Cathedral Classic

by Family Games

Product Features

• Challenge yourself and a friend to a game of Cathedral.
• A logical thinking puzzle that will have you thinking over and over.
• Made of quality hardwood construction.
• Fun for kids and parents alike.
• 8 Years and Up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 3.7 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000IZXG
• Item model number: 607
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,557 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

Product Description

Editorial Review

Just as it is in a modern metropolis, space is at a premium in the game of Cathedral. This game is a developer's dream! Cathedral challenges two players to place as many buildings as possible within the walls of a medieval city. There are two sets (light and dark) of hardwood buildings of various sizes. To begin the game, one player places the cathedral on the grid of the walled city. Then the two players vie for the remaining land. Their goal is to place their own buildings while thwarting their opponent's land-grabbing tendencies. If a player can completely surround one of his/her opponent's buildings, that building is removed from the board and the space gobbled up by a different building. The game ends up resembling a puzzle that must be thoughtfully pieced together. The winner is the player whose unplaced buildings would occupy the least amount of space in the city. Fans of chess should enjoy exercising their strategizing muscles on this one. The hardwood board measures 9.25 inches square. --Wendy Slotboom

Product Description

This classic version of the popular Cathedral game. Is played within the borders of a medieval walled city, two rivals battle to gain the most land space by strategically repositioning their building pieces back on the board. The player who is best at blocking and out-maneuvering their rival will claim victory. Leftover buildings lower your score.

Features include:

•Challenge yourself and a friend to a game of Cathedral.
•A logical thinking puzzle that will have you thinking over and over.
•Made of quality hardwood construction.
•Fun for kids and parents alike.
•8 Years and Up

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Simple and Effective, September 14, 2005

By 

Bu-Chan (Aotearoa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cathedral Classic (Toy)

"Cathedral" is a simple game to learn and one that will be quickly picked up by anyone who tries it.

The idea is to take over as much territory within a medieval town's walls as possible. You do this by placing your various buildings in strategic places within the playing area.

The game itself is made from wood, and the pieces are quite a good size. As such, they are durable and will last ages before any wear and tear begins to show.

I personally found myself quickly becoming bored with the game, as it does not seem to have the endless variety that a game such as chess can provide. The relative movements and strategies you can develop are fairly limited, in that sense.

However, "Cathedral" is different and it is simple. If there are only two players, it makes a quick, fast game to fill a few minutes with. However, should your inclincations be toward longer, more in-depth games, this is not the best of them.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Classic!, December 1, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Cathedral Classic (Toy)

My son received this game as an 8 year-old. We played it for years, including during endless car trips, long after the cardboard box it came it had disintegrated. Eventually, we lost many pieces and put it aside. What a thrill to discover it is still being sold. Easy to learn, quickly played, always interesting, creates a level playing field for parents & kids. Two thumbs up for a great family game.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive & fun. Easy to learn, difficult to master., November 27, 2001

By A Customer

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Cathedral Classic (Toy)

The only limit in the fun of this game is the skill of your opponent. The better your opponent is, the better your strategy must be, and the more you will enjoy the game. I had Amazon send this to my nephews six months ago, and I played it for the first time with them over Thanksgiving 2001. What a great time we had! They never wanted to stop playing, and when their cousins arrived, everyone wanted to play. So we built an identical game, complete with a board, out of LEGO bricks so everyone could have a turn. I can't get this game out of my head, and have even made models of the board and pieces on my computer to pass the time. It is very addictive. My younger nephew really enjoyed playing, even though it was harder for him to master the strategies needed to win. However, it was his older brother who really improved his play by having the opportunity to play against a better player. No two games are the same, and it's very hard to predict how the ever-changing board will impact what pieces you can play. The wood is beautiful and the game has a quiet, old-fashioned elegance about it. But it is a fast, ruthless game of strategy. You won't regret adding it to your collection of games.