Catan Scenarios: Oil Springs

Catan GmbH, Galakta, KOSMOS · Board game · 2011

8.2 Ludopedia 6.7 BGG 3–6 · best 3 45–60 min Weight 2.2/5

8.2 rating Ludopedia

6.7 rating BGG

What do you want to do now

Ask anything about Catan Scenarios: Oil Springs: rules, setup, components, complexity, price, or whether it fits your group.

Example questions

Learn to play Step by step, manual and videos

How to play Rules manual

Our Verdict

FOR GENRE FANS

If you enjoy Catan and want an extra challenge with a touch of environmental responsibility, this expansion is for you! It adds a tense layer of risk management and negotiation.

Highlights

Relevant and engaging theme
New strategic decisions
Increases player interaction
More Catan to enjoy

Keep in mind

Tense risk management
May frustrate casual players
Requires base game

Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.

Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

Hey everyone! Ready for a dose of ecological drama in the world of Catan? In 'Catan Scenarios: Oil Springs', the discovery of oil shakes things up on the island. Suddenly, you have the chance to boost your settlement, producing resources faster and growing like never before. Think of the possibilities! But hey, it's not all sunshine and roses (or oil, in this case). This 'black gold' comes with a price: the environment. You'll need to keep an eye on the environmental impact of your explorations. Ignoring it could lead to a global climate catastrophe that, believe it or not, can make everyone lose the game. It's a tense mix of opportunity and responsibility, bringing an extra spice of strategy and negotiation to the table. This expansion brings the complexity of the current economy into the Catan universe, but in a fun and challenging way. Ideal for those who already enjoy Catan and want to add some spice, introducing new tactical layers and a very current theme. Get ready to negotiate, explore, and maybe even save the planet while trying to become Catan's biggest oil tycoons!

Expansion for

Published additional content

2 items

Catan

Catan: 5-6 Player Expansion

Gallery

Box and component photos

11 photos · from the community

01 / 11

Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Catan Scenarios: Oil Springs English · PDF

Download Manual

Best player count

BGG community vote

3–6 players

3 BEST

4 BEST

5 BEST

6 BEST

Where to Buy

Prices monitored daily

Finding best prices...

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.

Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Publisher Catan GmbH, Galakta, KOSMOS, Mayfair Games

Designer Erik Assadourian, Klaus Teuber, Ty Hansen

Artist Erik Assadourian, Ty Hansen

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

2,432owners

101wishlist

14want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions

Do I need the base Catan game to play?

Absolutely! 'Oil Springs' is an expansion and requires the Catan board, pieces, and basic rules to function.

What type of player is this expansion suited for?

It's perfect for those who have already mastered the basic Catan and are looking for a more strategic experience with a current theme and an extra challenge.

Does the complexity increase significantly compared to the original Catan?

It increases slightly, mainly due to managing the environmental impact and the new decisions that oil brings. But it's nothing too daunting for those already familiar with the game.

How much time does it add to a game session?

Generally, it adds about 15-20 minutes to the total playtime, depending on how familiar players are with the new rules.

Is the environmental theme very heavy or handled lightly?

It's handled thematically and strategically. The consequence is a game mechanic (everyone loses), not a heavy simulation, maintaining Catan's fun tone.

Can I combine it with other Catan expansions?

Theoretically, yes, but we recommend playing with the base game and just this expansion first to fully grasp the new mechanics before mixing.