All Catan games ranked for your convenience

Catan is a board game that is as commonplace as Monopoly and is enjoyed much more, too. Most don’t know, however, about the many standalone editions of Catan that have been released throughout the years that provide unique and new ways to play that you may enjoy far more than the classic.

There are sixteen Catan games in total, and they each have their own reasons for being played and enjoyed. For this list, I’ll be ranking the games based on their distinctiveness as well as how fun they are. If a game is pretty fun but is scarcely different from Catan, then it won’t really be worth buying.

Catan Starfarers

Catan Starfarers is a grand game that I personally enjoy more than the base Catan. I know that Catan can be expanded and modified with scenarios and expansions, which can’t be said for Catan Starfarers to the same extent, but I can’t help but have more enjoyment here.

The board is huge, and there are four other alien councils with which players can interact. The core beats of Catan are present here, although the resource tiles are now bundles of planets that you must travel to and colonize. As you explore, however, galactic pirates may challenge you and your ship.

What really does it for me here are the giant rockets that you can slot physical upgrades onto. I know this may be a trivial thing to appreciate so much, but it just looks so cool. Catan Starfarers is a huge version of Catan that goes above and beyond, literally.

Catan

The original, the classic, the Catan that started it all: Catan. Being the original board game, there are many expansions and scenario extensions out there that can transform this already solid game into much greater and more complex games.

The versatility and simplicity of Catan is complemented by the strategic depth it offers. It’s very simple to teach and has fantastic replayability thanks to the literal thousands of ways you can set the board up. And even if it does get stale, there is so much additional content going for it.

For a game that can become something completely different and provide countless hours of strategic fun, Catan is honestly one of the best picks if you don’t have it already.

Catan Traveler

It would be silly of me to rank Catan Traveler anywhere else than right below Catan, considering they’re the exact same game mechanically. As Catan Traveler is everything Catan is but with portability and a two-player version baked in, the only reason it’s not higher than Catan is that none of the expansions and scenarios (for the most part) work with Catan Traveler.

In a great feat of engineering, Catan Traveler comes in a very compact box that doubles as both the game board and component storage, allowing you to throw the game up and put it away in literal seconds if you’re quick enough.

With components that stick to the board to rescue you from the wind and a dice shaker and card boxes, you’ll never complain about the spacial requirements and wind ever again.

Catan Dawn of Humankind

Catan Dawn of Humankind is an excellent adaptation of Catan that trades the replayability and random set up for a grand and large vibrant map of the world that has more auxiliary features.

In Catan Dawn of Humankind, all of the classic Catan mechanics are there, making this feel like an upgraded version. Four technology trees are available for players to advance along, helping their explorers travel further and unlocking different world features to interact with.

Instead of tighter and closer matches where everyone is constantly stepping on each others’ toes, this game invites exploration and grander networks that still encroach on each other. It’s a great and refreshing experience that feels like an upgrade and overhaul instead of an over-glorified scenario.

Catan Settlers of America

Catan Settlers of America also feels like an overhaul of the game that does a little more than a standard scenario would. The board represents North America, and the players must build railways and trains to make deliveries from one settlement to another.

Although the board is standard, there is room for variations and randomness with some tile values. Additionally, the values of these tiles will migrate west as settlements are built, meaning eastern coastal tiles will become useless over time, meaning the board changes as the game progresses.

Building up settlements by sending out settlers is great fun, and being able to move your trains on other players’ tracks (for a cost!) to make deliveries in their own settlements before anyone else provides a daunting and tense race as goods are ferried this way and that.

A Game of Thrones Catan

A Game of Thrones Catan is a brilliant adaptation of Catan that not only oozes the theme of The Watch but also provides an interesting and challenging militaristic element without taking away from the core Catan tenets.

Playing on a smaller map, players will be building up their networks to score resources like normal. However, they will also be trying to build soldiers on the ice wall to defend against three kinds of unique invaders. As invaders breach the walls, they’ll block off hexes and cripple economies. The Helpers scenario is also baked into the game with a different theme.

The effects here are simple, and should the wall get breached enough, the game will end with the winner being the player who contributed the most to defense instead of Victory Points.

Rivals for Catan Deluxe

Rivals for Catan Deluxe is exactly the same as Rivals for Catan, except it comes with some card trays that make organization a little easier and nine promo cards. These promo cards do have some functionality that will enhance a game but aren’t noticeable if they’re not present.

Although Rivals for Catan Deluxe hardly adds much value as an extra edition, it does add something, meaning it would be silly of me to rank it lower than the base game. It’s still the same great game that may be worth spending a little extra spare pocket change if you think you’ll enjoy the game.

However, it’s hardly necessary, and the nine promo cards aren’t the only ones going around anymore.

Rivals for Catan

Rivals for Catan is a great two-player card game that sets two players head-to-head to earn seven victory points by building and trading. Surprisingly, this game adapts Catan very well into a card game format as players build out their settlements, roads, city upgrades, and resource cards.

Around the four corners of your settlements will be resource cards that you need to roll for like in regular Catan. As you build more settlements, you’ll get to set up more tiles, meaning you’ll get stronger as you progress the game. This procedural generation is a nice touch that mimics the feeling of the original.

For a lighter and more directly competitive rendition of Catan, Rivals for Catan is a great pick. With expansions to make this game so much more, you could get a whole lot of replayability here.

Catan Starfarers Duel

I really struggled ranking Catan Starfarers Duel because although it’s an absolutely stellar game, it really strays far from what Catan is where the other Catan card games remain pretty faithful.

I personally think Catan Starfarers Duel is a better game than many on this list and is thoroughly enjoyable. The space ship upgrades, like in the board game, is extremely interactive as you slot in upgrades and extra modules and turn dials. The gameplay loop of building your tableau from exploring the galaxy and gaining new cards is satisfying and fun.

However, the only similarities this game has to Catan is that you roll dice for resources, which is stretching it pretty thin for a Catan game. I feel like board and card games fans will enjoy Catan Starfarers Duel, but not all Catan fans will, hence the mixed ranking.

Catan Rise of the Inkas

Catan Rise of the Inkas is set not in Catan but in the Andes, where players will simulate the rise and fall of tribes. This rendition of Catan is quite interestingly different, but only really on paper rather than in practice.

The defining difference with Catan Rise of the Inkas is that as players build up their tribe by placing settlements, they’ll hit a point of growth and then go into decline, having to start fresh somewhere else whilst their previous tribes get overgrown. This happens a couple of times, and the player is the one who can build up their third tribe. Additionally, there are goods that can be earned from the map and traded for resources.

Although the growth and decline of tribes do provide an interesting mechanic, having to start over again twice may not be for everyone, especially considering that Catan can be a little slow at times. Also, the good cards stop players from trading with each other as they’ll be too busy trading with the game.

Catan Junior

Catan Junior is a simplified version of Catan that has its own flair and personality. It’s rather distinct from the original thanks to the change of theme and items that players are vying over.

Instead of Victory Points, success is measured by the number of Pirate Lairs you’ve built. upon building seven, you win the game. This simple and tangible progress makes Catan Junior very accessible, and the pirate theme helps too.

Catan Junior is honestly great for all audiences, as it’s quick, very simple, and very easy to teach. I’m unsure how fun children will find this, however, as there are a variety of other games for younger audiences that are a little more exciting.

Struggle for Catan

I really wanted to throw the Struggle for Catan card game up a few more places, but I just can’t ignore that although it’s interesting, it’s deprived of what makes Catan so great: the inter-player negotiations and trading.

The trading in Struggle for Catan is implemented as a random draw from someone else’s hand before giving them a card of your own, which only frustrates both players most of the time. Building your tableau of settlements, roads, and such is pretty interesting, however, as every second road and knight gives you a victory point. Also, city expansions can be selected and built for extra abilities.

Ultimately, Struggle for Catan is a simple card game with a couple of interesting features. It struggles to amaze players, however, and is robbed of any meaningful player interactions.

Catan Logic Puzzle

Catan Logic Puzzle offers an interesting new way to play features the classic Catan hallmarks. With hex grids, resources, and the infamous desert tile, Catan Logic Puzzle contains many puzzles that will have you placing down resource routes to connect settlements.

This is a pretty simple logic puzzle that mostly has a Catan theme than anything tangibly Catan. As you place down tiles in domino-style, connecting different resource types, you’ll have to avoid other obstacles to create the perfect path.

It has very little replayability and isn’t really a Catan game, but is still a great game for puzzle enthusiasts and the Catan theme and dressing is a pleasant one.

Catan Dice Game

Technically not a board game but a dice game, Catan Dice Game offers a roll ‘n write way to play Catan, and it does a pretty job of translating the game and mechanics of the original.

The game is simple and uses simple board layouts for players to fight over and settle on. The dice rolled corresponds to the resources available and players settle for Victory Points like normal. Pencils will be needed to jot on the wad of islands available for play, allowing for some replayability.

Catan Dice Game is an interesting game and holds true to the original, but there are other better roll n’ write games out there and I’m sure all Catan fans would rather play another Catan game for their fix.

Catan Family Edition

Catan Family Edition sits at the bottom of our list for one glaring reason. It’s just regular Catan but the board is less modular and the game is a little simpler.

I can understand the potential appeal of a simpler Catan game, but the original isn’t so complicated that it requires a simpler version. Besides, if someone wants simpler, they can pick up Catan Junior for a much easier and shorter yet distinct Catan experience.

I can’t recommend Catan Family Edition to anyone.

Phew! All of the Catan games ranked. I hope you’re able to have a look at these amazing games and choose one for your next game night.

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