From Settlers to Spacefarers, Explore the Island of Catan at Chaos Cards

Catan isn’t just a boardgame, it is tabletop royalty. The Settlers of Catan was first released in 1995 and the masterpiece of a game was designed by Klaus Teuber. The game has since gone from strength to strength; with over 45 million copies sold and translations in 40 plus languages. You can definitely see why Catan is widely considered to be the cornerstone of any modern gaming collection!

The beloved game celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025 with a brand-new 6th Edition, and enthusiasm for the world of Catan shows no signs of slowing down. Especially with the Catan-based series currently in development at Netflix. It really does feel like a great time to be a fan of Catan!

Imagine you are a seafarer coming to the end of a long and gruelling voyage. Your ship is about to touch the coast of an unchartered but resource rich island. There is just one problem though: you aren’t the only person to discover the island of Catan… The race is on to put down roots and claim the island as your own.

At its core, Catan is a high-stakes game of resource management and forward planning. The aim of the game is to be the first to reach 10 Victory Points and cement your place as the island's number one settler. Sounds fun, right?

To get there, you’ll need to outmanoeuvre your rivals, by building roads, settlements, and grand cities. The magic of Catan lies in the interaction between players. You’ll end up locked in tense negotiations with the other players as you try to build and establish your settlement. The game is great for developing trading techniques as you attempt to swap surplus bricks for that some elusive ore.

Catan really is a game of bluffing as much as building. One minute you’re shaking hands on a fair trade, and the next, your friends are strategically blocking your longest road or sending the Robber to plunder your hard-earned wealth. Beware, your greatest ally can become your biggest obstacle with a single roll of the dice!

When you have mastered the base game of Catan (aimed at between 3 and 4 players) your world can be expanded by the various expansions available. Whats great about these expansions is that they also offer 5-6 player extensions for even more people to join in with the trading.

• Seafarers: Set sail with the Seafarers expansion! Add gold rivers and ships to explore the surrounding islands.
• Traders & Barbarians: A collection of scenarios including baggage trains and fishing as you fend off the barbarians.
• Cities & Knights: Adds depth to the base game with new commodities, city improvements, and a barbarian army threatening the coast.
• Explorers & Pirates: This expansion focuses on harbour settlements,with mission-based gameplay, and spice trading.

If you want the mechanics of Catan but with a less traditional feel, check out these standalone titles:

Catan Starfarers

Originally launched in 1999 and recently refreshed, thStarfarers takes the struggle for resources out into deep space. Ditch the wooden huts for specialised rockets as you search for ore and carbon among the stars. Will you trade with alien civilizations or fall prey to space pirates? Experience Catan in a galaxy far out there, but make sure you avoid those wormholes!

Catan: New Energies

Set in the 21st century, this standalone game puts the settlers of Catan at a crossroads. Society needs power to grow, but at what cost? The player must decide by either investing in expensive clean energy or opting for cheaper fossil fuels that risk environmental disaster for the whole island. It’s the classic trading gameplay you love, updated with power plants and environmental events.

For the die-hard fans who can’t bear to leave the island behind, you’re in luck! There is a fantastic range of travel-ready editions designed to handle any expedition. From boring train journeys to meals out and about, there is sure to be a version of Catan built for any trip:

• Catan Traveler &Catan: Zip: Compact versions with "peg" pieces that won't slide around.
• Catan Dice Game: A fast-paced, "roll and write" style experience.
• Dobble Catan: The ultimate crossover for fans of the smash-hit reaction game, also perfect for Catan wannabes who may be too young to play the main game.
• World’s Smallest Catan: It's very small so try not to sneeze while playing!
• There's even an EXIT version of the game (and you know how much the Chaos Cards team love an EXIT game!)

We know stepping onto the island for the first time can be a bit daunting. Here are the answers to the questions we hear most often:

• How long does a standard game of Catan take? Generally, a game averages about 60 to 90 minutes. However, if your group loves a good, long-winded negotiation, the game can take a little longer!
• Can I play Catan with only two players? The base game is designed for 3–4 players to due to the way the trading economy works. However, the Traders & Barbarians expansion includes official 2-player rules, and there is a dedicated Catan – The Duel card game specifically for pairs!
• What is the "Robber," and why does everyone hate him? Whenever someone rolls a 7, the Robber moves! He blocks resource production on a tile and allows the player who moved him to steal a card from an opponent. So yes, he isn't very popular!
• Which expansion should I buy first? Most fans recommend Seafarers if you want more of the classic feel but with a bigger map, or Cities & Knights if you’re ready for more complex strategy and depth. The best thing to do is to try them out and see what you think!

So whether you’re trading at the kitchen table, racing across the stars in Starfarers, or trying to save the planet in New Energies, Catan remains a gateway game of the tabletop world for a reason. It’s a beloved game of bluffing, conversation, and trades that you’ll be talking about long after the final victory point is claimed.

Thirty years on, and the island of Catan is still expanding. The only question left is: when will you join the settlers? Let us know if you are a long time Catan player, or a newcomer to the island over on our socials now.