If you enjoy classic resource management and direct player interaction, Catan offers a satisfying experience as you race to colonize a new island. It's a fantastic entry point into modern board gaming with its engaging trade mechanics.
- Engaging resource collection and trading
- Accessible rules for new players
- Modular board ensures replayability
- Direct player interaction through trading
- Dice luck can be frustrating
- Player elimination can feel slow
About the game
What you do in a play session
A turn in Catan is a strategic sequence: roll the dice, collect resources based on the results and your constructions, and then the most fun part – negotiation! You can trade resources with other players, use trade ports, or even with the bank. Afterward, it's time to build new roads, settlements, and cities, or buy and use development cards that can give unexpected advantages. But beware! If a 7 is rolled, the dreaded robber comes into play, being moved to a new terrain and stealing a resource card from a player with adjacent constructions. Victory points are earned by building settlements and cities, having the longest road, the largest army (obtained via development cards), and some development cards that are worth points directly. The first to accumulate 10 victory points, some of which may be secret, announces their achievement and becomes the master colonizer of Catan!
Expansions
Published additional content
Brettspiel Adventskalender 2015
Catan Scenarios: Easter Bunny
Catan Scenarios: Frenemies
Catan Scenarios: Helpers of Catan
Catan Scenarios: Oil Springs
Catan: 5-6 Player Expansion
Catan: Cities & Knights
Catan: Cities & Knights – 5-6 Player Extension
Catan: Cities & Knights – Legend of the Conquerors
Catan: Event Cards
Catan: Explorers & Pirates
Catan: Seafarers
Catan: Seafarers – 5-6 Player Extension
Catan: Traders & Barbarians
Catan: Traders & Barbarians – 5-6 Player Expansion
Die Siedler von Catan: Das Buch zum Spielen
The Settlers of Catan: The Fishermen of Catan
The Settlers of Catan: The Great River
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
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Catan - How to Play
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Catan Fixed | Part 2: Point Variant | Catan Board Game Review
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Catan in the style of Risk
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The Cleanest Guide to Trading in Catan
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Ultimate CATAN Strategy Guide | How To Win All the Time !
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5 Strategy Tips For Beginners
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CATAN Placement Puzzle: Nationals
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CATAN U.S. National Championship 2021 INTIAL PLACEMENT PUZZLE Strategy
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Catan Utilities: How to use
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Catan in 30 seconds
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Catan | New Way to Play
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How to Play CATAN: The Game | 6th Edition (2025)
Best player count
BGG community vote
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
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