most addicting game I've played since Magic: the Gathering was released 10 years ago. Try it and soon you will be scrambling to purchase the two available expansions - one with Big Settlers and new tiles and one with Builders & Traders.

  The average rating for the durability is a result of the cardboard tiles. If you play a game enough times you'll likely wear out anything made of cardboard over time.
  
  

• Disappointed
  By A25V0QNH29GCX4 on 2006-01-09
  I read the reviews and I was ready for a fun game...the truth is we only played it once, it was Ok...but nothing like the fun the other reviewers experienced! Maybe after you play it several times and get into the strategy it gets more fun, but it is rather dull really. Prefer Settlers of Catan for example a lot more (maybe it is because there isn't much interaction with the other players) that I found it dull.
  
  
  
  
• Great game for adults and families
  By A2HYFHIXOL6GP9 on 2006-05-31
  This game is always interesting because the board is different every time, creating an atmosphere where players have to adapt their strategy according to the pieces they choose. I love how table talk is encouraged and how older kids can pick up on this game and play with adults. It's also great because you can play an intense 2 player game that is just as fun as playing with a group.
  
  
• A great game - simple to learn with deep strategy
  By A3V8ZBI47KOHVG on 2006-03-27
  I get together at least twice a month on weekends with a number of friends to sit around a table and play board games. We usually played Settlers of Catan until I picked up Carcassone after I received a number of recommendations for it, and I'm very glad I did. It is a compelling and fun game for two players, and becomes even more fun with more participants involved. it is an incredibly simple game to play - we had a few observers watching a game once that had picked up the basics of it and were offering advide halfway through, just by observing how we played.
  
  I enjoy that it is not dice-based, but does have an element of luck in how the tiles are drawn, but allows for a number of stragies to be employed when it comes to tile placement and advancement. It has since become a regular addition to our gaming pool.
  
  I highly recommend picking up the Inns and Cathedrals expansion, as it does add a good level of gameplay mechanics without detracting from the original game or adding too many extraneous rules.
  
  Overall, a very fun and simple game, appropriate for children and adults alike.
  
  
• Awesome Game
  By A1JTSBX5UFZMTJ on 2006-07-25
  This game has it all and I highly recommend it. The game is about building the town and deploying your followers to get you points. Since you build the board as you play, there is very little set-up time needed. Also the game is easy enough for anyone to pick-up, but there is a complexity to it which keeps you playing over and over. Lastly, it isn't a marathon game like monopoly or risk, which is nice.
  
  
• Not for everyone, but I love it.
  By A2AMUB6C6LF054 on 2007-07-30
  While I agree with the others that this is a great game, quick to play, and good for most ages, I have to add that not EVERYONE will enjoy it. We gave it as a gift to a young couple and they couldn't figure it out at all. They asked several of their friends for help and even asked a child to see if they could understand how to play, and none of them could. My husband and I sat down with it and played a game within a few minutes. We think it has to do with our enjoyment of jigsaw puzzles and logic puzzles. So, while I whole-heartedly recommend this game, I would caution you that there are some people who simply won't get it, and won't even want to once they have watched you play.
  
  
• Great fun
  By A3IQQJPGZ2RDN7 on 2005-01-19
  This is a great game. If your paragon of boardgames is still Monopoly, then you are in for a pleasant surprise. Far superior games are now available. There is a quiet revolution in boardgaming happening right now.
  
  Carcassonne is one of the best of these new games. My wife and I love this game. Also check out the expansion to this game, Carcassonne: Inns & Cathedrals. It adds a lot too.
  
  Hint: For more strategic depth, play from two or three tiles in your hand, instead of just choosing one randomly each turn.
  
  If you like this game, also check out these others, which are also listed on Amazon:
  
  Ticket to Ride
  Settlers of Catan
  
  
  
• Easy to pick up, hard to master
  By A1SIII0B4BHKEA on 2005-10-13
  This is a great game. Easy to learn, and tough to master. My in-laws picked it up within minutes and we still play it revising strategies each time through.
  
  My only beef (but conversely the reason my wife loves it) is the randomness. You choose a random tile each turn so it's very hard to plan ahead. For that reason I prefer Settlers of Catan, but this is my runner up bar none.
  
  
• Fun for the whole family.
  By A2W0B2LUJBHQT0 on 2006-08-04
  After playing Settlers of Catan for a while we began looking at Carcasssonne. This game is perfect for the traveling family. An average size box that fits easily in luggage and an assemble as you go board that can be construsted with minimal floor space. You have five different "meople" (the little wooden men). Each player has a different color. They represent your accountant (score keeper), knight, theif, farmer and monk. The farmer scoring can be difficult for younger children but the concept of them is easy to explain. They grow the food for the nearest city. Choose to leave them out if you wish. I would also consider changing the name of the theif to: Adventurer or travler.
  
  The idea is to build your own countryside scattered with castles and earn points doing so. The game is quick and different each time due to the ever changing board lay out with each shuffle. Strategy is helpful but occasionally dumb luck will win out. I recommend it and it'sexpansions.
  
  
• loved it
  By A12AW2GPOKDTCI on 2006-11-09
  It was hard at first, to keep everything straight as far as the rules, and scoring go, but now that we understand, it is one of our favorites. It is great for 2 people, and my husband and I play it 2 times / week. I would definately recommend it to anyone. Well worth it.
  
  
• Carcassonne vs. Settlers of Catan Smackdown
  By A3GX7F36F95R27 on 2007-07-05
  We've been playing Settlers of Catan for years, a great game for ages 8-ish (with some help) and up, but too often someone (okay, I'm talking about me) ends up starting in a poorly chosen position and there really isn't any way to dig yourself out of the hole. Too frustrating to be fun.
  
  Carcassonne, on the other hand, is easier to understand for younger children and fortunes can change within a turn or two. Hope springs eternal in this game! One player may think s/he owns a city, road or farm, but suddenly another player can end up sharing it or even stealing it away. There is definitely nothing predictable about Carcassonne, even towards the very end, and we've greatly enjoyed playing it for the last few months at least every other day with different combinations of elementary, high school, college kids and adults.
  
  Three pieces of advice --
  1. Allow each player to hold two tiles at a time. Having a little more choice makes strategies much more interesting and achievable.
  2. Get the Big Box. The expansion packs are definitely worth it, even if you only use the extra tiles without the additional rules/tokens.
  3. Penalize mean or counterproductive play. We started giving out "yellow cards" as in soccer when a player ends up more than a lap behind (50 points) and a "red card" if more than two laps behind (100 points) since it meant the player focussed more on disrupting other players' strategies than working on their own. A red card was an automatic one game suspension and a yellow card, well, your family can decide for themselves how to adjudicate that! Good sportsmanship sometimes needs a little reinforcement, we found, especially for boys under 13 or so.
  
  
• Carcassonne is serene, fierce, and deep strategically. It's also atmospheric.
  By A1F7SX3GNVBNE3 on 2008-02-20
  Carcasonne - a cool strategy card laying game - succeeds brilliantly because of its simplicity, strategic depth, and atmospheric beauty. Game play is simple - a river is laid out creating the start for a growing medieval world of fields, roads, rivers, monasteries, and fortified cities. These features are on the playing cards the players lay down as tiles. As the game progresses the area of tiled cards grows, painting a medieval landscape in front of you.
  
  You have a limited number of playing pieces which you use to take possession of roads, cities, monasteries, or fields for farming as you play your cards. You get points for completing these items - and whether you complete them depends on the cards you draw - and also on the choices other players make when tiling down their cards. When an item is completed you get your playing piece back and can use it to take possession of new features on the next card you lay down. Where and how you put cards down is constrained by the features of the card, and what's already been played. For example you must play a card with road on it only if there's already road - or a road terminus adjacent (no hanging roads - or cities). You work alone, but also sometimes in cooperation with other players (it's possible for two player's cities to merge in to one, then it benefits you both if you finish). Farming is complicated - but it's about controlling areas of contiguous field. Since the field areas are being created as the cards are laid down - there's an element of chance as well as strategy. The cards themselves are simple yet pretty and atmospheric. The game play is cutthroat - yet the visuals of pretty fortified medieval cities and fields, roads and streams is serene and soothing. This combination of attributes is compelling. This is a really fun game that gets the juices flowing.
  
  As others have noted, except for farming, the rules are simple and kids can play (I'd say kids 8 and up). This game is sophisticated enough for even jaded gaming adults too. It's a great family game, and great thing to bring on weekend retreats (because it's quiet and non-electric). It's got fantastic replay value too.
  
  
• One of the Best Games Out There
  By A2SQ3PPVMGUHZ8 on 2005-06-02
  This, along with Ticket to Ride, is just an excellent game. It's very different from the usual, and it's very fun and endlessly replayable because you build the board each time. It comes with a nice clear set of rules and there are several wonderful expansion sets that can be added in for spice. I've never gone wrong with this game as a gift; it seems to be universally popular. Another must-buy. Thanks Amazon for carrying this one!
  
  
• Grab a ziplock and you are ready to play!
  By A1IFFJDYLEV1VZ on 2005-06-12
  Carcassonne is one of the family favorites! Carcassonne usually ends up as the game of choice at family gatherings (with Puerto Rico, Corsairs, and Settlers as back ups). The rules are easy to pick up, as we usually just show a couple of pieces and explain the game as we go for new players. Strategies have developed to pick on the perceived 'leader', box in your 'favorite' players piece on impossible pieces to finish, defensive meadow closings, etc.
  
  This game is great for replay. The 'luck' of what you draw can be overcome with repeated play.
  
  This game (with Corsairs) is one of our favorites to bring camping, traveling, or backpacking. Grab a ziplock, pen and paper and your off!
  
  
• This is a really fun game!
  By A3I1BJIFFM4S21 on 2007-01-12
  I am glad that I bought this game. It does not involve any money or any pen and paper (which is rather unusual!) Scoring is done by moving people around a 50 point track, and if you lap it, you get a 50 point card in addition to whatever else you have on the point track. This keeps the focus on the game-play, while still allowing for a point reference throughout the game.
  
  The pieces (and the box) are of high quality, and the game can be enjoyed by children as well as adults.
  
  Another reason I like this game is that two players can play this game alone, and sometimes it is hard to find games like that. You typically have two owners of a game and a third person (a friend?) who comes over and plays less often and is always at a disadvantage.
  
  Also, the game doesn't last too long. You are not going to get bogged down for hours, and you can "get a game in" before you go to bed, or before you go out.
  
  If you enjoy this game, there are some expansion sets to this game that you can also purchase. They each add additional pieces and additional rules, and they change the strategy and make it more interesting (just when you might have been getting tired with the game!)
  
  They are the following:
  Carcassonne Inns & Cathedrals
  Carcassonne Traders & Builders
  Carcassonne The Princess and the Dragon
  Carcassonne The Tower
  Carcassonne The River (sort of a mini-expansion)
  
  If, however, you think you would like to purchase them all at once, instead of one by one down the road, you can elect to purchase the "Carcassonne: Big Box" instead. This contains the full original game as well all of the expansions listed above. It is bundled together at a big discount, and as well as with a big space savings -no extra boxes lying around.
  
  In addition, if you enjoy Carcassonne, you can also purchase separate standalone games related to Carcassonne, but which are NOT expansions, and which cannot be played as part of the original game (or any of the expansions listed above).
  
  They are the following:
  
  Carcassonne Hunters & Gatherers
  Carcassonne The Castle
  Carcassonne The City
  Carcassonne The Ark of the Covenant
  
  Finally, for those who enjoyed this game, I must also recommend other strategy games from the manufacturer, Rio Grande Games. I have also purchased the strategy card games "Lost Cities" and "San Juan" from this manufacturer, and have enjoyed them immensely as well!
  
  
  
• Great for couples
  By A3ICZGK6E7C2VZ on 2007-03-11
  As you can tell from the reviews, this game is awesome.
  
  My girlfriend and I love to play it together, as it works very well with two players. Lots of the great strategy games work well with 4-6 players, but Carcassonne manages to be great with only two as well.
  
  
• Even our 6 year old likes it
  By A37TTJ5SE9SA10 on 2005-05-17
  This is one of those games that's easy to learn the rules to but cannot really be mastered. You just draw tiles and place them where they fit in order to build cities and roads. Simple eh? Of course if you want to win you have to make sure your opponent does't steal that city you worked so hard to build. Oh, and don't neglect the farmers or your opponent's score will go shooting past yours when the last tile is placed. As the game progresses your choices of what to do widen and it is easy to get distracted from that perfect strategy you started out with.
  
  I have not played with more than three players so I do not know how well the game scales. Even playing with three players rather than two made quite a difference as it slowed the progress you could make on your constructions, making each tile's placement more important.
  
  Our six year old understands the basics well enough to play reasonably well without too much help (although we do not play the farmers in order to simplify things a bit).
  
  The game has an element of luck in that if you keep drawing the "wrong" tiles while you opponent draws the "right" ones you are in trouble. This may frustrate folks to some extent but the luck factor still feels much smaller than most dice based games. And there are still plenty of ways to score points, including "stealing" your opponents' almost completed cities and roads.
  
  If you have a need to play but cannot find a flesh and blood opponent you can play online for free here:
  http://www.brettspielwelt.de/gate/jsp/base/index.jsp?nation=en
  
  
• So much fun!
  By AOU3DA1C8C9XB on 2005-09-23
  Carcassonne is a great game with a medieval theme. Players deploy knights, thieves, farmers, and monks onto tiles containing cities, roads, fields, and cloisters. The tiles build onto one another to create a land that is unique to each game session. Explaining how to play it makes it sound more difficult than it actually is, but once you get going, it's not that hard. A bit of strategy is involved, but a bit of luck is as well. This game is fun for all ages!
  
  
• A Great Game
  By A1V51M8M216Y69 on 2006-01-27
  Carassconne is one of the best board games available. First of all, it is very simple to learn. This is one of the few games in my collection that I can play when my non-gamer friends come over. It just takes a minute to explain and after the first game, I find that most people can pick it up. It has a high replay value as well because each game will turn out differently. No two game boards turn out the same. This is thanks to the very interesting tile laying game mechanic.
  
  If you're only familiar with American-style board games like Monopoly or Risk, do yourself a favor and pick this up. You'll see that there is a whole new way to think about boardgaming.
  
  
• Great game, easy to play, always different
  By A2X2ORJ4FZKDZL on 2007-03-20
  We've played this game about 10 times and each time it played out differently. It takes about 40 minutes to play out a game; there are not that many decisions to make each turn so the game can move quickly. We've played both two and four handed - it worked both ways. The counter for keeping score is a bit funky, but does not distract.
  
  
• Must have Eurogame
  By A32EBQDMOPEJHE on 2005-11-07
  THis is much better than settlers. Much easier to explain, and much shorter game. Plus if you play with the varient of allowing each player to hold three tiles at a time, the strategy is 3 times as deep as settlers. Great gateway game for non-boardgamers. Ticket to ride is better for this, but this is truley one of the great games. We have had this game now for about 5 years. My wife will not let me get rid of it!
  
  
  
  
• Great fun!
  By on 2005-12-11
  This game will keep you hooked for a loooooooooooong time. I got it to play with my 70 year old cousin, who loves it as much as I do. It encourages thinking, strategy, and history, so is educational too, without being a real booring, intentionally educational feel. You place tiles to build different castles, monastaries, roads, and farms. Then you place 1 of your 8 follower peices on the structures to rack up points. Each structure has a seperate scoring method. The game is a whole lot simpler than it sounds, though. Easy to grasp, harder to master. Buy it, its sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo worth it! Parents, grandparents, and children alike will love it. 5 stars out of five, absolutely! I bought it a year ago and it is still fresh and new every game. A winner! :)
  
  
• Great Game
  By A4MQCHOQKR91X on 2007-01-06
  Love it. When a friend explained it to my husband and I...we thought "how lame", but once we played it...we loved it! It's easy but also strategic (but not nerdy strategic). Even my 8 year old nephew loved it. Seriously, you just need to try it out. We must have played it a dozen times over the Christmas holiday. Great to get a gang together and do a little thinking and have some fun.
  
  

• Carcassone: Princess & Dragon Expansion
• Rio Grande Games Carcassonne - The Castle

• Inns and Cathedrals
• Carcassonne: Traders
• Ticket to Ride
• The Settlers of Catan
• Mayfair The Settlers of Catan Board Game