Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 20
  2. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. It's highly unlikely that you'll find a better value on Live Arcade.
  2. You might be surprised just how easy and addictive this board game can be.
  3. In general, Carcassone is a quicker game to grasp but lacks Catan's depth and tactical nuances with the outcome of a game often feeling more like luck than skill. If you've only got a Silver Live account Carcassonne is a marginally better purchase thanks to its offline multiplayer and its short game length and puzzle-like aspects gives it a strangely addictive quality, yet the honest fact is that despite being a better adaptation, Carcassonne just isn't based on a board game quite as good as the one Catan is.
  4. With easy to learn rules, but surprising strategic depth, Catan gets some company in the “Turn-Based Fun” genre of XBLA!
  5. I honestly didn’t know much about Carcassonne before I played it on XBLA, but the cozy format and computer control makes it a lot of unfettered fun. Sierra also promises that it’ll add some of the board game’s expansion as inexpensive downloads soon, which will extend the gameplay that much more.
  6. Carcassonne for the Xbox LIVE Arcade is a great conversion of the original board game, but certain aspects of the game are lacking.
  7. 80
    That Carcassonne is a great game was never in question -- it's one of the most successful board games in recent years. The question was whether or not an Xbox Live Arcade version would retain what made the real-world game fun, and the answer is "indeed."
  8. While Carcassonne isn’t quite as deep as Catan, it’s certainly an easier game to grasp.
  9. As a simple, yet effective translation of the German board game, Carcassonne proves an oddly addictive experience.
  10. Although Carcassonne may not have the depth of strategy that you see in Catan, it still holds its own as a stable addition to the Live Arcade.
  11. Carcassonne is a solid board game, but I personally feel it’s just not quite as strong as Catan, its only direct competition on XBLA. In addition, problems with the camera and presentation only add to the frustration.
  12. Carcassonne is proof that cleverly designed, imaginative strategy games not only have a place in the video-game world, they're direly needed.
  13. It plays fast, has good AI and best of all there is no clean up.
  14. The complexity of it all stinks up the mix. [Issue#23, p.98]
  15. Carcassonne is the sort of board game that the Arcade needs more of: simple to pick up and play, but plenty of scope for competition and strategy for hardcore gamers. The games are quick, lots of fun, and the whole package is well polished and easy to use.
  16. Carcassonne is without a doubt one of the best multiplayer games on Live Arcade right now, but the limited single player might leave those without friends a little depressed. That is, unless they take it online.
  17. Carcassonne is Live Arcade at its best--a fair price for a great game you otherwise wouldn't find on the 360. More please! [Aug 2007, p.80]
  18. Simpler and faster than "Catan." [Aug 2007, p.92]
  19. While board games on Xbox Live are not everyone’s cup of tea, those looking for a bit of fast-paced and fun strategy that’s actually quite relaxing to play, Carcasonne certainly delivers, and has the promise of tile-set expansions in the near future.
  20. The AI is exceptional and we found the middle level to be a good match for even experienced players. [Sept 2007, p.108]
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Nov 28, 2013
    Call me paranoid, but the shuffle on this deck seems a little stacked. I've played the board game and enjoyed it, so I purchased this. While the graphic and music and gameplay are quality, I started noticed a strange pattern when playing. When playing on Easy, I seemed to receive the bulk of monastaries and end caps. When I flipped over to medium, I noticed that each game the computer received the bulk of those items now. I was tied with the computer about halfway through the last game when the computer received 8 endcaps IN A ROW, which allowed him to close 3 castles and open/close 3 more. Meanwhile I was given straight roads and corners. I've never seen anything like it playing the board game. The game before that, the computer received all the monastaries and the majority of the end caps. It's a little creepy, not sure if this P-AI (Psuedo-AI) where the system just throws in random cheats to give the appearance of a tougher AI, its easier than programming a true AI. I'll continue to play the game, but I'm going to start keeping track of percentages.This obviously would not be an issue when playing with another human. Full Review »
  2. D
    Feb 19, 2008
    We need more of these kind of games on de xbox...together with catan this game takes most of my time..great fun.
  3. MaxCourterIII
    Aug 16, 2007
    A fun game that is a great board game. The only problem is that it doesn't have all of the expansions.