Catan vs. Monopoly
Comparing 2 standards across 20 specifications. 20 key differences identified.
Catan (The Settlers of Catan) is an economic resource management board game designed by Klaus Teuber. Players roll two dice to harvest resources across 19 terrain hexes, building roads, settlements, and cities to reach 10 Victory Points. Rolling a 7 activates the Robber, forcing any player holding more than 7 resource cards to discard half (rounded down).
Monopoly is a real-estate trading board game published by Hasbro. Official tournament rules mandate that Free Parking awards zero money, declining to purchase a landed property triggers an immediate public auction to the highest bidder, and a strict physical limit of 32 houses and 12 hotels creates a strategic 'housing shortage' where players cannot build if the bank is out of tokens.
Specification Comparison Table
20 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Publisher
|
Catan Studio / KOSMOS | Hasbro |
|
Base Game Player Count
|
3 to 4 players | — |
|
Victory Target
|
10 Victory Points (VP) | — |
|
Total Terrain Hexes
|
19 hexes (4 Forest, 4 Pasture, 4 Field, 3 Hill, 3 Mountain, 1 Desert) | — |
|
Settlements Per Player
|
5 wooden settlements (1 VP each) | — |
|
Cities Per Player
|
4 wooden cities (2 VP each) | — |
|
Roads Per Player
|
15 wooden roads | — |
|
Robber Discard Threshold
|
More than 7 cards (8+) lose half, rounded down | — |
|
Longest Road Threshold
|
5 continuous roads minimum awards 2 VP | — |
|
Largest Army Threshold
|
3 Knight cards minimum awards 2 VP | — |
|
Base Bank Trade Ratio
|
4:1 four identical resources for any one | — |
|
Starting Bank Per Player
|
— | $1,500 (2x 500, 2x100, 2x 50, 6x20, 5x 10, 5x5, 5x $1) |
|
Total Board Spaces
|
— | 40 spaces (28 properties, 12 action spaces) |
|
Bank House Supply Limit
|
— | 32 houses maximum in the game |
|
Bank Hotel Supply Limit
|
— | 12 hotels maximum in the game |
|
Free Parking Money
|
— | $0 (None) Official Rule (resting space only) |
|
Unbought Property Rule
|
— | Mandatory Auction Banker auctions immediately to highest bidder |
|
Passing GO Salary
|
— | $200 collected from bank |
|
Jail Exit Cost
|
— | $50 or roll doubles within 3 turns |
|
Income Tax Space
|
— | $200 Flat modern rules (10% option removed) |