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Catan

1995 · Economic

Catan

Players expand a fledgling colony on an island by building settlements, cities and roads on a modular hex board. Each turn dice determine which terrain tiles produce resources (brick, wood, ore, wheat, sheep), and players collect matching resource cards to spend on construction, development cards, or trades. Setup mixes hex tiles and number tokens to create a different island each game, with ports on the coast for favorable trades. A robber piece blocks production on a tile and can be moved when a 7 is rolled, allowing the active player to steal a resource from an adjacent opponent. Points come from buildings, longest road, largest army and certain development cards; the first player to reach the target total wins.

Players
3–4 best 4
Playing time
60–120 min
Age
10+
Complexity
2.3 / 5
6.6 on Ludoyafrom $39.99NegotiationDice RollingChainingHand Management
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About the game

Publisher

Expansions

See them in Ludoya
Catan: 5-6 Player Expansion1996Catan: Seafarers1997Catan: Cities & Knights1998Catan: Traders & Barbarians2007Catan: Seafarers – 5-6 Player Extension1999Catan: Cities & Knights – 5-6 Player Extension2000Catan: Explorers & Pirates2013Catan: Traders & Barbarians – 5-6 Player Expansion2008The Settlers of Catan: The Great River2005Die Siedler von Catan: Historische Szenarien1998The Settlers of Catan: The Fishermen of Catan2005Catan Scenarios: Oil Springs2011Catan Scenarios: Helpers of Catan2010Catan: Explorers & Pirates – 5-6 Player Extension2013Die Siedler von Catan: Das Buch zum Spielen2000Die Siedler von Catan: Historische Szenarien II2001Catan: Event Cards2005Catan Scenarios: Frenemies2012Catan: Treasures, Dragons & Adventurers2009Catan: Seafarers Scenario – Legend of the Sea Robbers2017Catan: Cities & Knights – Legend of the Conquerors2019Catan Scenarios: Easter Bunny2015De Kolonisten van Catan: De Koloniën2005Die Siedler von Catan: Der Schokoladenmarkt2010Die Siedler von Catan: Atlantis – Szenarien & Varianten2005Catan Scenario: Crop Trust2018De Kolonisten van Catan: De Diamanten2005Catan: Indiana & Ohio2009De Kolonisten van Catan: De Specialisten2005De Kolonisten van Catan: De Wereldwonderen2005De Kolonisten van Catan: De Woestijnruiters2005Brettspiel Adventskalender 20152015De Kolonisten van Catan: Het Grote Kanaal2005Catan Geographies: Settlers of Hesse2007Catan: New York2012Catan: Delmarva2010Catan Geographies: North Rhine – Westphalia2008Catan: Penn-Jersey2011Catan: Hawai'i Scenario2017Catan Geographies: Mallorca2012Die Siedler von Catan: Rincewind und der Tourist / Die Gilden von Ankh-Morpork2008Catan Geographies: Bayern Edition2009Catan Geographies: Austria2010Catan: The Helpers2022Die Siedler von Catan: Die große Karawane2006Catan: Catan Day 2015 Exclusive Expansion2015Mayfair Games' Limited Edition Promo Expansion Set #172014Die Siedler von Catan: Renaissance in der Steiermark & Burgbau auf Chaffenberch2007Catan Geographies: Georgia2015Catan Geographies: Rickshaw Run2015Catan: New England2013Die Siedler von Catan: Hispania Edition2014Die Siedler von Catan: Thüringen Edition2011Catan Geographies: The Carolinas2014Catan Geographies: Corsica2013Catan: Soccer Fever Scenario2023Settlers of New Catan (and extra modules)2004Catan Scenarios: #WeStayHome2020Catan scenariusze: Mapy – Polska2016Die Siedler von Catan: Hochzeitsturm2014Catan: Seefahrer – 20 Jahre Jubiläums-Edition201720 Jahre Darmstadt Spielt2014Catan: High Priests of the Inkas2018Catan Austria / Wien meets Catan2004Catan: Ein Herz für den Räuber!2025Catan: Szenario Der Kölner Dom2018Catan: Playmat Atoll2016Catan: Playmat Desert2016Mayfair Game Variants & Mini-Expansions Set #12012Catan Scenarios: Big Game Big Honor2015World Wonders (fan expansion for Catan)2012Catan: Playmat Island2016Catan: Playmat Gold2016Catan Geographies: Kennessee2016Catan Scenario: Durango2016Catan Rhein-Main-Neckar2019Die Siedler von Luxemburg2008Saggsen-Gadan: De säggs'schn Siedler / Catan-OFFENSIVE in Chemnitz2005Der Hafenmeister2005Settlers of Catan Scenario: The VolcanoCatan Scenarios: Global Warming202018CTN2025Catan Scenarios: Catanimals2010De Kolonisten van Catan: De drie Handelsteden van Noord-Nederland2009Settlers of Catan Scenario: The JungleKirche, Glaube & Reformation (fan expansion for Catan: Cities and Knights)2002Catan: Catakatoa2005Hexen, Zauberer & Drachen (fan expansion for Catan: Cities and Knights)2001Heroes & Capitols (fan expansion for Settlers of Catan)2012Catan: The Helpers – Leader of the Flock2024Catan: Mowlin, the Benevolent Ram2025Die Siedler von Catan: CheopsDie Pioniere (fan expansion for The Settlers of Catan)2001Catan: Die Stoffräuber2011The Siege (fan expansion for Catan)2023Catan Scenario: Malta2022Catan Cenários: Portugal2020Katani pankur2008Pax Romana2025Rise of Civilizations2025The Dragon & Wizards of Catan2002The Explorers of Catan2001Combat & Politics2000Random Events & Treachery2000Catan Scenario: Fenni's Shearing Season2021Catan: 999 Games 25 jaar Expansion2015

Photos from Ludoya tables

All photos in Ludoya
  • Catan on the table, photo by Glòria
  • Catan on the table, photo by Daniel Martín Romo Parra
  • Catan on the table, photo by Glòria
  • Catan on the table, photo by Glòria
  • Catan on the table, photo by Glòria
  • Catan on the table, photo by Glòria
  • Catan on the table, photo by Diego
  • Catan on the table, photo by Xerta
  • Catan on the table, photo by Charlie King
  • Catan on the table, photo by Nanibit
  • Catan on the table, photo by Japydance
  • Catan on the table, photo by Chris Salazar

Where to buy it

Shop prices and second-hand copies, checked every day.

Compare all prices in Ludoya

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
3,351
Plays logged
2,313
Players
1h 2m
Average play
847
In collections
15
On wishlists
1
Pre-ordered

6.6/10

from 328 Ludoya reviews

  • Fun7.5
  • Interaction7.8
  • Replayability7.6
  • Uniqueness8.1
  • Looks5.9
  • Accessibility8.7

  • BWizard5.9

    [c] (15x) GAMING EXPERIENCE: :star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: (5x) DEPTH / WEIGHT: :star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: (5x) LUCK: :star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: (10x) REPLAYABILITY: :star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: (6x) MECHANICS: :star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: (6x) PLAYER INTERACTION: :star::star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: (3x) SCALABILITY (PLAYER COUNT): :star::star::star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar: (2x) LENGTH: :star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: (2x) CLARITY OF RULES: :star::star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: (6x) COMPONENT QUALITY: :star::star::star::star::star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: [/c] With expansion. :thumbsdown: Classic, but no, thanks.

  • Jan Solo5.5

    Deberás expandirte por la isla, construyendo caminos, aldeas y ciudades. Para ello necesitarás los recursos que generan los hexágonos de mapa y una buena dosis de comercio con el resto de jugadores. Un juego clásico que agradaa jugadores ocasionales. Como eurogame antiguo tienes bastantes cosas mejorables: comercio, inicio lento, excesivo azar, efecto bola de nieve...

  • Nevest6.1

    This was my gateway game into the hobby and we played it a bunch. While you can reduce the luck factor with good placement, strategy, and negotiation … the luck factor can still swing any game in almost any direction. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s often enough for the game to have fallen in my favor. Catan also tends to stall in the late game and almost encourage king-making for people who have lost and just want it to end. I’ll still play with the Cities and Knights expansion once in a great while and have fun with it, but there are so many better games to play now.

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

Do I get resources for my starting settlements during setup, and when do I take them?

Each player receives the resource cards for the terrain hexes adjacent to their second settlement immediately after placing it (the second-placement round); the starting player then takes the first turn and rolls for production (see pages 3 and 12).

What exactly happens when someone rolls a 7?

No one receives resources; every player with more than 7 cards must discard half (rounded down), then the roller must move the robber and may steal one random resource from a player with a settlement/city adjacent to the chosen hex; the robber prevents that hex from producing until moved again (pages 5 and 11).

Can I build a settlement right next to another player's settlement or city?

No — the Distance Rule requires that all three intersections adjacent to the spot be vacant (no settlements or cities of any player), so you cannot build on an intersection adjacent to another settlement/city (page 7; see also page 5).

When can I play development cards, and do victory point cards count as soon as I buy them?

You may play one development card at any time during your turn but not one you bought that same turn (exception: victory point cards may be revealed immediately to claim a win); victory point cards are kept hidden and only revealed when you declare victory (pages 4, 5, and 7).

What bank/trade rates can I use at harbors — 4:1, 3:1, or 2:1?

You may always trade 4 identical resources for 1 (4:1); if you have a settlement/city on a generic harbor you may trade 3:1; a special harbor gives a 2:1 rate but only for the specific resource shown on that harbor (page 9; see also page 4).

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Score sheets and play helpers

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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.