The Settlers Of Catan Board Game

This comprehensive process allows us to set a status for any downloadable file as follows:.CleanIt’s extremely likely that this software program is clean. What does this mean?We have scanned the file and URLs associated with this software program in more than 50 of the world's leading antivirus services; no possible threat has been detected.WarningThis software program is potentially malicious or may contain unwanted bundled software. Why is this software program no longer available in our Catalog?Based on our scan system, we have determined that these flags are likely to be real positives.We’d like to highlight that from time to time, we may miss a potentially malicious software program. What is a false positive?It means a benign program is wrongfully flagged as malicious due to an overly broad detection signature or algorithm used in an antivirus program.BlockedIt’s highly probable this software program is malicious or contains unwanted bundled software. Why is the software program still available?Based on our scan system, we have determined that these flags are possibly false positives.

May 03, 2017  The Settlers of Catan is a resource gathering euro-style game. The way to win Settlers of Catan is to be the first one gain 10 Victory points. There are three ways to get Victory points. Teuber, now sixty-one, is the creator of The Settlers of Catan, a board game in which players compete to establish the most successful colony on a fictional island called Catan, and the managing.

Catan at a Glance

Game Type Medieval Theme, Dice Rolling, Negotiating, Card Game Hexagon Grid, Building Settlements	Play Time 60 - 120 mins	Skill/Complexity (2.8 - 5) Light to Medium Good Introduction to Strategy Games
Age 10+	Publisher(s) Kosmos, Catan Studio and others	Published 1995
Categories Family / Strategy	Players 3 - 4	Rules Manual Official Rules
Our Rating 10/10	Cost $48.99

Catan, the game of trading, building and then settling was first published in 1995 and is still going strong today. It picked up the 1995: Spiel des Jahres Game of the Year and the 2015: GamesCom Vegas Game of the Century awards, which shows the love given to Catan.

We’ve always considered this game a great intro for those new to strategy type games, although it certainly did take off with the gaming crowd. So, it’s a game for everyone including families.

Settlers of Catan is the base game which means expansions (Seafarers, Cities & Knights, Traders & Barbarians, Explorers & Pirates are a good start) are available that I imagine you may know about and have played one of or more. If not then it’s worth expanding settlers before looking for games similar to Catan, although all of these games below are well worth checking out as well.

Top 10 Games Like Catan

Let’s take a look at board games like Catan that share similarities. We’re sure there is at least one in the mix for everyone to consider.

The Castles of Burgundy

The Castles of Burgundy is themed in France within medieval times and is one of the most comparable games with Catan in terms of theme, mechanics (dice rolling, hexagon grid, and territory building).

The Castle of Burgundy at a Glance

Game Type Medieval Theme, Territory Building, Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, Tile Placement	Play Time 30 - 90 mins +	Skill/Complexity (3 - 5) Light to Medium Great Strategy Intro Game
Age 12+	Publisher(s) Ravensburger	Published 2011
Categories Strategy	Players 2 - 4 (2 - 3 is Ideal)	Manual Official Rules PDF
Our Rating 9/10	Cost approx $34.99

Players strategically trade and build settlements to gain victory points using dice and tile placement action. The game has fluidity to it and feels light while playing, and remains fun without going overboard in complexity.

It’s easy to make the mistake of seeing game like The Castles of Burgundy that’s not very complex as a game that wont stimulate and engage players for very long and not offer good replay value. This is not true in this case as once you start playing you’ll see how strategic skills are needed and the depth of the game becomes apparent.

There are a number of expansions available if players are considering expanding on the core game, although we feel the core game is good enough as it is, and the expansions don’t add a great deal more actions.

If players of Catan are looking for the same sort of complexity level of play in a game then The Castles of Burgundy is one to consider.

Summary: The Castles of Burgundy is one of the most comparable games with Catan. It has the same mechanics and has the same kind of level of complexity in play.

Concordia

Guiding a dynasty and sending colonists to distant places within the ancient Roman Empire while developing a network of trade with settled colonists is Concordia’s main theme. Settlers arrive in cities that produce bricks, food, tools, wine, and cloth which is all used for the trading of houses.

Concordia at a Glance

Game Type Ancient Theme, Card Game, Economic, Deck Building, Variable Set Up, Point to Point Movement	Play Time 90 mins +/-	Skill/Complexity (3 - 5) Medium to Heavy..ish
Age 12+	Publisher(s) Rio Grande Games and Others	Published 2013
Categories Strategy	Players 2 - 5 (4 is Ideal)	Manual Official Rules
Our Rating 9.5/10	Cost approx $44.99

If you love the settling and trading aspects of Catan then you’re on to a winner with this game. Unlike Catan, Concordia does not use dice and only uses cards which puts a slightly different spin on play which some players may like, dislike and others may think nothing of it.

Concordia probably has little more complexity going on and slightly more forward planning is required, but not much more than Catan. While you do trade and everything looks very similar to Catan, you’ll not trade with other players, although other player interactions are played out.

Game play time is around the 90-120 minute range and there are several expansions available that can expand on the base of Concordia.

Concordia has enough similarities going on to put it in the top 10 board games similar to Settlers of Catan. Some of the differences could be welcomed!

Summary: Concordia is a strategy based game where players build settlements through trade, just like Catan, and makes a good alternative with game similarities. A couple of differences between Catan and Concordia is Catan uses dice (it also uses cards) and players can trade between each other, but Concordia makes up with more functions within the cards and other aspects of play.

Puerto Rico

The multiple award winning board game that ushered in a new era of games ‘Puerto Rico’ uses separate boards for each player and each player utilizes the various roles available that includes a mayor, captain, settler, trader, prospector, craftsman, or builder to manage their colonists. A legend of a game!

Puerto Rico at a Glance

Game Type City Building, Economic, Farming Theme, Multiple Boards, Card Game	Play Time 90 mins +	Skill/Complexity (3 - 5) Medium to Heavy..ish
Age 12+	Publisher(s) Rio Grande Games and Others	Published 2002
Categories Strategy	Players 2 - 5 (4 is Ideal)	Manual Official Rules
Our Rating 9.6/10	Cost approx $29.99

Puerto Rico is more advanced than Catan which could be ideal if you wish to step up your place in the strategy board game arena, without being overly complex.

The similarities with this game and Catan are contained within the theme and it’s economic based game play. The choosing roles is a nice addition with Puerto Rico and something does feel quite abstract about gameplay. Tactical decisions and strategic actions win this game as there’s no luck involved, and there is no dice to roll unlike Catan.

Expansions include the 1st with New Buildings, then the next in 2019 included The New Buildings & Nobles (expansion 1 & 2).

Summary: Puerto Rico is a legend of a game that does have some of Catan’s economic aspects of play with a bit more complexity, and the need for tactical and strategic thinking with actions.

Bohnanza

Bohannza is a delightful classic card game that I had to think about and then decided to throw it in the mix of Catan similarities. While it’s only card based and there’s no board you can easily see how the trading and negotiating are similar.

Bohnanza at a Glance

Game Type Farming Theme, Negotiation, Card Game, Trading	Play Time 45 mins +	Skill/Complexity (1.8 - 5) Lightweight
Age 12+	Publisher(s) Rio Grande Games and Others	Published 1997
Categories Strategy / Family	Players 2 - 5 (5 is Ideal)	Manual Official Rules
Our Rating 9/10	Cost approx $19.99

The object of Bohannza is to trade, plant and sell various kinds of beans, and players try to sell large sets of beans for gold while trading unwanted beans. A strict rule that makes the game fun and can annoy some players is you have to use the next card to play (no shuffling your hand etc.).

When we first looked at Bohannza it just didn’t look like it was going to be anywhere near a good game, never mind awesomely engaging and a heck of a lot of fun. It plays out for around 45 minutes and leans more on the fun side of play rather than complexity in other games added to games like Catan.

Summary: The classic Bohannza was an unexpected game to add to this category, however, it met similar Catan functions such as card play, negotiation and trading and all with a cool theme. Lowering the complexity level was intentional for those seeking fun and interaction.

Terra Mystica

Within the magical world of Terra Mystica a civilization and its inhabitants have the ability to transform their terrain into a prosperous faction. Terra Mystica shares its similarities with Catan in regards to building factions and settlements, although mechanisms do differ (i.e., no dice, and not card based).

Terra Mystica at a Glance

Game Type Fantasy, Economic, Territory Building, Civilization	Play Time 60 - 150 mins +	Skill/Complexity (3.7 - 5) Medium to Heavy..ish
Age 12+	Publisher(s) Z-Man Games, Feuerland Spiele and others	Published 2012
Categories Strategy	Players 2 - 5 (4 is Ideal)	Manual Official Rules
Our Rating 9.6/10	Cost approx $59.99

Terra Mystica uses a board map, faction boards, and various types of tiles within the game to move gameplay.

It does have a hell of a lot more going on within the game than Catan which takes it a step up in strategy game playing that may suit some gamers who wish to explore other games without using dice, although others may prefer other games like Catan that are slightly lighter.

There’s plenty of player interaction within the game and a lot of depth in terms of strategic tactics that can be used, and it really engages players with quite a lot to concentrate and consider on while playing.

Summary: Terra Mystica might be too much of a step up in strategy and tactics for some people that are looking for games similar to Catan. However, the fantasy theme and building factions with added complexity and functions might be the perfect step up in board games for others.

Chinatown

The setting and theme for Chinatown is based on the 1960’s and Chinese immigrants arriving in New York to set up new lives and of course businesses. An excellent theme that flows great throughout the game.

Chinatown at a Glance

Game Type City Building, Tile Placement, Negotiation, Trading, Economic	Play Time 60 mins +	Skill/Complexity (2.5 - 5) Light to Medium Great Strategy Intro Game
Age 12+	Publisher(s) Z-Man and others	Published 1999
Categories Strategy / Family	Players 2 - 5 (4 - 5 is best)	Manual Official Rules PDF
Our Rating 8.8/10	Cost approx $34.99

Chinatown is highly interactive that we rate highly in terms of the negotiating aspect of play. Players have to trade cash, shops or both with each other for matching businesses and the location of them, after all the players are initially given random businesses (via tiles).

This rules of this game are easy enough to learn and it’s on the same level of complexity as Catan. It’s suitable for families and more advanced gamers, and suits newbie board gamers, so it’s a great all rounder.

The different mechanisms of tile placement rather than dice and cards in Catan can be seen as an advantage rather than losing out on aspects of a game. This can introduce players to these various game mechanisms without dismissing the type of game they enjoy.

If you are a fan of Catan then there’s no doubt you’ll love Chinatown.

Summary: Chinatown is an excellent game for those that enjoy interaction with other players, and find trading and negotiation a lot of fun. Rules are easy enough to learn and any type of player from a beginner gamer to advanced can engage and thoroughly enjoy playing.

Stone Age

Set in the Stone Age times this game invites players to use their resource and trading skills to feed the people of their civilization. Everyone competes for food and resources in the Stone Age for their own tribe.

Stone Age at a Glance

Game Type Prehistoric Theme, Tile Placement, Dice Rolling, Worker Placement, Resources	Play Time 60 - 90 mins	Skill/Complexity (2.5 - 5) Light to Medium
Age 10+	Publisher(s) Z-Man and others	Published 2008
Categories Strategy / Family	Players 2 - 4 (4 is best)	Manual Official Rules PDF
Our Rating 9/10	Cost approx $44.99

There is a certain amount of luck involved with dice rolling in Stone Age, although you can influence the luck aspect which you’ll easily see after a few rounds. You can kind of weigh up the outcomes beforehand and be more strategic.

This may introduce some of you gamers to a mechanism called worker placement (player actions, action drafting). With Stone Age players take an action that’s associated with their figures/meeples where they may acquire new tools and take other actions.

Stone Age is much more meatier than meets the eye initially, and has a lot of player involvement. There’s enough complexity (light to medium) to please many types of players including families and it is fairly easy to learn the rules.

Summary: An excellent mix of mechanisms in this worker placement game with lots of player involvement. A good balance of luck and strategic moves, but ultimately the most skilled player wins the game.

Lords of Vegas

It’s time to jump into business in Vegas and own those casinos while putting your rivals out of business. Compete to make Vegas your business playground in this light to medium strategy game that can also offer a little help with dice luck (not a lot, though).

Lords of Vegas at a Glance

Game Type Casino Theme, Tile Placement, Dice Rolling, Resources, Trading, Negotiation	Play Time 60 - 90 mins	Skill/Complexity (2.5 - 5) Light to Medium
Age 12+	Publisher(s) Mayfair Games and others	Published 2010
Categories Strategy / Family	Players 2 - 4 (4 is best )	Manual Official Rules PDF
Our Rating 9/10	Cost approx $48.99

Lords of Vegas looks nothing like Catan at first glance in terms of Catan’s rustic medieval theme, however, you’ll soon see how the mechanisms blend and other aspects are very similar.

Catan was an early example of a mechanism named Random Production which basically means resources are randomly given to players which is part of the gameplay in the Lords of Vegas.

There is never a dull moment in this game with plenty of interaction between players and the complexity level is not too demanding, although strategic decisions especially while trading are valuable and keep it challenging enough.

You’ll find the trading and negotiation gels very well with Catan, and the building and controlling Casinos rather than settlements is an excellent match.

Summary: Lords of Vegas is a lot more like Catan than meets the eye. Having very similar mechanisms but a very different theme makes this game ideal as the similarities and the differences work so well.

Surburbia

From the medieval settlements of Catan to the Suburbs and building a metropolis, these two themes couldn’t seem further apart. Surburbia involves growing a towns residential, commercial, civic, and industrial areas, and other areas to grow your population while others are trying to increase their growth.

Surburbia at a Glance

Game Type City Theme, Tile Placement, Hexagon Grid, City Building, Economic, Card Drafting	Play Time 90 mins	Skill/Complexity (2.5 - 5) Light to Medium
Age 8+	Publisher(s) Bézier Games	Published 2012
Categories Strategy / Family	Players 1 - 4 (3 is ideal )	Manual Official Rules PDF
Our Rating 9/10	Cost approx $48.99

Surburbia does tick a few of the boxes for fans of Catan. It’s easy to learn and a fun city building and tile laying game with light to medium complexity.

The income and population aspect of this city building type game is a welcomed aspect and there are most definitely times when strategic moves and decisions will advance your game rather than luck. A lot of possibilities add to player engagement.

Summary: An excellent theme and mechanics that blend easily in the game. Not overly complex, but still challenging enough to require strategic decisions and remain a heck of a lot of fun.

Ticket to Ride

There’s probably not a gamer in the world that does not know of or played the multiple award winning Ticket to Ride. This is one of those perfect introductory games for people just getting into board gaming, with many becoming hooked after.

Ticket to Ride at a Glance

Game Type Train Theme, Card Drafting, Network and Route Building	Play Time 60 mins	Skill/Complexity (2 - 5) Light to Medium
Age 8+	Publisher(s) Days of Wonder	Published 2004
Categories Family / Strategy	Players 2 - 5	Rules Manual Official Rules PDF
Our Rating 10/10	Cost $49.99

While mechanisms and theme differ from Catan, the main reasons for adding it to this category is the ease of learning to play, the family fun aspect and the introduction to making strategic decisions within a route building type game.

The aim of Ticket to Ride is for players to collect various train cards and claim railway routes within North America with the longest routes earning the most points. An aspect of the game that brings on a bit of tension is the possibility of losing routes to other players.

Ticket to Ride is a fairly light game, easy to teach, and excellent when players get somewhat ruthless in play.

There are various versions available now, including the Ticket to Ride in Europe and other destinations.

Summary: Ticket to ride is an award winning family route building board game that’s ideal for introducing others to the board gaming world. It ‘s lightweight, although you can become much more skilled in playing after playing a few rounds.

Quick Summary

Within the above top 10 board games similar to Settlers of Catan there should be one at least one that attracts fans of Catan. The Castles of Burgundy is probably the best matched in terms of theme and mechanisms and then Concordia has the theme, settling and trading aspects of Catan while not using dice and with a bit more complexity added.

Puerto Rico and Terra Mystica are both a step up in gaming for those tempted, and Bohnanza was a debated addition, although the negotiation and trading aspect of it matched very well even though it’s only card based play.

Chinatown, Stone Age, Lords of Vegas, and Surburbia are all undeniably great board games to consider.

Last but not least and worth a mention was Ticket to Ride, although there is quite a lot of difference in mechanisms and gameplay it meets a certain kind of new to board gaming persons needs and the need to pick up something pretty quick that’s fun.

Popular Genre & Types

The women and men of your expedition build the first two settlements. Fortunately, the yet uninhabited land is rich in natural resources. You build roads and new settlements that eventually become cities. Will you succeed in gaining supremacy on Catan? Barter trade dominates the scene.

Some resources you have in abundance, other resources are scarce. Ore for wool, brick for lumber - you trade according to what is needed for your current building projects. Proceed strategically!

If you found your settlements in the right places and skillfully trade your resources, then the odds will be in your favor. But your opponents are smart too.To begin the game, we build the game board using hexagonal terrain tiles.

Catan is born - a beautiful island with mountains, pastures, hills, fields, and forests, surrounded by the sea.Each of us places two small houses on spaces where three terrain hexes meet. They are our starting settlements.And so it begins. I roll two dice. Each terrain hex is marked with a die roll number. Each player who owns a settlement adjacent to a terrain hex marked with the number rolled receives a resource produced by this hex.

Hills produce brick, forests produce lumber, mountains produce ore, fields produce grain, and pastures produce wool.We use these resources to expand across Catan: we build roads and new settlements, or we upgrade our existing settlements to cities. For example, a road costs 1 brick and 1 lumber.

If we do not have the necessary resources, we can acquire them by trading with our opponents.Each settlement is worth 1 victory point and each city is worth 2 victory points. If you expand cleverly, you may be the first player to reach 10 victory points and thus win the game! VariantsThe following variants are highly recommended: 1. 'Three Victory Points' RuleIt is not allowed to place the robber on a terrain hex marked with a number if a player who has less than 3 victory points owns a settlement adjacent to this hex. At the beginning of the game, when all players still have less than 3 victory points, the robber must thus be placed on a hex that doesn't have a settlement adjacent to it.

If this isn't possible, the robber stays in the desert. Trade and Build in Any OrderThe 'first trade, then build' order is no longer observed.

Long live the queen england. The players may trade, then build, trade again, build again, etc.If you play according to this variant, you also may immediately use a newly built harbor for maritime trade (trade with the bank at an improved rate).