CATAN GmbH, the company behind the namesake board game, has revealed a new instalment in the series, with CATAN – New Energies, taking a stab at the outstanding issue of energy and global warming. The game features new gameplay focused on power plants and environmental events, which will still borrow from the game’s original and acclaimed mechanics.
Go on the Cheap or Invest in the Future
Players will have to decide whether to get clean energy resources or cheaper fossil fuels, but the latter option could trigger a catastrophe across the island and cause perils that may not be easily overcome. Following an expected trajectory, players will first have access to cheaper fossil fuels before they discover new technology.
Even then, they would be tempted to invest more in cheaper fuel sources. However, investing in renewables, even at the expense of immediate progress, will pay off in the future, staving off natural calamities and also bringing in sustainable benefits for the players who adopt these energy sources.
In the meantime, players who only rely on fossil fuels will soon find their resource production disturbed and yields falling. There are certainly many ways to win the game, Catan promises, but to stay ahead, investing in renewables will be paramount. Catan is also taking a look at being sustainable and eco-friendly itself with the company choosing to drop plastic from the box and using sustainably sourced wood and paper.
There will be more games coming this year, with CATAN – Starfarers Duel also announced for release this year. Meanwhile, New Energies should be released in the second quarter of the year. The good news is that Starfarers Duel may arrive even sooner, in the first quarter.
In the meantime, you may get a look at the latest CATAN expansions and game versions on our list.