Settlers of Catan is a popular board game under Asmodee that appeals to both hardcore strategy fans and people who don't know a lot about board games. It has simple mechanics of taking over territories via roads and towns as well as collecting resources to continuously build. There are multiple strategies to become the victor, which is what makes the game so exciting. It's not on the same level as some RPG tabletop games, but it has the same light role-playing angle and dice rolls to move the game along.
Because of its popularity, there are many different versions of Catan on the market. If you're interested in this line of board games, you may be interested to know our ranked picks for the 10 best versions of Settlers of Catan.
Updated on January 17th, 2021 by Kristy Ambrose: The ultimate board game continues to expand and evolve to accommodate an ever-growing fanbase. Whether you're just playing once in a while for game night, you're a dedicated Catan strategist, or you want a version of the game in your favorite pop culture reference, there's a version of Catan for you. That includes electronic versions that you can put on your phone or tablet along with custom creations that are meant to impress your fellow fanatics or distract troublesome houseguests. We've updated our list to add a few more options when you want a personalized version of Settlers of Catan.
Catan: Chocolate Edition
In Catan: Chocolate Edition, players will be working for resources just the same as they normally would, trying to expand their cities. The big difference is suggested by the name.
Instead of roads and cities, players will put down actual pieces of Belgian chocolate on the board to keep track of their points. There are a limited number of chocolate pieces available, so it's important to get more on the board than your opponents. Victory conditions are the same, but every player gets to eat their chocolate that was on the board at the end of each game. That's a worthy incentive if we've ever heard it.
Catan Dice Game
It's surprising that Settlers of Catan was simplified enough for a dice game, yet here we are. The Catan Dice Game takes the act of building and making new settlements and turns it into a compact, portable package that works for one to two players.
Players will roll dice to get the resources they want, and they have to work with whatever rolls they acquire. There are scoring sheets included to keep track of everything on paper. The game even comes with a double-sided board for two games of varying degrees of complexity. It all comes together to make for a surprisingly excellent game.
Catan Universe
It took a while for an electronic version of Catan to come out, but we're glad it did. Catan Universe is the MMO version that's free to download and play, either on your own against AI opponents or against other players with the same app and an internet connection.
The game has a free version for Apple and Andriod, which also includes the card game Rivals for Catan and rewards you with certain extra features as your character levels up. There's also a store available with extras, like access to other expansions and more daily games against the computer.
Catan Junior
Settlers of Catan is a fun game, but it might be a bit difficult to explain to younger people. That's where Catan Junior comes in. This simplified version of the game was made with children in mind as a way to introduce them to the series. In it, players take the role of pirates around a set of tropical islands.
They must get resources and build pirate lairs to win the game. However, there is a Ghost Pirate at the center of the board who can try and sabotage other players at any moment. It keeps the basics and makes it much easier to understand.
Catan 3D Collector's Edition
A worthy addition to your collection if you can afford the price tag. This version of Catan is one of the most expensive board games in existence because of the realistic, textured landscape that decorates each tile, so they're more like figurines than simple gaming pieces.
The game also comes in what looks like a wooden treasure chest that's been specifically fitted to hold all of the game's special hexes and other pieces. It's intended for serious fans of Catan and dedicated board game enthusiasts who curate their acquisitions as opposed to collecting them. This version also includes the Cities and Knights expansion.
Catan: Family Edition
Catan: Family Edition is a version of the classic board game that doesn't have a lot of variations. The goal was to make this version a bit easier to understand than the classic Settlers of Catan. This is done by making the board consist of six double-sided pieces that click together like a puzzle rather than a series of tiles that people must place down.
It also comes with convenient cards that make it easier to keep track of which resources are needed for what items. These adjustments make the game easier to learn for young minds and a great way to introduce people to this board game. This version isn't compatible with expansions, though.
Catan – 15th Anniversary Edition
A charming vintage edition not only for people who love classic board games but also folks who would prefer to buy as little plastic as possible. The 15th-Anniversary Edition of the game is designed and intended to recall the Golden Age of board games when almost everything was made of wood and carefully crafted to last decades. Even the hexes and the notorious thief are wooden pieces.
It's not just coveted by collectors but for anyone who appreciates durability and reducing their carbon footprint. That's one of the things that make it hard to find, but there are used and resale copies available.
Star Trek Catan
While Catan doesn't lend itself well to get adaptations from other franchises, that didn't stop Star Trek Catan from being produced. This version has all the fundamental elements of Settlers of Catan, but with a few unique changes.
The most noteworthy is that the imagery, resources, and pieces are all re-designed to reflect things from the Star Trek franchise. Secondly, there are helper cards that feature popular characters from the franchise that have special abilities. These abilities can change a few elements on the board to give players an advantage before being discarded. This board game is a great way of merging two fanbases.
Catan: Rise of the Incas
The Inca civilization was one of the most diverse and fascinating groups in history. Catan has now brought that civilization to a modern board game with Catan: Rise of the Incas. The gameplay is mostly the same in this version, but all of the resources, pieces, and artwork are based on imagery from the Inkas.
Furthermore, there is a mechanic where civilizations reach their peak and decline, leading to roads that are covered in vines and can no longer be used. It's a game that continues through multiple generations, which leads to new and exciting mechanics that fans are sure to enjoy.
A Game of Thrones Catan
Winter is coming in A Game of Thrones Catan. Based on the Song of Ice and Fire series in the Game of Thrones saga, there is plenty to enjoy for fans of the franchise. Players are working to become the commander of the land, and that is accomplished by accumulating victory points through territory placement and resource accumulation.
A few new mechanics to this version of the game include Wildling raiders that make their way to the Wall. Players must also keep track of the Wall to try and fortify it or keep their own resources in check. It adds a lot of thematic elements to the game.
Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe
While the gameplay of Catan can attract some hardcore board game fans, the standard game isn't the most complex in the series. That title might be awarded to Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe. This bigger version of Catan throws players on a map of Europe with numerous territories.
Each player is a merchant that must become the greatest traders in Europe. With more resources to manage, a new gold mechanic, and more complex progression routes, there is a lot more strategy involved with Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe. More experienced players should be more than up to the challenge, though.
Catan Histories: Settlers of America
The Catan Histories line is all about taking the standard gameplay of Catan and dialing it up a bit. The result is a more complicated yet rewarding version of the games. In Catan Histories: Settlers of America, players will take control of people heading to North America for the first time.
The board is based on the United States and is separated in the hexagonal tile format, with each territory offering a resource. This version adds the railway system and money to help spice up the gameplay. With its more rounded map than Europe's, Settlers of America edges out over its brother.
Catan Geographies – Germany
This version of Catan is part of the "Geographies" series, which includes a variety of regions such as American states, famous metropolitan cities, and historic European regions like Bavaria. Depending on your personal tastes, that's a whole lot of tough choices, but we're giving it to Catan: Germany as a nod to the country that gave tile games to the world, a style that inspired the original.
The game includes a game board based on Germany's actual geography and history and comes with figurines of famous national landmarks. The same rules for other Catan games also apply to this one.
Catan Traveler
Catan Traveler is a downright impressive game. It doesn't add anything new to the game- rather it's just the standard Settlers of Catan. What makes it so unique is that it was designed with portability in mind without sacrificing gameplay.
The board is raised and has a series of holes around each landmark. Pieces have pegs so they can fit in snugly. Pieces are held in drawers that slide out from underneath the board. Even the cards have holders that make them secure. The dice are also held in a hexagonal piece that prevents them from getting lost. It's not only easy to take Catan Traveler anywhere. It's easy to play anywhere.
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