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Thematic illustration for Catan
StrategyFamily

Catan

Collect and trade resources to build roads, settlements and cities on an island.

Players3–4 best with 4
Play time60–120 min
Complexity2.3/5 · Medium
Learn & set up25 min

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At the table

Settle an island whose terrain produces resources on dice rolls. Trade with other players to turn those resources into roads, settlements and cities.

Play style
Competitive
Suggested age
10+
Time to teach
About 15 min
Time to set up
About 10 min
Player elimination
No

How it plays

TradingRoute building

Rules at a glance

Base game for 3–4 players. The 5–6-player extension is a separate product.

Your goal

Reach ten victory points on your own turn.

The flow of play

  1. Roll for resource production; on a seven, resolve discards and move the robber instead

  2. Trade with other players or exchange resources with the supply at the available rate

  3. Spend resources to build or buy development cards, and use eligible development cards within their limits

A quick introduction to the base game. Use your edition’s rulebook for full setup, card effects and exceptions.

Official rules ↗

A feel for the game

tradingclassicbeginner friendly
Suggested age
10+
Interaction
High
Reading
Low
Conflict
Light
Luck or skill
Mixed
Table space
Medium
Downtime
Medium

Playing times and difficulty are catalog estimates and may vary by group and edition. Consult the official rulebook for complete rules.

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More game facts
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Reading
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Conflict
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Luck or skill
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Table space
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Downtime
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Player elimination
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Reading
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Conflict
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Luck or skill
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Downtime
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Player elimination
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More game facts
Interaction
Medium
Reading
Low
Conflict
Light
Luck or skill
Mixed
Table space
Medium
Downtime
Low
Player elimination
No

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