Which Catan Expansion Should I get?

And is there one I should avoid?

For the most dynamic changes and exciting gameplay, Cities and Knights is a great start. Seafarers is great for those that want a small change to Catan, with less rules overhead. We think you should avoid the 5-6 Player Expansion all together though.

Oh Catan – You have brought the board gaming hobby so much.  You and your early counterparts upgraded our game selection from Monopoly, Risk, and Sorry – and have evolved into a hobby of such depth and complexity. Settlers of Catan could have only had a single base game, and that game would have earned a place in the Board Game Hall of Fame – but you have brought us more. We now have countless expansion and variations giving the community hours upon hours of game play.  How do we judge what the best Settlers of Catan Expansion is?

We took it upon ourselves to answer: what Catan expansion is best? This was done with playtesting as well, as input from Board Game Geek, various social networks, as well as prominent board game reviewers. 

To do so we looked at the following:

Changes to Base Game – We looked at just how the expansion really changes the base game.  Does it change the game so much it feels like a new game, (unfavorable in our mind) or does it add a new layer or two that you can incorporate into your knowledge of the base game.  Does the game simply add bloat – or does it add flavor?

Easy to Implement – Are the changes easy to incorporate – or do you have to relearn a game, or feel like you are learning a new game.  When looking at an expansion, I’d like to feel like I could introduce it into the base game after one play of the base game.  Ideally there aren’t so many rules to incorporate you can get it up and running smoothly in relatively short order..

Value- Lets face it – games and their expansions are expensive.  If I’m going to shell out the money for an expansion, I want to feel like I’m getting my money’s worth.  I’m not looking to  pay the price for a full game – I’m looking to upgrade an existing one.

Game Length-  I understand if I have an expansion, it is natural to think my game time is likely to be extended – after all, I am adding items to the game, so it seems certainly reasonable that doing such will make the session a bit longer.  That beings said – I don’t want to take a one hour game and turn it into a 2 hour game.  Also – expansions tend to build on one another – I don’t want to have a base game, plus  what I think are a couple of cool expansions, and all of a sudden end up with multiple hours of extra game play.

So let’s now take a deeper dive and try and put an order as to which Catan expansion should you get first. You can consider this as a Catan buying guide. First and foremost this guide does assume you’ve already played the base game of Catan and you don’t need additional information on how to play. If you do I strongly suggest good ole Rodney! No one does it better. We used this same approach in our Carcassonne Expansion guide as well.

On a bit of a personal rant – shame on Catan for having an expansion, but then requiring a player buy an additional expansion to accommodate the 5th and 6th player. You see this in both Cities and Knights as well as Seafarers. I did not cover those expansions on their own merits, as they really are only needed in the rare instances you’d like to have 5 or 6 players play.

This all leads to the million-dollar question:

Which CATAN Should I Get First?

Cities and Knights	Seafarers	Traders and Barbarians
Explorers and Pirates	5-6 Player Expansion	Other Catan

 

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Cities and Knights

Description: Cities & Knights transforms the Catan landscape with advanced city upgrades, it also introduces commodities and a new improvement deck. Cities play a pivotal role, requiring players to build strategically upward. The looming threat of barbarian invasions adds tension and strategic depth, making Cities & Knights a staple for dedicated Catan enthusiasts. Those that have purchased this expansion have said they would never play Catan without it. A Reddit a poll was conducted that had this as by far the favorite Catan expansion – nearly 2 to 1 over the next closet vote getter.

• Changes to Base Game: Quite a bit actually, Cities become much more valuable (beyond just straight victory points) and the addition of new resources will definitely keep players thinking.
• Easy to Implement: Well this one probably has the highest learning curve – but it is definitely doable.
• Value: A little pricer than others, Its more than the base game -but when you play it, you’ll not want to play “just” the base game again.
• Game Length: There is some “bookkeeping” with the various improvements that adds a bit of time but those familiar with Catan should only expect an extra 30 minutes or so to the length of the game.

Cities & Knights takes the crown as the top Catan expansion. Its complexity introduces city upgrades, progress cards, and commodities, changing the game dynamics making it a great first choice to expand you Catan experience even with a higher price.

Seafarers

Seafarers unfolds new horizons with ship building, islands, and gold fields. The expansion introduces an exploration element, revealing hidden tiles as players venture into the unknown. The simplicity of Seafarers makes it an excellent choice for those looking to expand without overwhelming complexity. Seafarers secures its spot as a player favorite, offering a balanced expansion with exploration and sea routes. It maintains familiarity while adding the thrill of uncharted waters, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a fresh yet accessible experience.

• Changes to Base Game: Not as much as Cities and Knights. The size and scope of the map hold the most changes. Boats connect you to the rest of the Catan settlements
• Easy to Implement: Easier than City and Knights, not as easy as Traders and Builders
• Value: Probably a bit better value than the others listed
• Game Length: Because the variety is quite as expansive as Cities and Knights, familiar Catan players may not think the added game length is worth it. I would say the more competitive you are, the more you should lean into Cities and Knights, and “casual” Catan players will appreciate this more.

What sets Seafarers apart is the inclusion of the preset “scenarios” of varying difficulty levels. These scenarios contain specific tile placements, introducing a structured yet at the same time randomized experience. As you progress, later scenarios introduce an element of unpredictability by allowing randomization in tile placement, providing players with the flexibility to choose their preferred level of challenge.

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Traders and Barbarians

If you are looking for just a bit of “seasoning” to Catan, then Traders and Barbarians might be the one for you. Not so much of as expansion as a compilation of a variety of scenarios. In fact back in the day you could get these scenarios out of the old Game Quarterly Magazines. (More info here)

The games plays out across a series of scenarios, each presenting a unique thematic backdrop. In the Fishermen of Catan, for instance, the traditional city-building aspect is enriched by a fishing dynamic, introducing an additional layer of strategic complexity. The Rivers of Catan scenario stresses the importance of placement, with rivers serving as key points to settle along. A unique moment arrives with the Barbarian Attack scenario, requiring players to unite against a common threat.

• Changes to Base Game: Just a bit of flavor to the game. The scenarios don’t alter the game as much as they simply add flavor
• Easy to Implement: Easiest one to get up to speed on
• Value: The game finds value in the two player variants offering a new dimension of game play.
• Game Length: Plays very closely to the original Catan game.

Explorers and Pirates

The Explorers & Pirates expansion is based on the CATAN rules but also contains a number of twists. For example, ships are now equipped for exploring and can be used to reach other islands. In the ships you transport settlers, crews, fish, or spices across the seas. In Explorers & Pirates, ships now move better. When you buy a ship (it costs one lumber and one wool), it can travel all around the game map, going four sides every turn. Just like in Seafarer, finding new places gives you extra stuff. And guess what? You can send settlers on the ships to build new settlements on those new islands. It’s a fast game, so be ready to think and move quickly!

• Changes to Base Game: Mechanically and visually the game has changed. Trading has been nerfed to a degree making it less vital to interact with other players
• Easy to Implement: Not as much rules overhead as Knights and Seafarers
• Value: Great for the variety
• Game Length: Generally close to original Catan. The final scenario encompasses three missions which can make it longer.

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5-6 Player Expansion – or “the one Not To Get”

We’ll I guess I’m probably going to take the unpopular opinion that you should probably just take a pass on this one. Largely that is because when you stretch to 5 or 6 players, I believe that there are probably better games to play out there for that player count. Catan was “built’ for 4 players, and while I think it shines at 3, I think 5 or 6 just make it to long. Yes there is an intermittent build phase, but the downtime between 5 and 6 players is just a bit much for me. That and there is no real variety in the game. Now, that said, if you’ve got a core group of Catan players – and seemingly always waiting in the wings, then this might just be what you are after. But for my money and time – I’m looking for an alternative gaming experience.

• Changes to Base Game: Expanded map, and essentially an extra build round for each player
• Easy to Implement: Plays nearly the same as Base Catan
• Value: Meh – yes its the cheapest – but it adds so little
• Game Length: Like most games, more players equals more time. That and the additional building phase can start to stretch this game to lengths that I’d rather be playing something else

Other Catan Editions and Spinoffs

Catan has had some spinoffs as well. Not quite expansions, but not quite a totally new game as well. If you have ever heard the term “reskin” or “skin” of a game that is what some of these are. Re-Theme might be a more accurate term, but I digress. I would probably only go after one of these games under one of two circumstances, either someone that is really into the theme that they chose or you are somewhat of a completionist and you are soaking up every piece of Catan you can get.

There are plenty of variations of Catan to expand this classic game into whatever experience you’d like to.

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Other Player’s Thoughts

Recently on the Board Game Geek Facebook page, someone asked “What is the best Catan expansion?” I like how user Shane put it:

Seafarers if you’re looking for great change with little rules. Cities and Knights if you’re looking to pretty much change the game. Explorers and Pirates if you want to implement different mechanics that gives an exploration feel to the game. Traders and Barbarians if you’re looking for small expansions within an expansion to add to the game at you’re will.

Facebook Group – Boardgame Geek

Shane seems to hit the mark.

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