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{{Short description|Multi-player competitive board game}}
{{Infobox_Game
{{Other uses}}
| subject_name = Settlers of Catan
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
| image_link = ]
{{Infobox game
| image_caption = Players collect resources and build roads, settlements, and cities in an attempt to gain the most victory points, winning the game.
| name = ''Catan''
| designer = ]
| italic title = yes
| publisher = ] {{flagicon|Germany}}<br>] {{flagicon|UK}}{{flagicon|USA}}<br>] {{flagicon|Japan}}<br>] {{flagicon|Netherlands}}{{flagicon|Belgium}}
| image = Catan-2015-boxart.jpg
| players = 3 or 4 (standard) <br />5 or 6 (with expansions)
| image_size = 250px
| ages = 10 years and up
| image_caption =
| setup_time = approx. 10 minutes
| other_names = ''The Settlers of Catan''
| playing_time = 45 to 60 minutes
| designer = ]
| complexity = Medium
| publisher = {{Plainlist|
| strategy = Medium
* ] (Germany)
| random_chance = Medium
* ] (English-language)
| skills = ], ]
* Filosofia (France)
| bggid = 13
* 999 Games (Benelux)
| bggxrefs = t
* GP, Inc. (Japan)
| footnotes =
* NeoTroy Games (Turkey)
* Korea Board Games (Korea)
* Smart (Russia)
* Devir (Mexico)
* Κάισσα (Greece)
* Devir (Brazil and Portugal)
* HaKubia (Israel)
* Galakta (Poland)
* Albi (Czech Republic and Slovakia)
* BrainGames (Latvia)
* spilbræt.dk (Denmark)
* Broadway Toys Limited (Mainland China and Hong Kong)
}} }}
| players = {{ubl|3 to 4 (standard)|5, or 6 (with extensions)}}
'''''Settlers of Catan''''' is a multiplayer ] designed by ]. It was first published in 1995 in ] by ] (Kosmos) under the name '''''Die Siedler von Catan.'''''
| setup_time = 15 minutes
| playing_time = 1–2 hours
| random_chance = low-moderate
| skills = {{ubl|Strategy|]}}
| date = {{plainlist|
* First edition: {{start date and age|1995}}<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=2009-03-23|title=Monopoly Killer: Perfect German Board Game Redefines Genre|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/2009/03/mf-settlers/|access-date=2020-05-14|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>
* Second edition: {{start date and age|1996}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Settlers of Catan (English second edition with alternate colors and 8p optional rules) {{!}} Board Game Version {{!}} BoardGameGeek|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/42682/english-second-edition-alternate-colors-and-8p-opt|website=boardgamegeek.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-14}}</ref>
* Third edition: {{start date and age|1997}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Settlers of Catan (English third edition 1997) {{!}} Board Game Version {{!}} BoardGameGeek|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/24859/english-third-edition-1997|website=boardgamegeek.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-14}}</ref>
* Fourth edition: {{start date and age|2007}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Settlers of Catan (English fourth edition 2007) {{!}} Board Game Version {{!}} BoardGameGeek|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/23765/english-fourth-edition-2007|website=boardgamegeek.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-14}}</ref>
* Fifth edition: {{start date and age|2015|06}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Settlers of Catan has a new name, new look for 5th edition|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/6/23/8661435/the-settlers-of-catan-has-a-new-name-new-look-for-5th-edition|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=2015-06-23|website=Polygon|language=en|access-date=2020-05-14}}</ref>
}}
| web = {{URL|catan.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''''Catan''''', previously known as '''''The Settlers of Catan''''' or simply '''''Settlers''''', is a multiplayer ] designed by ]. It was first published in 1995 in Germany by ] (Kosmos) as '''''Die Siedler von Catan''''' ({{IPA|de|diː ˈziːdlɐ fɔn kaˈtaːn|pron}}). Players take on the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop holdings while trading and acquiring resources. Players gain victory points as their settlements grow and the first to reach a set number of victory points, typically 10, wins. The game and its many expansions are also published by Catan Studio, Filosofia, GP, Inc., 999 Games, Κάισσα (Káissa), and Devir. Upon its release, ''The Settlers of Catan'' became one of the first ]s to achieve popularity outside Europe.<ref name="specialk">{{cite web
|url= http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/SpecialK3.shtml
|title= Special K
|first= Larry
|last= Levy
|date= August 2001
|access-date= 2007-05-01
|archive-date= 31 January 2016
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160131095945/http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/SpecialK3.shtml
|url-status= usurped
}}</ref> {{as of|2020}}, more than 32 million copies in 40 languages had been sold.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Families Stuck At Home Turn To Board Game Catan, Sending Sales Skyrocketing|language=en|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/07/897271885/|access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us {{!}} CATAN|url=https://www.catan.com/about-us|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.catan.com|language=en}}</ref>


==Gameplay==
''Settlers'' was the first ] to achieve popularity outside Europe, and has been called the "]" of designer board games.<ref name="specialk">{{cite web
] Indy 2003. This is one of many custom, extra-large ''Catan'' boards seen during demonstrations and tournaments at Gen Con.]]
|url=http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/SpecialK3.shtml
The players in the game represent settlers establishing settlements on the fictional island of Catan. Players build ], cities, and roads to connect them as they settle the island.<ref name="Wirecutter">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/board-games-for-adults/|title=The best beginner board games for adults|last1=Perling|first1=Anna|last2=Austin|first2=James|work=]|date=9 December 2019|access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> The game board, which represents the island, is composed of hexagonal tiles (]) of different land types, which are laid out randomly at the beginning of each game.<ref name="profeasy">{{cite web
|title=Special K
|url=http://www.profeasy.de/Settlers_Boardgame/
|author=Larry Levy
|title=Professor Easy's ''Settlers of Catan'' tutorial
|date=August 2001
|accessdate=2007-05-01 |access-date=2007-04-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927104138/http://www.profeasy.de/Settlers_Boardgame/
}}</ref> Over 11 million games in the ''Catan'' series have been sold,<ref name="mayfair">{{cite web
|archive-date=27 September 2007
|url=http://www.mayfairgames.com/shop/brand_catan.htm
|url-status=dead
|title=Catan Games
}}</ref> Newer editions of the game began to depict a fixed layout in their manual and recommend this to be used by beginners. In 2016, editions of the game were released with a conventional fixed layout board in this configuration, the hexes of which cannot be rearranged.
|accessdate=2007-05-01

Players build by spending ] (wool, grain, lumber, brick, and ore) that are depicted by these resource cards; each land type, with the exception of the unproductive desert, produces a specific resource: hills produce brick, forests produce lumber, mountains produce ore, fields produce grain, and pastures produce wool. On each player's ], two six-sided ] are rolled to determine which hexes produce resources. Players with a settlement adjacent to a hex containing the number just rolled receive one card of the corresponding resource; cities produce two cards of the corresponding resource. For example, if a player has one city and two settlements adjacent to a grain hex, that player would take four grain resource cards if the corresponding number was rolled.

There is also a robber token, initially placed on the desert; if a player rolls 7, the robber must be moved to another hex, which will no longer produce resources until the robber is moved again. That player may also steal a resource card from another player with a settlement or city adjacent to the robber's new placement. In addition, when a 7 is rolled, all players with 8 or more resource cards must discard their choice of half of their cards, rounded down. For example, If a player has 9 resource cards, and a 7 is rolled, the player must get rid of 4 cards.

On the player's turn, the player may spend resource cards to build roads or settlements, upgrade settlements to cities (which replace existing settlements), or buy development cards. Players can trade resource cards with each other; players may also trade off-island (in effect, with the non-player bank) at a ratio of four-to-one resources for one of any other. By building settlements adjacent to ports, players may trade with the bank at three-to-one (three of any single resource type) or two-to-one (two of a specific resource) ratios, depending on the port.

The goal of the game is to reach ten victory points. Players score one point for each settlement they own and two for each city. Various other achievements, such as establishing the longest road and the largest army (by playing the most ] cards), grant a player additional victory points.

Resource cards can also be spent to buy a development card. There are five different types of development cards, including cards worth one victory point; knight cards, which allow the player to move the robber as if they had rolled a 7 (but without the remove-half rule); monopoly cards, which allow the player to steal all of any one resource from other players; road building cards, which allow the player to build two roads without paying extra resource cards; and year of plenty cards which allow the player to pick up two resource cards of their choice.
]
Teuber's original design was for a large game of exploration and development in a new land.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/news-arc/newscatan-ent-dom2.htm
|title=Catan-Domaine-Entdecker
|publisher=Mayfair Games |publisher=Mayfair Games
|access-date=2007-05-01
}}</ref> and the game has been translated into twenty-five languages from the original German{{Fact|date=May 2007}}.
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526003341/http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/news-arc/newscatan-ent-dom2.htm
The game has rapidly become popular in part because its mechanics are relatively simple, while its dynamics are quite complex.<ref name="ttnt">{{cite web
|archive-date=26 May 2007
|url=http://www.skotos.net/articles/TTnT_107.shtml
|url-status=dead
|title=Anatomy of a Game: The Settlers of Catan
}}</ref> Between 1993 and 1995 Teuber and Kosmos refined and simplified the game into its current form. Unused mechanics from that design went on to be used in Teuber's following games, '']'' and ''].'' The game's first expansion, ''],'' adds the concept of exploration, and the combined game (sometimes known as "New Shores") is probably the closest game to Teuber's original intentions.<ref name="specialk"/>
|author=Shannon Appelcline
|date=2003-02-13
|work=Trials, Triumphs and Trivialities
|accessdate=2007-05-01
}}</ref> The game is well suited for family play, since no one gets eliminated, and players who are behind can strive towards goals that are within their reach.


In 2020, the Board Game Analysis blog created a mathematical model to evaluate how balanced any particular board layout is, with scores ranging from 0 to 1 and lower scores being more balanced. According to that model, the beginner layout recommended in the game's manual has a balance score of 0.094. They also analyzed a board layout used in a 2016 tournament, which scored a 0.106. A sample of 100 million randomly generated board layouts formed an approximately ] with the majority of boards' scores clustered around 0.25.<ref name=analysis>{{cite web |url=https://www.boardgameanalysis.com/what-is-a-balanced-catan-board |title=What is a balanced Catan board? |date=February 21, 2020 |author=Player One |work=Board Game Analysis |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref>
The standard game and its many expansions are available from ] in the ], from ] in ], Kosmos and ] in the ], Devir in ], ] and ], and ] in ].


==Extensions, expansions, and updates==
==Gameplay==
] {{Further|List of Settlers of Catan products}}

The players in the game represent the eponymous settlers, establishing a colony on the previously uninhabited island of Catan. The island itself is laid out randomly at the beginning of each game from hexagonal tiles ("]") of different land types each producing one type of resource: ore, grain, wool, lumber, or clay (brick). One hex is desert which does not produce anything.<ref name="profeasy">{{cite web
The base game of the Catan series, ''Catan'', is designed for 3–4 players. In 1996, an extension to allow up to six players was released for the base game.<ref name="officialcatan" /> As well as extra components to accommodate more players, the expansion adds an extra building phase to the turn, so that players can participate in the game during each other's turns. Players may not trade with other players during this phase nor may they trade in with the bank (maritime trade) from their own hand.
|url=http://www.profeasy.de/Settlers_Boardgame/

|title=Professor Easy's ''Settlers of Catan'' tutorial
After releasing the 5- to 6-player extension, Teuber began to publish expansions for the base game. The first, '']'', was released in 1997;<ref name="officialcatan" /> it was later retitled ''Catan: Seafarers''. ''Seafarers'' adds ships that allow players to cross sea hexes, and includes scenarios in which players explore an ] of islands. It also adds gold-producing hexes that allow players to take the resource of their choice.
|accessdate=2007-04-26

The second major expansion to the game, '']'' (later ''Catan: Cities and Knights''), was released in 1998.<ref name="officialcatan">{{cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/about-us/ludography/board/all|title=Klaus Teuber's Ludography|access-date=2014-05-21|archive-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103150013/http://www.catan.com/about-us/ludography/board/all|url-status=dead}}</ref> It adds concepts from the card game and its first expansion to ''Catan'', including Knights who must be used to defend Catan from invading barbarians, and improvements that can be bought for cities that give benefits to players. Three commodities (paper, coin, and cloth) can be produced, in addition to the original resources. A 5- to 6-player extension for ''Cities & Knights'' was released at the same time. In 2000, a book of variations for ''Settlers'' was released.

The third large expansion, '']'', was released in 2008.<ref name="officialcatan" /> ''Traders & Barbarians'' collects a number of smaller scenarios, some of which have previously been published elsewhere. The set includes an official two-player variant.

A special edition of the game was released in 2005: a 10th-anniversary collector's edition of the base game and ''Cities & Knights'', with hand-painted 3D tiles and playing pieces.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://mayfairgames.com/game.php?id=122 |title= 10th Anniversary Settlers of Catan 3-D Special Edition Treasure Chest Set™ |access-date= 14 May 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140515015753/http://mayfairgames.com/game.php?id=122 |archive-date= 15 May 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Mayfair Games released a fourth edition of ''The Settlers of Catan'' in 2007, with new artwork, a locking frame, a deeper box, and an insert tray; there was also a minor rule change.<ref>{{cite web |title=Catan - Introduction |url=https://catanguild.com/catan-introduction/ |website=catanguild.com |access-date=23 September 2021 |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305225526/https://catanguild.com/catan-introduction/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Soon after its release, two changes were made to the fourth edition. The robber playing piece was changed from a black to a grey color and the soldier development card was renamed a knight. Fourth-edition versions of ''Cities & Knights'', ''Seafarers'', and the 5- to 6-player extensions were also released.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/news-arc/news-catan_relaunchupdate.htm |title= Catan Re-Launch Update! |access-date= 2008-02-23 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080309121811/http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/news-arc/news-catan_relaunchupdate.htm |archive-date= 9 March 2008 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

'']'', the fourth large expansion, was released in 2013. which introduces new elements for the game including moving ships, new resources, and pirates.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explorers & Pirates {{!}} CATAN|url=https://www.catan.com/explorers-pirates|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.catan.com|language=en}}</ref>

The Catan line was rebranded in 2015 for the 20th anniversary of the series, with the original ''Settlers'' game renamed simply ''Catan''.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://mayfairgames.com/news.php?id=316
|access-date= 2015-03-16
|title= The Settlers of Catan®: 20 years of settling, trading and building
|date= 15 January 2015
|publisher= Mayfair Games
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090018/http://mayfairgames.com/news.php?id=316
|archive-date= 2 April 2015
|url-status= dead
}}</ref> }}</ref>


There are variations of the visual style of the game with subsequent releases. A list of version comparisons can be found here: {{cite web |title=Identify your English Catan Set
Starting with two settlements and adjoining road sections, players build roads, settlements and eventually cities as they settle the island. Roads are built along the edges of the hexes, and settlements at the corners; no two settlements may be built on adjacent corners. Positioning of roads and settlements allows a player to deny other players access to essential resources, and good building is one route to victory.<ref name="ttnt"/>
|website=Catan Collector |url=https://catancollector.com/catan-links/how-to-identify-your-version-of-catan |date=2022-10-28 |access-date=2022-12-30}}


==Variants and scenarios==
Each ], a roll of the two ] determines which hexes produce resources. This is the main random element in the game. Normally, players with settlements adjacent to those hexes receive ] cards of the appropriate type, with cities yielding more resources. However, if the dice roll is 7, the "robber" token must be moved to a different hex. This allows the player to prevent that hex from producing resources and to steal a resource card from another player.
In 1998, the first ''Historical Scenario'' pack was released,<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.catan.de/spiel/die-siedler-von-catan-historische-szenarien-i
| access-date=2018-01-24
| title=Die Siedler von Catan: Historische Szenarien I
| language=de | trans-title=The Settlers of Catan: Historical Scenarios I
}}</ref> which allows players to re-enact the building of the ] or the expansion of ]'s empire using ''Catan'' game mechanics. A second scenario pack for ''Settlers'' concerning the building of the ] and the ] was released in 2001.<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.catan.de/spiel/die-siedler-von-catan-historische-szenarien-ii
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=Die Siedler von Catan: Historische Szenarien II
| language=de | trans-title=The Settlers of Catan: Historical Scenarios II
}}</ref>


{{lang|de|Die Siedler von Catan: Das Buch zum Spielen}} was published in 2000. It contained the rules and pieces for 15 new scenarios and many variants.<ref>{{cite web
The resource cards can be spent to build more roads or settlements, upgrade settlements to cities, and to obtain development cards for later use; or they can be stored for trade or later use. When a seven is rolled, players with too many stored resources lose half their stored resources, making the choice of whether to build or store resources a difficult one.
| url = https://www.catan.de/spiel/die-siedler-von-catan-das-buch-zum-spielen
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=Die Siedler von Catan: Das Buch zum Spielen
| language=de
}}</ref>


''Atlantis: Scenarios and Variants'' was published in 2005. ''Atlantis'' was a boxed set which collected a number of scenarios and variants published in gaming magazines and at conventions, such as ''The Volcano'' and ''The Great River''. The set also included a deck of ''event cards'' which replaced the dice in the main game, giving it a less random spread of resource production. The event cards, which were also available as a standalone item, have since been re-released in a modified form in the ''Traders and Barbarians'' expansion.<ref>{{cite web
Players are allowed to trade among each other the resources they have produced, and to trade "off the island" for a hefty price. By building settlements in certain positions, players may obtain better off-island trading prices. Bad luck in the game can be mitigated by trading, and trading is the main method of player interaction in the game; astute trading is another route to victory.<ref name="ttnt"/> If a player is winning, other players may refuse to trade; this allows them to ] with the leader.
|url=https://www.catan.de/spiel/die-siedler-von-catan-atlantis-szenarien-zum-basisspiel
|access-date=2018-01-24
|title=Die Siedler von Catan: Atlantis – Szenarien zum Basisspiel
|language=de
|trans-title=The Settlers of Catan: Atlantis – Scenarios for the Base Game
|archive-date=2 April 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402002707/https://www.catan.de/spiel/die-siedler-von-catan-atlantis-szenarien-zum-basisspiel
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>


Kosmos, Mayfair, and 999 Games released the first stand-alone "Catan Geographies" title, ''Catan Germany'', in 2008.<ref name="officialcatan" />
] Indy 2003. This is one of many Settlers of Catan custom extra-large boards seen during demonstrations and tournaments at Gen Con.]]
A player receives a ] for each settlement built, and another for each settlement upgraded to a city. Various other achievements, such as establishing the longest road, grant a player additional victory points. The victor is the first player to accumulate ten victory points on his turn.


In 2009, {{lang|de|Schätze, Drachen und Entdecker}} ('Treasures, Dragons & Adventurers') was published. This was a scenario pack for fans that included six new scenarios and the pieces needed to play them. It was re-released in 2017 with artwork updated to match the 2015 fourth edition of ''Settlers of Catan''. ''Treasures, Dragons & Adventurers'' will be available in English as of July 16, 2021.<ref>{{cite web
There is no combat. Apart from moving the robber, refusing to trade, and cutting off building routes, there is no way to harm other players. The layout of the board and restrictions on building allow for a player to be boxed in through poor play or bad luck. Also, given the random component of board layout, it's possible for players to gain a monopoly on certain resource, and demand steep trade rates from other players. Home games generally take between one and two hours to complete.
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/schatze-drachen-entdecker-szenarienpack
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=Schätze, Drachen und Entdecker – Szenarienpack
| language=de | trans-title=Treasures, Dragons and Explorers – Scenario Pack
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Catan: Treasures, Dragons & Adventurers|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56157/catan-treasures-dragons-adventurers|access-date=2021-07-13|website=BoardGameGeek|language=en-US}}</ref>


''Catan: Oil Springs'' is an expansion by Erik Assadourian and Ty Hansen<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.oilsprings.catan.com |title= Catan: Oil Springs |access-date= 2012-06-01 |archive-date= 24 April 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180424205021/http://www.oilsprings.catan.com/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> introduced in 2011 designed to draw attention to environmental issues. It is offered as a free download or for purchase from the Mayfair Games website. The scenario adds oil fields that can be used to make other resources and develop metropolises, but disasters can strike if too much oil is used. Oil can also be taken out of the game, for victory points and to prevent disasters.
Teuber's original design was for a large game of exploration and development in a new land.<ref name="">{{cite web
|url=http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/news-arc/newscatan-ent-dom2.htm
|title=Catan-Domaine-Entdecker
|publisher=Mayfair Games
|accessdate=2007-05-01
}}</ref> Between 1993 and 1995 Teuber and Kosmos refined and simplified the game into its current form. Unused mechanics from that design went on to be used in Teuber's following games, '']'' and ''].'' The game's first expansion, ''],'' adds the concept of exploration, and the combined game (sometimes known as "New Shores") is probably the closest game to Teuber's original intentions.<ref name="specialk"/>


The scenario ''Catan: Frenemies'' was released in 2012. In ''Frenemies'', players are rewarded with redeemable "favor tokens" for "helping" their opponents by moving the robber harmlessly, giving away resources, and connecting their roads to their opponents' road networks. Depending on the circumstances, these favors might not be helpful.<ref>{{cite web
== The ''Settlers of Catan'' series ==
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/catan-scenarios-frenemies
The enduring popularity of ''Settlers of Catan'' has led to the creation of a great many spinoff games and products, starting with the Catan card game and including a novel, ''Die Siedler von Catan'', by Rebecca Gablé (ISBN 3-431-03019-X) set on the island of Catan.
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=Catan Scenarios – Frenemies
}}</ref>


''Helpers of Catan'' is an expansion released in 2013. The computer opponent characters from the PC/Mac game ''Catan – Cities & Knights'' return in this scenario as "helper cards", which can be used during gameplay; for example, the helper card for Candamir allows the player who uses it to substitute any one resource when buying a development card.<ref>{{cite web
=== Catan card game ===
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/catan-scenarios-helpers-catan
Teuber first returned to the ''Catan'' theme in 1996 with the ], a ] for two players. The game is longer, with games lasting roughly 90 minutes, and is more complex, containing amongst other things a sixth resource type, ]. Each player places cards representing the game elements of ''Settlers'' - roads, settlements and regions - in their own separate areas, and seek to expand their principality while scoring victory points for certain features. ], seven expansions have been published for the card game, with the most recent being ''Artists & Benefactors'', released at the 2007 ].<ref name="nuremburg2007">{{cite web
| access-date=2018-02-27
|url=http://www.boardgamenews.com/index.php/boardgamenews/comments/convention_preview_nuremberg_2007/
| title=Catan Scenarios – Helpers of Catan
|title=Convention preview: Nuremberg 2007
| archive-date=28 February 2018
|author=W. Eric Martin
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161920/https://www.catan.com/game/catan-scenarios-helpers-catan
|work=Boardgame News
| url-status=dead
|accessdate=2007-05-01
}}</ref> }}</ref>


==Spinoffs and other related products==
The card game tends to be more competitive than the original board game, although the ''Barbarians & Traders Upgrade Kit'' (or the latest version of the complete game) adds several rules to reduce this. <ref name="cardRulesAlmanac">{{Citation
The popularity of ''The Settlers of Catan'' led to the creation of spinoff games and products, starting in 1996 with ''The Settlers of Catan'' card game (later renamed to '']''), and the 2003 novel, ], by German historical fiction author ], which tells the story of a group of Norse seafarers who set out in search of the mythical island of Catan.
|last=Teuber

|first=Klaus
In 2002 a travel edition of ''Catan'' was published, featuring playing pieces which slot into a fixed-layout board.
|author-link=Klaus Teuber

|title=Barbarians & Traders Upgrade Kit: Rules and Card Almanac
In 1999, '']'' was released. It was loosely based upon the original ''Catan'', including similar dice mechanisms for resource production as well as trading and building. However, the spin-off also introduces spaceports, spaceships, and the flight mechanism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Nezold |first=Thomas |title=Die Sternenfahrer von Catan |url=https://www.spieletest.at/gesellschaftsspiel/985/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=spieletest.at |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=1728|title=Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: The Starfarers of Catan|website=sjgames.com}}</ref>
|publisher=Kosmos Verlag and Mayfair Games, Inc.

|year=2006
The "Catan Histories" subseries includes ''Settlers of the Stone Age'', a re-release of ''Struggle for Rome'', ''Settlers of America,'' and ''Rise of the Inkas''.

The ''Catan Dice Game'' was released in 2007. The game is played with six dice, the faces of which depict one of six resources (brick, lumber, wool, grain, ore, or gold). The dice are rolled up to three times, and the score of each roll is recorded by "building" roads, settlements, cities, and knights on a score sheet that shows a miniature version of the island of Catan. In the base game, one to four players try to get the highest score. There is also a "plus" version of the game, which, like the original ''Catan'' board game, is a race to be the first player to score 10 victory points.<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/catan-dice-game-standard-edition
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=Catan Dice Game – Standard Edition
}}</ref> }}</ref>


In addition to the ''Catan Card Game'' above, two additional card game spinoffs have been published. ''Rivals for Catan'', published in 2010, is a two-player strategy game for expert players that plays like a board game, and ''The Struggle for Catan'', published in 2011, is a two- to four-player game that plays more like a card game and is suitable for Catan novices.<ref>{{cite web
=== ''Settlers'' expansions and editions ===
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/rivals-catan
]
| access-date=2018-02-27
After releasing the card game, Teuber began to publish expansions for the base game. The first, '']'', was released in 1997. ''Seafarers'' adds ships which allow players to cross sea hexes, and includes scenarios in which players explore an archipelago of islands. It also adds gold-producing hexes which allow players to take the resource of their choice.
| title=Rivals for Catan
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/struggle-catan
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=The Struggle for Catan
}}</ref>


''Catan Junior'' is a 2012 spinoff for families with children. The game is based on the original ''Settlers of Catan'' with a "pirate" theme and simpler rules. Players build "pirates' lairs" in the islands and build ships to reach new building sites. Resource and development cards are replaced with tiles, trading and building are simpler, and the "Ghost Captain" does not steal resources as the robber in the base game does.<ref>{{cite web
In 1999, expansions to allow fifth and sixth players were released for both ''Settlers'' and ''Seafarers''. As well as extra components to accommodate more players, the expansions add an extra trade phase to the turn, so that players can participate in the game during each others' turns.
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/catan-junior
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=Catan Junior
}}</ref>


''Star Trek Catan'' is a spin-off of the original series released in 2012 by Mayfair Games.<ref>{{cite web
The second large expansion to the game, '']'', was released in 2000. It adds concepts from the card game and its first expansion to ''Settlers'', including Knights who must be used to defend Catan from invading barbarians, and improvements which can be bought for cities which give benefits to players. A 5-6 player expansion for ''Cities and Knights'' was released at the same time. Also released in 2000 was a book of variations for ''Settlers''
| url = http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/nichelle-nichols-signing-mayfair-booth-gen-con-2012
| access-date = 2017-01-24
| title = Nichelle Nichols Signing At Mayfair Booth Gen Con 2012
| date = 2 August 2012
| publisher = Mayfair Games
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134614/http://www.mayfairgames.com/news/nichelle-nichols-signing-mayfair-booth-gen-con-2012
| archive-date = 25 January 2018
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> The game uses the same basic components with new names, new graphics, and some minor rules additions. The building costs and resources match the original game. It incorporates the "Helpers of Catan" expansion, with the cards renamed as ] characters.


''A Game of Thrones Catan: Brotherhood of the Watch'' is a spin-off based on ]'s '']'' series. As Brothers of the Night Watch, players harvest resources from the Gift to build settlements and keeps, while contributing to the defense of the Wall. The game was released in 2017 in English, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Russian, Czech/Slovak, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Hebrew and French.<ref>{{cite web
The third large expansion, ''Traders & Barbarians'' was announced for release in 2007. ''Traders & Barbarians'' collects together a number of smaller scenarios, some of which have previously been published elsewhere. The set includes an official two-player variant.
| url=https://www.catan.com/news/2017-06-04/game-thrones-joins-catan
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=A Game of Thrones joins Catan
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.catan.com/game/game-thrones-catan-brotherhood-watch
| access-date=2018-02-27
| title=A Game of Thrones Catan: Brotherhood of the Watch
}}</ref>


''Catan: Dawn of Humankind'' is a spin-off featuring the first humans published by Catan Studios in 2022. Players move their tribe to explore new continents and establish camps.<ref>{{cite web
==== Historical scenarios ====
| url=https://tabletalkreviews.com/2022/10/05/catan-dawn-of-humankind/
In 1998, the first ''historical scenario'' pack was released, which allows players to reenact the building of the ] or the expansion of ]'s empire using ''Settlers'' game mechanics.
| access-date=2022-10-26
| title=Catan: Dawn of Humankind
| publisher=Table Talk Reviews
| date=2022-10-05}}</ref>


===Catanimals===
A second scenario pack for ''Settlers'' concerning the building of the ] and the ] was released in 2001, and in 2002 a travel edition of ''Settlers'' was published, featuring playing pieces which slot into a fixed-layout board. ''Atlantis: Scenarios and Variants'' was published in 2005. ''Atlantis'' is a boxed set which collected a number of scenarios and variants published in gaming magazines and at conventions, such as ''The Volcano'' and ''The Great River''. The set also includes a deck of ''event cards'' which replace the dice in the main game, giving it a less random spread of resource production.
Mayfair released a series of mini-stuffed animals based on the different resources presented in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mayfairgames.com/goody.php?id=351 |title=Catanimal – plush – Wheat |access-date=20 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119180403/http://mayfairgames.com/goody.php?id=351 |archive-date=19 January 2013 }}</ref> An updated set of Catanimal Sprite plushes was introduced in early 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-05|title=Catan plushies let you snuggle with a cuddly piece of wood or brick|url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/catan-1/news/catan-plushie-collection|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Dicebreaker|language=en}}</ref> and are based on new illustrated characters by artist ].


==Reception==
==== Special editions ====
Catan is popular in the United States, with '']'' calling it "the board game of our time" in 2010.<ref name="WashPost.10.21.10">{{cite news | first = Blake Eskin | last = Eskin | title = Like Monopoly in the Depression, Settlers of Catan is the board game of our time | date = 21 October 2010 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/24/AR2010112404140.html | newspaper = The Washington Post | access-date = 2010-11-28}}</ref> American video game designer ] described Catan as "a hardcore game and a light social pastime and everything in between".<ref name="HG">{{Cite book | contribution=The Settlers of Catan | title=] | last=Dansky | first=Richard | author-link=Richard Dansky | editor-last=Lowder | editor-first=James | editor-link=James Lowder | publisher=] | year=2007 | pages=265–268 | isbn=978-1-932442-96-0}}</ref>
]
Two special editions of the game were released in 2005: A collector's edition of the base game and ''Cities and Knights'', with hand-painted 3D tiles and playing pieces; and a 10th anniversary edition with detailed plastic pieces.


A 2012 American documentary film titled '']'' (featuring Klaus Teuber) is about this game's impact on American gaming communities and what came of it.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
=== Standalone games ===
''Die Siedler von Nürnberg'', a standalone game set at the foundation of the city of ], and '']'', a standalone game set in the far future, were released in 1999. ''Starfarers'' was followed in 2001 by a 5-6 player expansion and by '']'', a two-player card game. Two "mission packs" for ''Starship Catan'' were published in 2003 and a third was published in 2004.


In 2020, Erica Price noted that while ''Catan'' had become "a mid to late 2010s staple in popular culture," she argued that "the one place where Catan has seen a drop in popularity over the past decade is in its first world, that of hobby board games." She attributed this decline to a "lack of innovation," as well as "a reluctance to buy into the popularity of app-supported games (though solely mobile versions of Catan exist), crowdfunding, and new mechanics."<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Price |first=Erica |date=2020-10-01 |title=The Sellers of Catan: The Impact of on the United States Leisure and Business Landscape, 1995-2019 |journal=Board Game Studies Journal |language=en |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=61–82 |doi=10.2478/bgs-2020-0004|s2cid=230283896 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
There are two catan games aimed at children. '']'', a children's game played on a revolving board, was published in 2003. ''Settlers of Catan Junior'' was announced at the 2007 Nuremberg toy fair.


===Awards===
Two more historical reenactment games were released using ''Settlers'' game mechanics: '']'', released in 2002 and set in the ]; and '']'', released in 2006 and set at the ]. When ''Struggle'' was published, it and ''Stone Age'' were put under the common brand "Catan Histories"
* 1995: ] Game of the Year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/spiele/die-siedler-von-catan/|title = Die Siedler von Catan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2014-02-12 |title=The Man Who Built Catan |url=https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-man-who-built-catan |access-date=2022-07-28 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
* 1995: ] 1st place<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preisträger – SPIEL Messe |url=https://www.spiel-messe.com/de/deutscher-spielepreis/preistraeger/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103224339/https://www.spiel-messe.com/de/deutscher-spielepreis/preistraeger/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 1995: ]<ref name="Austin 2019 187–198">{{Cite journal |last1=Austin |first1=Jathan |last2=Kronenthal |first2=Brian G. |last3=Miller |first3=Susanna Molitoris |date=2019 |title=The Settlers of "Catanbinatorics" |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/48665905 |journal=Mathematics Magazine |volume=92 |issue=3 |pages=187–198 |doi=10.1080/0025570X.2019.1561096 |jstor=48665905 |issn=0025-570X}}</ref>
* 1995: Meeples' Choice Award<ref name="Austin 2019 187–198"/>
* 1996: ] for ''Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Board Game''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1996/list-of-winners |title=Origins Award Winners (1996) |publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420084955/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1996/list-of-winners |archive-date=20 April 2008 }}</ref>
* 2001: Origins Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2001/list-of-winners|title=Origins Award Winners (2001) and Hall of Fame Inductees |publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design |access-date=2008-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202042430/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2001/list-of-winners |archive-date=February 2, 2008}}</ref>
* 2004: Czech Game of the Year Award (Hra Roku)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hra Roku |url=http://www.hraroku.cz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128215120/http://www.hraroku.cz/ |archive-date=2022-01-28 |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=www.hraroku.cz |language=cs}}</ref>
* 2005: {{Interlanguage link|Gra Roku|lt=Game of the Year (Gra Roku)|pl|Gra Roku}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edycja 2005 |url=https://planszowagraroku.pl/edycja-2005/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512132751/https://planszowagraroku.pl/edycja-2005/ |archive-date=2024-05-12 |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=Konkurs Planszowa Gra Roku |language=pl-PL}}</ref>
* 2006: ]<ref name=BG2006>{{cite news | title = 2006 Buyer's Guide To Games | work = Games | publisher = GAMES Publications | volume = 29 | issue = 216 | pages = 35–47 |date=December 2005 }}</ref>
* 2015: ] Game of the Century


==Video games==
The ''Catan'' brand name was also used for two games set on the island of Catan, but otherwise unrelated to the parent game. The first, '']'', was released in 2004 and is an ] set around the first settlement of Catan. Players control individual settlers hunting and gathering, with characteristics affecting success. The second, '']'', was released in 2006 and is a two- to four-player game in which players build within a single city, with game mechanics based on ] and ].
Since the game's release, a number of computer games have been published based on ''Settlers of Catan'' and its spinoffs. The first sanctioned English-language release was ''Catan: The Computer Game'', developed for the PC by Castle Hill Studios and published by ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catan: The Computer Game |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/catan-the-computer-game/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=2022-07-28 |publisher=Metacritic |language=en}}</ref> {{better source needed|date= July 2022}} This off-line game was available from MSN,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zone.msn.com/en/root/deluxe.htm?code=110382390&RefID=25&intgid=gb_PCDownloadAll+List_17_setc |title=MSN |publisher=MSN |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=2011-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721101536/http://zone.msn.com/en/root/deluxe.htm?code=110382390&RefID=25&intgid=gb_PCDownloadAll+List_17_setc |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as it was acquired by ] who also released ''Catan Online'' in August 2005 on ], the game now requiring an internet connection. In 2005, ] edited the first portable version of ''Settlers of Catan'' on the ] ] handheld device.<ref>{{cite web |title=Settlers of Catan N-Gage review|publisher=GameSpy |date=26 July 2005 |url=http://wireless.gamespy.com/n-gage/catan/636755p1.html}}</ref>


In June 2009 the MSN version of ''Settlers'' was discontinued. The same game later became available on other online services. Teuber and ] worked together to produce '']'', a version of ''Settlers'' for the ]. It was released on 2 May 2007. ] developed a ] version in 2008 titled also '']''.
A ] based on ''Settlers of Catan'' was announced in 2007.<ref name="nuremburg2007" />


A ] version of ''Settlers'' was developed by Exozet Games GmbH in collaboration with Klaus Teuber. The game can be played against computer opponents, and includes ] online play. It was released in 2009, but only in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/electronic-games/catan-nds.html|title=Catan for Nintendo DS |website=catan.com}}</ref>
=== Licensed adaptations ===
Many companies and conventions have produced adaptations of ''Settlers'' for promotional purposes, and a few companies have obtained licenses to sell derived games. ''The Water of Life'' was produced in 1997 for Scottish distillery ], and ''The Communication in Catan'' was made in 2000 for the French telecommunication company ]. ] published a line of {{nihongo|''Rockman.EXE Catan''|ロックマン エグゼ カタン}} games, based on their ] franchise and including standard and portable versions.


''The Settlers of Catan'' online game was announced on 16 December 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/CMS/content/blogsection/0/116/7/7/lang,en_US/LLC|title=News Catan Online World|access-date=6 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218190115/http://www.catan.com/CMS/content/blogsection/0/116/7/7/lang,en_US/LLC|archive-date=18 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Catan Online World allows players to download a ] application that serves as a portal for the online world and allows online play with other members. The base game may be played for free, while expansions require a subscription membership.<ref name=manual>{{cite web |url=https://www.catan.com/sites/default/files/2021-08/catan_ck_manual.pdf |title=''Catan: Cities and Knights'' User Guide |page=31 |date=August 2021 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |first=Klaus |last=Teuber}}</ref>
'']'', a licensed version of ''Settlers of Catan'' with additions to fit themes from the ], was released in 2002 by ], and '']'' was released in 2003 with additions to fit themes from the ] by ]. ], a company which produces simplified versions of board games, released ''Simply Catan'' in 2006.


Two official PC versions of Catan have been released, ''The First Island'' (the basic game only) and '']'' (with ''Seafarers'' and ''Cities & Knights'' expansions). ''The First Island'' is available for the PC only in German.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/electronic-games/first-island-mobile.html|title="Catan – The Seafarers" for Java-Enabled Mobile Phones {{!}} Catan.com|website=www.catan.com|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref> ''Cities & Knights'' was available in both English and German.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/electronic-games/catan-cak.html|title="Catan - Cities & Knights" for PC and Mac |website=catan.com}}</ref>
=== Video games ===
]'' for the ].]]
Since the game's release, a number of computer games have been published based on Catan and its spinoffs. The first officially-sanctioned English-language release was ''Catan: The Computer Game'' by ]. A PC CD version of the ''Catan'' card game was released in 2000. Microsoft acquired the game for ] and released ''Catan Online'' in August 2005. Teuber and ] recently worked together to produce '']'', a version of ''Settlers'' for the ]. It was released on ], ]. There is also a computerized version for the ].


Catan and some of its expansions are also available in various languages for mobile phones, ], ], ], ] and ] smartphones. A ] was developed by Exozet Games and published by ] for ] in 2009-2010, for Android in 2011, and for ] in 2013.
There have also been several unauthorized video game implementations of Settlers. One of these unauthorized versions, called "Java Settlers", was developed by Robert S. Thomas as part of his Ph.D. research at ]. A paper describing the AI research involved was published in the ''Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces''.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Robert Thomas and Kristian Hammond |year=2002 |title=Java settlers: a research environment for studying multi-agent negotiation |journal=Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Intelligent user interfaces |pages=240 |url=http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=502716.502779 |accessdate= 2007-09-15 }}</ref>


'']'' was released on Xbox Live Arcade in 2007. It was pulled without notice in mid-2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trueachievements.com/n17076/catan-delisted-from-the-xbl-marketplace.htm|title=Catan delisted from the XBL marketplace|first=Ashley|last=Woodcock|publisher=True Achievements|year=2014|access-date=2017-06-14}}</ref> There is no official word on why it was pulled or if it will return.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Catan/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841083e |title=Catan – Game Detail Page |publisher=xbox.com |access-date=2012-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429120542/http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Catan/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841083e |archive-date=29 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another game called '']'' was released for the ] in 2008. This version is an original adaptation of the board game, not a port of ] by ]. '']'' gave the Playstation game 7 out of 10 and called it "a captivating experience".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mc Shea |first1=Tom |title=Catan Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/catan-review/1900-6270605/ |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=14 April 2023 |date=28 July 2010}}</ref> It also has been discontinued.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catan.com/electronic-games/catan-ps3.html |title=Catan for Sony PlayStation3 on PSN |publisher= catan.com |access-date=2010-05-21 }}</ref>
==Awards==
'''2005'''
* ]


Mayfair Games announced{{update after|2013|12|7}} in 2010 that a version of ''Catan'' was coming to Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.labnol.org/internet/play-settlers-of-catan-online/11759/ |title=Play The Settlers of Catan Game Online |publisher=labnol.org |access-date=2010-05-09 }}</ref>
'''1996'''
* ] for ''Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Board Game''<ref></ref>


In 2010, Vectorform showcased a ] game for ''Settlers of Catan''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/surface/archive/2010/08/02/the-settlers-of-catan-trades-up-for-objects.aspx |title=The Settlers of Catan trades up for objects – Microsoft Surface Blog – Site Home – MSDN Blogs |publisher=Blogs.msdn.com |access-date=2011-09-26}}</ref> USM also developed an Android and iOS mobile app version simply called "Catan" with the various expansions available as DLC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/game/catan-android|title=Catan for Android |website=catan.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/game/catan-ios|title=Catan for iOS |website=catan.com}}</ref>
'''1995'''

* ] Game of the Year
In August 2013, ''Catan: Creators Edition'' was made available for PC on Steam<ref>{{cite web |url= http://store.steampowered.com/app/239410/ |title=Catan: Creator's Edition on Steam |publisher= Store.steampowered.com |date=14 August 2013 |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref> and Mac OS X in the Mac App Store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/catan/id654939475?mt=12 |title=Mac App Store – Catan |publisher=iTunes Store |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref> ''Catan: Creators Edition'' officially replaces the previous ''Catan: Cities & Knights''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catan.com/game/catan-cities-knights-pc-and-mac |title="Catan – Cities & Knights" for PC and Mac |publisher= Catan.com |access-date=2013-10-05}}</ref> The game features both Seafarers plus the Cities & Knights expansions and includes a level editor.
* ] 1st place

* ] aka 'Essener Feder'
In the summer of 2014, Bontom Games collaborated with Catan GmbH and Internet Explorer to develop an asynchronous version of Catan. ''Catan Anytime'' is a short-session, turn-based game designed for mainstream gamers. On 10 June 2016, Catan Anytime announced on their Facebook page that ''Catan Anytime'' had shut down operations. The web site catananytime.com is no longer available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catananytime.com | title=Catan anytime |publisher= catananytime.com }}</ref>

]
In April 2017, ''Catan Universe'' launched. Catan GmbH collaborated with Exozet and United Soft Media to make a cross platform version of Catan. ''Catan Universe'' is available in web, Steam, Amazon, iOS and Android platforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catanuniverse.com | title=Catan Universe |publisher= catanuniverse.com |date= 2018-12-16}}</ref> While the Steam version has an average score, the mobile versions have a higher score of 4/5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/544730/Catan_Universe | title=Catan Universe Steam |publisher= steampowered.com |date= 2018-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/catan-universe/id1220346113 | title=Catan Universe iOS |publisher= apple.com |date= 2018-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.usm.catanuniverse | title=Catan Universe Android |date= 2018-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075Z2LKRC | title=Catan Universe Amazon |publisher= Amazon.com |date= 2018-12-16}}</ref> The game gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019/20 with a large number of new players, which overwhelmed servers at times.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-play-settlers-of-catan-online-tips-2020-3|title=I played a long-distance version of Settlers of Catan, the wildly popular and complex board game, with 3 of my friends. Here's how you can do it from your own home.|last=Kaplan|first=Juliana|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-04-22}}</ref>

In December 2017, the unlicensed and unendorsed website Colonist.io was launched.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kleinman|first=Jake|title=How a Settlers of Catan knockoff built an online empire during quarantine|url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/colonist-settlers-of-catan-online-free-game|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Inverse|date=17 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

On June 20, 2019 a version of Catan was released for ], being developed by United Soft Media and Exozet, and being published by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catan.com/news/2019-06-20/catan-for-nintendo-switchtm-released|title=CATAN for Nintendo Switch™ released!|publisher=catan.com|access-date=June 20, 2019}}</ref>

In November 2019, ] announced that it was developing a new ] mobile game, '']''. The game is to be based on the ''Catan'' board games; players will move through the real world, using their smartphones to build a Catan universe.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.slashgear.com/pokemon-go-creators-next-big-game-catan-world-explorers-19600186/ | title = Pokémon GO creators' next big game: CATAN World Explorers | last = Burns | first = Chris| date = November 19, 2019 | website = Slashgear.com | access-date = 2019-11-19}}</ref> However, during September 2021 Niantic announced the augmented reality game would be shut down after a year of early access without actually releasing it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Campbell|first=Ian Carlos|date=2021-09-17|title=Niantic is shutting down its AR Catan game after a year of early access|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/17/22680166/niantic-catan-world-explorers-shutdown-early-access|access-date=2021-10-30|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref>

In November 2021, ] and Asmodee Entertainment announced their intentions to bring a "digital tabletop" version of Catan to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. This project is a collaboration between Dovetail Games, Asmodee, Catan GmbH and Nomad Games. Dovetail Games are known for their simulation products, notably '']'', '']'' and ''Bassmaster Fishing 2022''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dovetail Games and Asmodee Entertainment announce CATAN is coming to Consoles. {{!}} Dovetail Games|url=https://dovetailgames.com/news/dovetail-games-and-asmodee-entertainment-announce-catan-is-coming-to-consoles|access-date=2022-02-19|website=dovetailgames.com}}</ref>

==Film/television adaptation==
A short film titled ''The Lord of Catan'' was released in 2014. Actors ] and ] starred in the film as a married couple enmeshed in an increasingly intense game of ''Catan''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lord of Catan|url=http://thelordofcatan.vhx.tv/ |access-date=4 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Director Stuart C. Paul Discusses his Short The Lord of Catan|url=http://nerdist.com/director-stuart-c-paul-discusses-his-short-the-lord-of-catan/|website=Nerdist|access-date=13 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822050225/http://nerdist.com/director-stuart-c-paul-discusses-his-short-the-lord-of-catan/|archive-date=22 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 2015, '']'' announced that producer ] had purchased the film and TV rights to ''The Settlers of Catan''. Katz said, "The island of Catan is a vivid, visual, exciting and timeless world with classic themes and moral challenges that resonate today. There is a tremendous opportunity to take what people love about the game and its mythology as a starting point for the narrative".<ref>{{cite web|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title='Settlers of Catan' Movie, TV Project in the Works|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/settlers-of-catan-movie-tv-project-gail-katz-1201437121/|website=Variety|date=19 February 2015|access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref> In October 2017, ''Variety'' reported that ] was negotiating to acquire the rights to adapt it into a film, with Gail Katz still attached to the project.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/settlers-of-catan-movie-sony-1202587485/|title='Settlers of Catan' Movie Adaptation in the Works at Sony (EXCLUSIVE)|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2017-10-11|work=Variety|access-date=2017-10-12|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Tournaments ==
=== U.S. National Championship ===
Every year, thousands of Americans compete at local qualifying Catan tournaments in the United States.<ref name="mashable">{{Cite news| url=https://mashable.com/2012/09/18/settlers-of-catan-world-champion/| title='Settlers of Catan' World Champion Crowned|access-date= 22 May 2020}}</ref> The winners of those tournaments are then guaranteed a seat at the Catan United States National Championship.

=== World Championship ===
The first Catan World Championship was held in 2002 at the game fair "Internationalen Spieltage" in ]. It took place there every year until 2008, when it was hosted at Gen Con Indy, in the United States. Since then, the Catan World Championship has taken place every two years, with the location alternating between the United States and Germany.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.catanstudio.com/events/catan-world-championship/| title=Catan World Championship|access-date= 22 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="cologne">{{Cite news| url=https://www.catan.com/news/2018-03-20/catan-world-championship-2018-takes-place-for-first-time-cologne| title=Catan World Championship 2018 takes place for the first time in Cologne|access-date= 22 May 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, there were participants in the World Championship from over forty countries. A maximum of two players per country are allowed to participate.<ref name="cologne" />

To be eligible to compete in the World Championship, all players must be over the age of 18, as well as a citizen or permanent resident of the country in which they are competing.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.catanstudio.com/events/catan-world-championship/host-information/| title=Catan Tournament Host Information|access-date= 22 May 2020}}</ref>

The World Championship is structured in three rounds: the preliminary round, the semifinals, and the finals. The preliminary round consists of three games, of which the top sixteen players advance to the semifinals. The semifinals are seeded based first on wins, then points, and then the quality of victory (percentage of total points earned per game) in the preliminary round games. The winner of each semifinal game then advances to the finals. The winner of the finals becomes the Catan World Champion.<ref name="mashable" />

The 2020 championship was postponed because of the ]; it was eventually held in ], Malta, in 2022.<ref name="mashable"/>

Here is a list of past winners and finalists of the Catan World Championship.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.catan.com/catan-fans/championships|title=Championships|website=Catan|date=20 November 2022 |access-date=24 November 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Date
!Location
!Winner
!2nd place
!3rd place
|-
|2002
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Jacques Kieft
|{{flagicon|Germany}} Michel Hirschfeld
|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Hans Baert
|-
|2003
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Germany}} Michel Hirschfeld
|{{flagicon|Spain}} Samuel Fuentes
|{{flagicon|Finland}} Lasse Rintakumpu
|-
|2004
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Italy}} Francesco Ferrari
|{{flagicon|Denmark}} Claus Sørensen
|{{flagicon|Japan}} Katsumi Takahasi
|-
|2005
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Jiří Buchta
|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Frans de Bode
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Shane Cassells
|-
|2006
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Finland}} Markus Nuopponen
|{{flagicon|Japan}} Shinya Ohi
|{{flagicon|Germany}} Thomas Sander
|-
|2007
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Latvia}} Arnis Buka
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Alan Farrell
|{{flagicon|Finland}} Markus Nuopponen
|-
|2008
|{{flagicon|USA}} ], USA
|{{flagicon|USA}} Todd Sweet
|{{flagicon|Australia}} Rohan Flavelle
|{{flagicon|United States}} Matt McLaughlin
|-
|2010
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Erwin Pauëlsen
|{{flagicon|Latvia}} Maris Logins
|{{flagicon|Finland}} Mauri Sahlberg
|-
|2012
|{{flagicon|USA}} ], USA
|{{flagicon|Austria}} Herbert Schager
|{{flagicon|Hong Kong}} Chi Wai Chan
|{{flagicon|Lithuania}} Justinas Noreika
|-
|2014
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Estonia}} Sander Stroom
|{{flagicon|Japan}} Yoshitaka Matsumoto
|{{flagicon|Latvia}} Kristofers Ritovs
|-
|2016
|{{flagicon|USA}} ]
|{{flagicon|United States}} William Cavaretta
|{{flagicon|Spain}} Raúl Fernández Menéndez
|{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Petr Frajvald
|-
|2018
|{{flagicon|Germany}} ], Germany
|{{flagicon|Mexico}} Quetzal Hernández Jiménez
|{{flagicon|Colombia}} José Miguel Ferrario Parrado
|{{flagicon|Germany}} Markus Heinze
|-
|2022
|{{flagicon|Malta}} ], Malta
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} Hamish Dean
|{{flagicon|United States}} Eric Freeman
|{{flagicon|Italy}} Emanuele Scapaticci
|-
|}

=== Online tournaments ===
There are various short-form, long-form, and ongoing online Catan tournaments, including the Digital CATAN World Championship (DCWC), which debuted in autumn 2021, with a qualification round from August to October and a finals round held on 13 November.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Digital CATAN World Championship (DCWC) {{!}} CATAN|url=https://www.catan.com/championships/digital-catan-world-championship-dcwc|access-date=2022-02-06|website=www.catan.com|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* ]
* '']'' (Documentary, includes an interview with Klaus Teuber)


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
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See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref> and </ref> tags, and the template below.
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{{FootnotesSmall|resize={{{1|100%}}}}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons|Settlers of Catan|Settlers of Catan}} {{Commons|Settlers of Catan|Settlers of Catan}}
* Catan GmbH's * {{Official website|http://www.catan.com}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q123527891|title=Gamemaster}} (Documentary, includes an interview with Klaus Teuber, Benjamin Teuber, and Guido Teuber.)
*{{bgg par
* {{bgg par
|section1=game|id1=13|name1=''Settlers of Catan''
|section1=boardgame|id1=13|name1=''Settlers of Catan''
|section2=wiki/page|id2=Catan_Series|name2=the ''Catan'' series}} |section2=wiki/page|id2=Catan_Series|name2=the ''Catan'' series}}
* , publishers of English Language CATAN.
]
* and , officially licensed online retailers for games and CATAN merchandise.

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box
| before = '']''
| title = ]
| years = 1995
| after = '']''
}}
{{succession box
| before = '']''
| title = ]
| years = 1995
| after = '']''
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Catan navbox}}
{{Spiel des Jahres}}
{{Deutscher Spiele Preis winners}}
{{Authority control}}

]
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Latest revision as of 23:01, 20 December 2024

Multi-player competitive board game For other uses, see Catan (disambiguation).

Catan
Other namesThe Settlers of Catan
DesignersKlaus Teuber
Publishers
  • Kosmos (Germany)
  • Catan Studio (English-language)
  • Filosofia (France)
  • 999 Games (Benelux)
  • GP, Inc. (Japan)
  • NeoTroy Games (Turkey)
  • Korea Board Games (Korea)
  • Smart (Russia)
  • Devir (Mexico)
  • Κάισσα (Greece)
  • Devir (Brazil and Portugal)
  • HaKubia (Israel)
  • Galakta (Poland)
  • Albi (Czech Republic and Slovakia)
  • BrainGames (Latvia)
  • spilbræt.dk (Denmark)
  • Broadway Toys Limited (Mainland China and Hong Kong)
Publication
  • First edition: 1995; 29 years ago (1995)
  • Second edition: 1996; 28 years ago (1996)
  • Third edition: 1997; 27 years ago (1997)
  • Fourth edition: 2007; 17 years ago (2007)
  • Fifth edition: June 2015; 9 years ago (2015-06)
Players
  • 3 to 4 (standard)
  • 5, or 6 (with extensions)
Setup time15 minutes
Playing time1–2 hours
Chancelow-moderate
Skills
Websitecatan.com

Catan, previously known as The Settlers of Catan or simply Settlers, is a multiplayer board game designed by Klaus Teuber. It was first published in 1995 in Germany by Franckh-Kosmos Verlag (Kosmos) as Die Siedler von Catan (pronounced [diː ˈziːdlɐ fɔn kaˈtaːn]). Players take on the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop holdings while trading and acquiring resources. Players gain victory points as their settlements grow and the first to reach a set number of victory points, typically 10, wins. The game and its many expansions are also published by Catan Studio, Filosofia, GP, Inc., 999 Games, Κάισσα (Káissa), and Devir. Upon its release, The Settlers of Catan became one of the first Eurogames to achieve popularity outside Europe. As of 2020, more than 32 million copies in 40 languages had been sold.

Gameplay

A giant game of Catan being played at Gen Con Indy 2003. This is one of many custom, extra-large Catan boards seen during demonstrations and tournaments at Gen Con.

The players in the game represent settlers establishing settlements on the fictional island of Catan. Players build settlements, cities, and roads to connect them as they settle the island. The game board, which represents the island, is composed of hexagonal tiles (hexes) of different land types, which are laid out randomly at the beginning of each game. Newer editions of the game began to depict a fixed layout in their manual and recommend this to be used by beginners. In 2016, editions of the game were released with a conventional fixed layout board in this configuration, the hexes of which cannot be rearranged.

Players build by spending resources (wool, grain, lumber, brick, and ore) that are depicted by these resource cards; each land type, with the exception of the unproductive desert, produces a specific resource: hills produce brick, forests produce lumber, mountains produce ore, fields produce grain, and pastures produce wool. On each player's turn, two six-sided dice are rolled to determine which hexes produce resources. Players with a settlement adjacent to a hex containing the number just rolled receive one card of the corresponding resource; cities produce two cards of the corresponding resource. For example, if a player has one city and two settlements adjacent to a grain hex, that player would take four grain resource cards if the corresponding number was rolled.

There is also a robber token, initially placed on the desert; if a player rolls 7, the robber must be moved to another hex, which will no longer produce resources until the robber is moved again. That player may also steal a resource card from another player with a settlement or city adjacent to the robber's new placement. In addition, when a 7 is rolled, all players with 8 or more resource cards must discard their choice of half of their cards, rounded down. For example, If a player has 9 resource cards, and a 7 is rolled, the player must get rid of 4 cards.

On the player's turn, the player may spend resource cards to build roads or settlements, upgrade settlements to cities (which replace existing settlements), or buy development cards. Players can trade resource cards with each other; players may also trade off-island (in effect, with the non-player bank) at a ratio of four-to-one resources for one of any other. By building settlements adjacent to ports, players may trade with the bank at three-to-one (three of any single resource type) or two-to-one (two of a specific resource) ratios, depending on the port.

The goal of the game is to reach ten victory points. Players score one point for each settlement they own and two for each city. Various other achievements, such as establishing the longest road and the largest army (by playing the most knight cards), grant a player additional victory points.

Resource cards can also be spent to buy a development card. There are five different types of development cards, including cards worth one victory point; knight cards, which allow the player to move the robber as if they had rolled a 7 (but without the remove-half rule); monopoly cards, which allow the player to steal all of any one resource from other players; road building cards, which allow the player to build two roads without paying extra resource cards; and year of plenty cards which allow the player to pick up two resource cards of their choice.

Three young women playing a game of Catan in a school

Teuber's original design was for a large game of exploration and development in a new land. Between 1993 and 1995 Teuber and Kosmos refined and simplified the game into its current form. Unused mechanics from that design went on to be used in Teuber's following games, Entdecker and Löwenherz. The game's first expansion, Catan: Seafarers, adds the concept of exploration, and the combined game (sometimes known as "New Shores") is probably the closest game to Teuber's original intentions.

In 2020, the Board Game Analysis blog created a mathematical model to evaluate how balanced any particular board layout is, with scores ranging from 0 to 1 and lower scores being more balanced. According to that model, the beginner layout recommended in the game's manual has a balance score of 0.094. They also analyzed a board layout used in a 2016 tournament, which scored a 0.106. A sample of 100 million randomly generated board layouts formed an approximately normal distribution with the majority of boards' scores clustered around 0.25.

Extensions, expansions, and updates

Further information: List of Settlers of Catan products

The base game of the Catan series, Catan, is designed for 3–4 players. In 1996, an extension to allow up to six players was released for the base game. As well as extra components to accommodate more players, the expansion adds an extra building phase to the turn, so that players can participate in the game during each other's turns. Players may not trade with other players during this phase nor may they trade in with the bank (maritime trade) from their own hand.

After releasing the 5- to 6-player extension, Teuber began to publish expansions for the base game. The first, Seafarers of Catan, was released in 1997; it was later retitled Catan: Seafarers. Seafarers adds ships that allow players to cross sea hexes, and includes scenarios in which players explore an archipelago of islands. It also adds gold-producing hexes that allow players to take the resource of their choice.

The second major expansion to the game, Cities and Knights of Catan (later Catan: Cities and Knights), was released in 1998. It adds concepts from the card game and its first expansion to Catan, including Knights who must be used to defend Catan from invading barbarians, and improvements that can be bought for cities that give benefits to players. Three commodities (paper, coin, and cloth) can be produced, in addition to the original resources. A 5- to 6-player extension for Cities & Knights was released at the same time. In 2000, a book of variations for Settlers was released.

The third large expansion, Catan: Traders & Barbarians, was released in 2008. Traders & Barbarians collects a number of smaller scenarios, some of which have previously been published elsewhere. The set includes an official two-player variant.

A special edition of the game was released in 2005: a 10th-anniversary collector's edition of the base game and Cities & Knights, with hand-painted 3D tiles and playing pieces.

Mayfair Games released a fourth edition of The Settlers of Catan in 2007, with new artwork, a locking frame, a deeper box, and an insert tray; there was also a minor rule change. Soon after its release, two changes were made to the fourth edition. The robber playing piece was changed from a black to a grey color and the soldier development card was renamed a knight. Fourth-edition versions of Cities & Knights, Seafarers, and the 5- to 6-player extensions were also released.

Catan: Explorers & Pirates, the fourth large expansion, was released in 2013. which introduces new elements for the game including moving ships, new resources, and pirates.

The Catan line was rebranded in 2015 for the 20th anniversary of the series, with the original Settlers game renamed simply Catan.

There are variations of the visual style of the game with subsequent releases. A list of version comparisons can be found here: "Identify your English Catan Set". Catan Collector. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.

Variants and scenarios

In 1998, the first Historical Scenario pack was released, which allows players to re-enact the building of the pyramids of Egypt or the expansion of Alexander the Great's empire using Catan game mechanics. A second scenario pack for Settlers concerning the building of the Great Wall of China and the Trojan War was released in 2001.

Die Siedler von Catan: Das Buch zum Spielen was published in 2000. It contained the rules and pieces for 15 new scenarios and many variants.

Atlantis: Scenarios and Variants was published in 2005. Atlantis was a boxed set which collected a number of scenarios and variants published in gaming magazines and at conventions, such as The Volcano and The Great River. The set also included a deck of event cards which replaced the dice in the main game, giving it a less random spread of resource production. The event cards, which were also available as a standalone item, have since been re-released in a modified form in the Traders and Barbarians expansion.

Kosmos, Mayfair, and 999 Games released the first stand-alone "Catan Geographies" title, Catan Germany, in 2008.

In 2009, Schätze, Drachen und Entdecker ('Treasures, Dragons & Adventurers') was published. This was a scenario pack for fans that included six new scenarios and the pieces needed to play them. It was re-released in 2017 with artwork updated to match the 2015 fourth edition of Settlers of Catan. Treasures, Dragons & Adventurers will be available in English as of July 16, 2021.

Catan: Oil Springs is an expansion by Erik Assadourian and Ty Hansen introduced in 2011 designed to draw attention to environmental issues. It is offered as a free download or for purchase from the Mayfair Games website. The scenario adds oil fields that can be used to make other resources and develop metropolises, but disasters can strike if too much oil is used. Oil can also be taken out of the game, for victory points and to prevent disasters.

The scenario Catan: Frenemies was released in 2012. In Frenemies, players are rewarded with redeemable "favor tokens" for "helping" their opponents by moving the robber harmlessly, giving away resources, and connecting their roads to their opponents' road networks. Depending on the circumstances, these favors might not be helpful.

Helpers of Catan is an expansion released in 2013. The computer opponent characters from the PC/Mac game Catan – Cities & Knights return in this scenario as "helper cards", which can be used during gameplay; for example, the helper card for Candamir allows the player who uses it to substitute any one resource when buying a development card.

Spinoffs and other related products

The popularity of The Settlers of Catan led to the creation of spinoff games and products, starting in 1996 with The Settlers of Catan card game (later renamed to Catan Card Game), and the 2003 novel, Die Siedler von Catan, by German historical fiction author Rebecca Gablé, which tells the story of a group of Norse seafarers who set out in search of the mythical island of Catan.

In 2002 a travel edition of Catan was published, featuring playing pieces which slot into a fixed-layout board.

In 1999, Starfarers of Catan was released. It was loosely based upon the original Catan, including similar dice mechanisms for resource production as well as trading and building. However, the spin-off also introduces spaceports, spaceships, and the flight mechanism.

The "Catan Histories" subseries includes Settlers of the Stone Age, a re-release of Struggle for Rome, Settlers of America, and Rise of the Inkas.

The Catan Dice Game was released in 2007. The game is played with six dice, the faces of which depict one of six resources (brick, lumber, wool, grain, ore, or gold). The dice are rolled up to three times, and the score of each roll is recorded by "building" roads, settlements, cities, and knights on a score sheet that shows a miniature version of the island of Catan. In the base game, one to four players try to get the highest score. There is also a "plus" version of the game, which, like the original Catan board game, is a race to be the first player to score 10 victory points.

In addition to the Catan Card Game above, two additional card game spinoffs have been published. Rivals for Catan, published in 2010, is a two-player strategy game for expert players that plays like a board game, and The Struggle for Catan, published in 2011, is a two- to four-player game that plays more like a card game and is suitable for Catan novices.

Catan Junior is a 2012 spinoff for families with children. The game is based on the original Settlers of Catan with a "pirate" theme and simpler rules. Players build "pirates' lairs" in the islands and build ships to reach new building sites. Resource and development cards are replaced with tiles, trading and building are simpler, and the "Ghost Captain" does not steal resources as the robber in the base game does.

Star Trek Catan is a spin-off of the original series released in 2012 by Mayfair Games. The game uses the same basic components with new names, new graphics, and some minor rules additions. The building costs and resources match the original game. It incorporates the "Helpers of Catan" expansion, with the cards renamed as Star Trek characters.

A Game of Thrones Catan: Brotherhood of the Watch is a spin-off based on George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. As Brothers of the Night Watch, players harvest resources from the Gift to build settlements and keeps, while contributing to the defense of the Wall. The game was released in 2017 in English, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Russian, Czech/Slovak, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Hebrew and French.

Catan: Dawn of Humankind is a spin-off featuring the first humans published by Catan Studios in 2022. Players move their tribe to explore new continents and establish camps.

Catanimals

Mayfair released a series of mini-stuffed animals based on the different resources presented in the game. An updated set of Catanimal Sprite plushes was introduced in early 2021 and are based on new illustrated characters by artist Kay O'Neill.

Reception

Catan is popular in the United States, with The Washington Post calling it "the board game of our time" in 2010. American video game designer Richard Dansky described Catan as "a hardcore game and a light social pastime and everything in between".

A 2012 American documentary film titled Going Cardboard (featuring Klaus Teuber) is about this game's impact on American gaming communities and what came of it.

In 2020, Erica Price noted that while Catan had become "a mid to late 2010s staple in popular culture," she argued that "the one place where Catan has seen a drop in popularity over the past decade is in its first world, that of hobby board games." She attributed this decline to a "lack of innovation," as well as "a reluctance to buy into the popularity of app-supported games (though solely mobile versions of Catan exist), crowdfunding, and new mechanics."

Awards

Video games

Since the game's release, a number of computer games have been published based on Settlers of Catan and its spinoffs. The first sanctioned English-language release was Catan: The Computer Game, developed for the PC by Castle Hill Studios and published by Big Fish Games. This off-line game was available from MSN, as it was acquired by Microsoft who also released Catan Online in August 2005 on MSN Games, the game now requiring an internet connection. In 2005, Capcom edited the first portable version of Settlers of Catan on the N-Gage Nokia handheld device.

In June 2009 the MSN version of Settlers was discontinued. The same game later became available on other online services. Teuber and Big Huge Games worked together to produce Catan, a version of Settlers for the Xbox Live Arcade. It was released on 2 May 2007. Game Republic developed a PlayStation 3 version in 2008 titled also Catan.

A Nintendo DS version of Settlers was developed by Exozet Games GmbH in collaboration with Klaus Teuber. The game can be played against computer opponents, and includes Nintendo WiFi online play. It was released in 2009, but only in Europe.

The Settlers of Catan online game was announced on 16 December 2002. Catan Online World allows players to download a Java application that serves as a portal for the online world and allows online play with other members. The base game may be played for free, while expansions require a subscription membership.

Two official PC versions of Catan have been released, The First Island (the basic game only) and Cities & Knights (with Seafarers and Cities & Knights expansions). The First Island is available for the PC only in German. Cities & Knights was available in both English and German.

Catan and some of its expansions are also available in various languages for mobile phones, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, BlackBerry and Android smartphones. A 2009 version was developed by Exozet Games and published by United Soft Media for iOS in 2009-2010, for Android in 2011, and for Windows Mobile in 2013.

Catan was released on Xbox Live Arcade in 2007. It was pulled without notice in mid-2014. There is no official word on why it was pulled or if it will return. Another game called Catan was released for the PlayStation Network in 2008. This version is an original adaptation of the board game, not a port of the 2007 XBLA adaptation by Big Huge Games. GameSpot gave the Playstation game 7 out of 10 and called it "a captivating experience". It also has been discontinued.

Mayfair Games announced in 2010 that a version of Catan was coming to Facebook.

In 2010, Vectorform showcased a Microsoft PixelSense game for Settlers of Catan. USM also developed an Android and iOS mobile app version simply called "Catan" with the various expansions available as DLC.

In August 2013, Catan: Creators Edition was made available for PC on Steam and Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. Catan: Creators Edition officially replaces the previous Catan: Cities & Knights. The game features both Seafarers plus the Cities & Knights expansions and includes a level editor.

In the summer of 2014, Bontom Games collaborated with Catan GmbH and Internet Explorer to develop an asynchronous version of Catan. Catan Anytime is a short-session, turn-based game designed for mainstream gamers. On 10 June 2016, Catan Anytime announced on their Facebook page that Catan Anytime had shut down operations. The web site catananytime.com is no longer available.

A balanced setup from Catan Universe – each circled number gives the relative frequency that an adjacent hex is rolled.

In April 2017, Catan Universe launched. Catan GmbH collaborated with Exozet and United Soft Media to make a cross platform version of Catan. Catan Universe is available in web, Steam, Amazon, iOS and Android platforms. While the Steam version has an average score, the mobile versions have a higher score of 4/5 stars. The game gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019/20 with a large number of new players, which overwhelmed servers at times.

In December 2017, the unlicensed and unendorsed website Colonist.io was launched.

On June 20, 2019 a version of Catan was released for Nintendo Switch, being developed by United Soft Media and Exozet, and being published by Asmodee Digital.

In November 2019, Niantic, Inc. announced that it was developing a new augmented reality mobile game, Catan: World Explorers. The game is to be based on the Catan board games; players will move through the real world, using their smartphones to build a Catan universe. However, during September 2021 Niantic announced the augmented reality game would be shut down after a year of early access without actually releasing it.

In November 2021, Dovetail Games and Asmodee Entertainment announced their intentions to bring a "digital tabletop" version of Catan to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. This project is a collaboration between Dovetail Games, Asmodee, Catan GmbH and Nomad Games. Dovetail Games are known for their simulation products, notably Train Simulator, Train Sim World and Bassmaster Fishing 2022.

Film/television adaptation

A short film titled The Lord of Catan was released in 2014. Actors Amy Acker and Fran Kranz starred in the film as a married couple enmeshed in an increasingly intense game of Catan.

In February 2015, Variety announced that producer Gail Katz had purchased the film and TV rights to The Settlers of Catan. Katz said, "The island of Catan is a vivid, visual, exciting and timeless world with classic themes and moral challenges that resonate today. There is a tremendous opportunity to take what people love about the game and its mythology as a starting point for the narrative". In October 2017, Variety reported that Sony Pictures was negotiating to acquire the rights to adapt it into a film, with Gail Katz still attached to the project.

Tournaments

U.S. National Championship

Every year, thousands of Americans compete at local qualifying Catan tournaments in the United States. The winners of those tournaments are then guaranteed a seat at the Catan United States National Championship.

World Championship

The first Catan World Championship was held in 2002 at the game fair "Internationalen Spieltage" in Essen, Germany. It took place there every year until 2008, when it was hosted at Gen Con Indy, in the United States. Since then, the Catan World Championship has taken place every two years, with the location alternating between the United States and Germany.

In 2018, there were participants in the World Championship from over forty countries. A maximum of two players per country are allowed to participate.

To be eligible to compete in the World Championship, all players must be over the age of 18, as well as a citizen or permanent resident of the country in which they are competing.

The World Championship is structured in three rounds: the preliminary round, the semifinals, and the finals. The preliminary round consists of three games, of which the top sixteen players advance to the semifinals. The semifinals are seeded based first on wins, then points, and then the quality of victory (percentage of total points earned per game) in the preliminary round games. The winner of each semifinal game then advances to the finals. The winner of the finals becomes the Catan World Champion.

The 2020 championship was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic; it was eventually held in Valletta, Malta, in 2022.

Here is a list of past winners and finalists of the Catan World Championship.

Date Location Winner 2nd place 3rd place
2002 Germany Essen, Germany Republic of Ireland Jacques Kieft Germany Michel Hirschfeld Netherlands Hans Baert
2003 Germany Essen, Germany Germany Michel Hirschfeld Spain Samuel Fuentes Finland Lasse Rintakumpu
2004 Germany Essen, Germany Italy Francesco Ferrari Denmark Claus Sørensen Japan Katsumi Takahasi
2005 Germany Essen, Germany Czech Republic Jiří Buchta Netherlands Frans de Bode Republic of Ireland Shane Cassells
2006 Germany Essen, Germany Finland Markus Nuopponen Japan Shinya Ohi Germany Thomas Sander
2007 Germany Essen, Germany Latvia Arnis Buka United Kingdom Alan Farrell Finland Markus Nuopponen
2008 United States Indianapolis, USA United States Todd Sweet Australia Rohan Flavelle United States Matt McLaughlin
2010 Germany Leibertingen, Germany Netherlands Erwin Pauëlsen Latvia Maris Logins Finland Mauri Sahlberg
2012 United States Philadelphia, USA Austria Herbert Schager Hong Kong Chi Wai Chan Lithuania Justinas Noreika
2014 Germany Berlin, Germany Estonia Sander Stroom Japan Yoshitaka Matsumoto Latvia Kristofers Ritovs
2016 United States Durango, USA United States William Cavaretta Spain Raúl Fernández Menéndez Czech Republic Petr Frajvald
2018 Germany Cologne, Germany Mexico Quetzal Hernández Jiménez Colombia José Miguel Ferrario Parrado Germany Markus Heinze
2022 Malta Valletta, Malta New Zealand Hamish Dean United States Eric Freeman Italy Emanuele Scapaticci

Online tournaments

There are various short-form, long-form, and ongoing online Catan tournaments, including the Digital CATAN World Championship (DCWC), which debuted in autumn 2021, with a qualification round from August to October and a finals round held on 13 November.

See also

References

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External links

Awards
Preceded byManhattan Spiel des Jahres
1995
Succeeded byEl Grande
Preceded by6 nimmt! Deutscher Spiele Preis
1995
Succeeded byEl Grande
Catan series of games
Core game
Core spinoffs
Historical Scenarios
Starfarers
Adventures
Histories
Geographies
Card Game
Licensed works
Video games
Related
Spiel des Jahres
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