Have you ever played a game where you build roads, trade with friends, and race to grow your own kingdom? If not, then Catan is the perfect game to try! It’s a board game full of strategy, trading, surprises, and friendly competition — ideal for family game nights or playing with friends.
What Is Catan?
Catan (originally called The Settlers of Catan) is a multiplayer board game where players explore and settle a newly discovered island called Catan. It was originally created in Germany by Klaus Teuber and has become one of the most popular strategy board games in the world.
Players usually build settlements, roads, and cities, collect and trade resources, and aim to be the first to reach 10 victory points to win the game. Catan has sold millions of copies worldwide and is played by people of all ages.
What’s in the Game?
When you open the Catan box, you’ll find:
- A board made of hexagonal tiles — each tile represents a different part of the island.
- Resource cards — such as brick, lumber, wool, grain, and ore that you collect and trade.
- Roads, settlements, and cities — wooden pieces that represent your growing territory.
- Number tokens — placed on each hex so you know when each terrain produces resources.
- Dice — used to decide which terrain hexes produce resources during each turn.
Each game of Catan looks different because the tiles are mixed up and placed randomly before playing, so no two games feel the same!
How Do You Play?
Here’s an easy explanation of how Catan works:
Getting Ready
- Each player starts with two small settlements and two roads placed on intersections between the hexes.
- You begin with 2 victory points — each settlement you build is worth one point.
Taking Turns
- On your turn, you roll two dice. Whatever number comes up, the hexes marked with that number produce resources for the players who have settlements or cities next to them.
- For example, if you have a settlement next to a hill tile with “8” marked on it and someone rolls an 8, you get a brick card.
Trading
- Not everyone will get the resources they need. So you can trade with other players — or even trade with the “bank” if you have a harbour.
- Trading is a big part of the game — sometimes even more fun than building! Challenges and deals make every game exciting.
Building and Expanding
- You can spend your resource cards to build roads, new settlements, or upgrade a settlement into a city (which gives more resources and more victory points).
- There are also development cards that can give you extra points or special abilities.
Winning the Game
- The goal is to be the first player to score 10 victory points, which can be a mix of settlements, cities, special cards, and achievements like Longest Road or Largest Army.
Why Kids (and Adults) Love Catan
Catan is more than just a board game — it’s a thinking adventure! Here’s why many kids and families enjoy it:
Strategy and Planning
To win at Catan, you need to think ahead — which places to settle, how to trade fairly, and which roads to build. Every decision can help you win points!
Trading and Talking
Unlike some board games where everyone works alone, Catan encourages talking and trading with other players. You might swap a wool card for someone’s brick so you can both build something great.
Luck and Surprise
Every turn starts with a roll of the dice — so even a player who was behind can suddenly get lucky and catch up! This makes the game fun and unpredictable.
Always New
Because the board changes every game, Catan always feels fresh and exciting. You never play exactly the same game twice!
Can Kids Play It?
Catan is recommended for ages 10 and up, but there is a special version called Catan Junior designed especially for younger players with simpler rules and a fun theme. This makes it a great game for families with kids who are building confidence in board gaming.
Tips for Playing
Here are some friendly tips that might help you when you play Catan:
- Choose good spots at the start — look for places next to tiles that have numbers likely to be rolled often.
- Collect a variety of resources — having more types gives you more building choices.
- Be a good trader — sometimes a fair trade helps everyone and makes the game more fun.
- Build roads wisely — longer roads can earn you bonus points!
Fun Facts About Catan
- Catan was first published in 1995 and has since been translated into more than 40 languages!
- The board game helped make a whole new style of board games popular — one where players trade and manage resources instead of just moving pieces.
- In 2025, a new 6th edition of Catan was released with updated artwork and components, making gameplay even nicer!
Final Thoughts
Catan isn’t just a game — it’s a world full of strategy, fun, thinking, and friendships. You explore an island, trade with others, grow your settlements, and all with the hope of reaching 10 victory points first. Whether you’re playing with family or friends, every game tells a different story and creates new memories. Give it a try next board game night — you might just become a master settler of Catan!
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