Most ‘Games Like Catan’ lists miss the mark – maybe we did too

First things first – if you haven’t picked up a Catan Expansion – start there first – We’ve Answered What Catan Expansion to Get and think you should start there.

Over the last 30 years, game makers have struggled to create games like Settlers of Catan. It’s been tough to find something that feels the same, with similar “easy” rules and friendly interaction. Catan’s mix of collecting resources, making deals, and building settlements was unique at the time and has proven not easy to copy. Remember – this game is the game that helped launch a board gaming renaissance. The game’s simple rules made it easy for anyone to play, and its feel was quite a departure from Monopoly or Life. While some games claim to be like Catan, finding one that really captures its magic is still a challenge.

It felt a bit like chasing a white whale, trying to find games like Catan. Some many lists just seem to get it wrong, listing games like Splendor or Dominion as games that are like Catan. What? Neither is 7 Wonder, Quest for El Dorado, or Agricola. Don’t get me wrong – those are all great games – but I personally don’t see where they share the same DNA as Catan. I decided to do my own research and polled Facebook groups to gather data. Here is what I found:

Some quick observations:

• Over 20% of people still ended up adding a game that wasn’t initially on the list.
• Ticket to Ride – another “staple” gateway game was in the top 3 of games named. ( I think you could pick any iteration of Ticket to Ride)
• Machi Koro and Space Base were the top individual vote getter. I suspect because of the dice rolling and multiple people “gain” – I went went Machi Koro below because of the “city” building aspect – but Space Race is an excellent choice as well.
• The “trading” aspect of Catan was under-represented in the poll data

I elected not to include Castles of Burgundy, Terra Mystica, or Scythe below. Other than hexes and dice being common in both – I don’t see a good correlation between Castles of Burgundy and Catan. The theme and the mechanics of Scythe, did not seem to connect with Catan. And while Terra Mystica definitely has several common aspects, and is like Catan – I also felt it was several degrees more heavy than what Catan is. Ultimately I really like what one Facebook user said when trying to find “a game like Catan.”

 …I have to be honest here, there really isn’t another game that is Catan like, truly. Games take ideas from Catan, but there has not been one that I have played that [like] I said, is like Catan…

Facebook User

While some games claim to be like Catan, finding one that really captures its magic is still a challenge. To even begin to hit the mark, this is what we are looking for:

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Before we get into the games – I did include rules “grit” when making this list. Many lists that say they are games like Catan are simply a list of gateway games. If you are looking for Gateway Games go here. That’s what not this is. This list has more to do with how each of these games play and how they are similar to Catan. However, games that were considerably more complex (I’m looking at you Terra Mystica) – I kept off of this list.

Games Most Like Catan

Concordia

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While this game may be rated a 3.0 out of 5 for complexity – it is not because of rules overhead, it is because you have so many opportunities to a variety of actions, it may take a hot minute to get your head around it. The manual itself is a streamlined 4 pages, and most of the direction comes from the cards you play.

• Negotiation/Trade – You won’t be trading player to player, but there is a specific card yo will play in which you can trade with a common market to get resource you need.
• Building – Much like Catan, you’ll be building routes and placing houses to strengthen your position. These buildings in combination with your cards will determine your final score.
• Dice Rolling for Rewards – No dice here. But a unique method of when you gain resources – likely so will other players.
• Resource Management – Plenty of resources and money to collect, and then decide just how you will spend them. Much like Catan each thing you want to buy/build will have a unique cost in resources and/or money.

“…Shut Up & Sit Down absolutely recommends Concordia, it is way better that Settlers of Catan…”

Quinns – Shut Up & Sit Down

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Deus

The first thing you might notice as you look at Deus is how the board itself is reminiscent of the island of Catan. Like Catan, each colored area represents specific terrain with unique characteristics. At the start of the game, you won’t alternate for starting positions, and will need to have the right cards and resources to gain a foothold on the island.

The similarities between “Deus” and “Catan” don’t end with the look of the board. Like Catan, Deus relies on resource management and strategic decision-making. In “Catan,” players gather and trade resources like wood, brick, and wheat to build settlements and roads, aiming to expand their territory and earn victory points. Similarly, in “Deus,” players collect and utilize different types of resources, such as wood, stone, and gold, to construct buildings, create armies, and advance their position. Both games require players to carefully manage their resources to achieve their objectives, whether it’s building a thriving settlement in “Catan” or establishing a powerful empire in “Deus”

• Negotiation/Trade – You won’t be trading player to player, but there are cards that facilitate this.
• Building – Much like Catan, you’ll be building buildings throughout the game – these building contribute greatly to your score.
• Dice Rolling for Rewards – No dice here, and generally only the active player reaps the rewards when gaining resources.
• Resource Management – Key to the game, there are more resources to use than in Catan, but also more ways to use them.

“…if you like Catan, I think Deus is next step game that definitely escalates a bit in complexity while not being so much that it is overwhelming…”

Alex Radcliffe – BoardGameCo

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Game Similar to Catan

The next set of games don’t overlap as much with Catan as much as Concordia or Deus, but generally have two or more of the same elements

Bohnanza

I’ve talked about Bohnanza before here as a great beginner game. It is a game that defined trading as a game mechanic that could solely stand on its own. Originally released just two years after Settlers of Catan it too has stood the test of time. Bohnanza is an unique card game that has players taking on the role of a bean farmer – yes you read that correctly. In this strategic game, players act as bean farmers, cultivating and trading different types of beans. You’ll have two “fields” to start with and you’ll be using the cards in your hand to “seed” those fields. Only one bean type per field. Once you get enough of the same types of beans in one field – you get to “harvest” them for points. Seems easy enough – the rub is that you can’t ever rearrange the cards in your hand. So while you may have a robust crop of coffee beans and green beans in front of you – if your new beans are stink beans or wax beans – we’ll you’ve got yourself a problem.

• Negotiation/Trade – This IS the game, you’d be hard pressed to find many more games without this level of trading interaction.
• Building – Nothing to build here but sweet sweet bean fields.
• Dice Rolling for Rewards – No dice here. But there is luck – drawing your next beans will set up future turns.
• Resource Management – Some beans are more valuable than others – knowing which beans to try and plant for points, and which ones to trade away is the key to winning.

“…The most special thing about Bohnanza is that there’s nothing else like it…”

Jon Purkis – Actualol

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Machi Koro 2

This was a hard pick for me to put in here. It could have easily been the original Machi Koro or Space Base. Both are very very similar to Machi Koro 2. If you at all have a preference to a space theme, then go ahead and get Space Base – it “feels” the same as Machi Koro (1 or 2) and also hits the similar to Catan aspect of dice rolling for rewards.

In Machi Koro 2 you are tasked with building some very expensive Landmarks to win the game. You’ll do this by slowing building out your city with various city establishments that will earn you income.

The centerpiece of this game lies in the die (or dice) rolling. Each building you have has a value on it – generally speaking if your number comes up, you’ll reap rewards – even if its not your turn. Very similar to Catan.

Now – there is no central board as in Catan. Each person has their own card tableau in front of them. Your decision will be what buildings to establishments you’ll want to build. Part of your strategic thinking will be whether to build immediately, or perhaps hold some currency to build a more powerfull establishment later. There isn’t the familiar trading mechanic that Catan players may enjoy – but there is stealing, think of it as one sided trading.

• Negotiation/Trade – You can steal cards based on a die rolls.
• Building – Cash is king, and you’ll used it to build out your city.
• Dice Rolling for Rewards – Of the games on the list, this is probably the most similar to Catan as far as collecting rewards on other peoples turn.
• Resource Management – You’ll be allocating the cash you collect to either buy new establishments or the Landmarks you’ll need to win the game.

“…It’s a very well rounded, well-balanced game, out of the box…”

Daniel – Play the Game HQ

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Ticket to Ride – United Kingdom/Pennsylvania

You have Catan, and then you have Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne. The three collectively are likely the most recommended and recognized modern board games. So I suppose it is not uncommon that there are some threads of common DNA between them. In fact there is a reasonable chance you have a Ticket to Ride game on your shelf right now – but you might not have this expansion.

Ticket to Ride UK is an expansion off the base game – but it almost feels like a brand new game. As you know Ticket to Ride is all about building routes, connecting cities, and earning points for doing it. For those that enjoyed the longest road bonus in Catan, then definitely. a Ticket to Ride game or expansion is for you. Now what makes the Ticket to Ride UK expansion different is that incorporates two new mechanics that players need to vie for.

• Negotiation/Trade – None
• Building – Routes – lots and lots of routes.
• Dice Rolling for Rewards – None
• Resource Management – You’ll be allocating the cash you collect to either buy new establishments or the Landmarks you’ll need to win the game.

“…this was a very fun version of Ticket to Ride, one of my favorites…”

Dan King – The Game Boy Geek

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Power Grid

Whew – Power Grid! Power Grid is a bit of a brain burner. You’ll be building routes between cities, building new power plants, and trying to find the fuel to fire them off. It combines many of the same mechanics that Catan has – but really adds a deeper strategic level.

• Negotiation/Trade – That particular mechanism is not built into the game – that said…house rule?
• Building – You will be building a variety of power plants through and auction/bidding phases. You will also build houses into cities expanding your network.
• Dice Rolling for Rewards – None – In fact this game is very very “math” and calculated to what you can buy and receive.
• Resource Management – An auction each round, tricky resource purchasing and consumption, and and expanding network of houses you will want to try and build.

“…this one gets two nuclear stacks up…”

Tom Vassal – The Dice Tower

Conclusion

At the end of the day – there is no “one” game that is going to be Catan. Catan was revolutionary when it came out – it was such a fresh look at how board games can be played. It introduced so many players to he board game hobby, and frankly it still does. So maybe, like so many others, maybe we missed the mark here. If we did, please include your game suggestion here, and I’ll update the poll data. Who knows, maybe at some point there will be consensus of what game truly is a game like Catan.