Catan, long sold as The Settlers of Catan, is the game that introduced many people to modern board games. Designed by Klaus Teuber and first published in Germany by Kosmos in 1995, it won the Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) award the same year. Players settle an island, gather resources, trade with each other and race to 10 victory points. It’s a game of planning, luck and a lot of table talk, which is exactly why it’s still a favorite for family gatherings and game nights.
What is Catan?
The base game is for 3 to 4 players (an extension adds room for 5 or 6). The board is built from hexagonal tiles, each producing one resource: brick, lumber, wool, grain or ore. Number tokens sit on the tiles, and when that number is rolled on two dice, every settlement touching the tile collects its resource. Because the tiles are shuffled each time, no two games look the same.
How to play
Setup
Each player places two settlements and two roads on the board, then collects starting resources from the tiles next to their second settlement. Settlements must be at least two edges away from any other settlement.
On your turn
You roll the dice, everyone collects resources, and then you can trade and build. Trades can happen with other players, or with the bank at 4 to 1 (or better, if you have a harbor).
What things cost
- Road: brick and lumber.
- Settlement: brick, lumber, wool and grain.
- City (an upgraded settlement that collects double): three ore and two grain.
- Development card: ore, wool and grain.
The robber
When a 7 is rolled, nobody collects resources. Any player holding more than seven cards discards half, and the player who rolled moves the robber to a tile. That tile stops producing until the robber moves again, and the player steals a card from someone with a settlement there.
Winning
Settlements are worth 1 point and cities 2. The Longest Road (at least five connected roads) and the Largest Army (at least three knight cards played) are each worth 2 more. Some development cards are worth points too. The first player to reach 10 points on their turn wins.
Strategy tips
- Spread out your numbers. Settling on a range of numbers (6 and 8 come up most often after 7) keeps resources coming in.
- Don’t ignore any resource completely. You can trade for what you lack, but other players will make you pay for it.
- Plan for cities. Ore and grain are what turn settlements into cities, and cities are the fastest path to 10 points.
- Use harbors. A 2-to-1 harbor matched to a resource you produce a lot of can carry a game.
- Trade generously early. Players remember who helped them, and a friendly reputation makes later trades easier.
For a deeper dive, see our Settlers of Catan strategy guide.
Expansions and other versions
Once a group knows the base game, the official expansions add new twists: Seafarers adds ships and islands, Cities & Knights adds city improvements and barbarian attacks, and Traders & Barbarians bundles several smaller variants. For two players there’s Rivals for Catan, a card game set in the same world, and families with younger children can try Catan Junior.
Games to try if you like Catan
If the resource gathering is what your group loves, look for other games where players collect and spend resources to build something. Community Garden is a lighter, friendlier take: players use gardeners to gather resources like water and compost, then play crop cards to grow their gardens, while also helping each other along. It plays with 2 to 4 people in about 45 to 60 minutes. If the route-building is the draw, try Ticket to Ride.
Hosting a Catan night
Catan takes about an hour or more, so start it after dinner rather than squeezing it in. Read the rules ahead of time, set the board up before guests arrive, and suggest the beginner board layout from the rulebook for first-timers. Our guide on how to host a holiday game night has more planning tips for the season.
FAQ
How many players does Catan need?
The base game is for 3 to 4 players. The 5–6 player extension adds more, and Rivals for Catan is designed for two.
How long does a game of Catan take?
Usually 60 to 90 minutes, longer with new players or a lot of trading.
What age is Catan for?
The base game is generally recommended for ages 10 and up. Catan Junior is made for younger players.
Is it called Catan or Settlers of Catan?
Both refer to the same game. Newer English editions simply use the name Catan.
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Top image: “Settlers of Catan completed” by Fritzmann2002, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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