Back in the ‘90s, every board game seemed to either be something that you could categorize more as an activity, or, you know, Monopoly (which no one ever finished). But in the mid-90s, one game was invented that would influence the entire board game market to come: The Settlers of Catan. You may be saying to yourself, wait, what? The Settlers of Catan came out in the ‘90s?! I only started hearing about it in the mid-2000s. It’s true, Catan (which the game has been known as since 2015) first came out in Germany in 1995, and in the US in 1996.
The person we have to thank for the great game of Catan is Klaus Teuber, a German man who was working a day job as a dental technician when he started designing board games. Catan was not his first game, though. Teuber had been interested in games since he was a child in the ‘50s, but it was in the ‘80s that he first started designing them, and his first game, Barbarossa, was released in 1988. He released a few more games between that time and Catan’s release in 1995, and many of them would go on to win the Spiel des Jahres award, which is the most prestigious award in the board game industry. Catan was no exception in that regard, as it also won the Spiel des Jahres award, and quickly started flying off shelves.
For those who don’t know or haven’t played Catan in awhile, the game is basically all about who can get the most points by collecting resources, creating settlements, and building roads between their settlements. While many games have all the other players waiting around while one player takes their turn, what’s cool about Catan is that you may have stuff to do while another person is going. Each round, in turn order, players roll the dice to see what resource they collect. But, there are multiple hexes with each number, so other players may also get to collect a resource with each die roll. You also have the option to try to trade with one another, so there is never a moment where you’re just staring off at your phone while waiting for it to get back to your turn. And, unlike Monopoly, you can actually finish a game of Catan in a decent amount of time.
Since Catan’s first iteration in 1995, Teuber and his Catan GmbH company have created all sorts of expansions, extensions, editions, and spinoffs. The game is available in over 40 different languages, and as of early 2020, it had sold over 32 million games worldwide. While everyone generally agrees that the physical board game is the best way to enjoy Catan, you have other options if you’re on the move and want to play it digitally — on a browser, on the Nintendo Switch, or even in VR. Catan is there for you no matter where you may be!
READY FOR A GIVEAWAY?!
Are you a fan of Catan? Or maybe you’ve never tried it and always wanted to? Then today we’ve got a giveaway for you — your very own copy of a special A Game Of Thrones themed version of Catan! You can enter to win in four different ways:
- Leave a comment on this post with your favorite board game.
- Follow us on Instagram, like the giveaway post, and leave a comment tagging two of your friends.
- Like us on Facebook, like the giveaway post, and leave a comment tagging two of your friends.
- Follow us on Twitter, like the giveaway post, and RT.
Spread the word as we have MULTIPLE copies to give away! Enter by Wednesday, July 28, 2021 11:59pm PDT. Winners will be notified by July 31, 2021. Only open to residents of the United States of America.
- Catan creator Klaus Teuber has been known to play online sometimes, but he often does it anonymously so those he’s playing with won’t start treating him differently as a player.
- One of Teuber’s main pieces of advice to win the game? Don’t build the longest road in the beginning. Teuber’s sons Guido and Benny, who also help run the company, also said to complain a lot even if you’re winning to make it seem like you’re not, and to build cities as early as possible.
- In the television series Parks and Recreation, Ben Wyatt (played by Adam Scott) was super into Catan, and built his own version of a game called “The Cones of Dunshire” in season six of the show. The writers of Parks and Rec actually consulted with Mayfair Games, who produced Catan at the time, to create the game for the show.
- In 2003, a novel by German historical fiction author Rebecca Gable was published based on the world of Catan called, fittingly, The Settlers of Catan.
- In August 2021, a 3D version of the game will be re-released (a 3D version was originally released in 2005), featuring designs hand sculpted by Teuber. All of the 3D terrain pieces are hand painted and antiqued for a historical look. It can be pre-ordered on the Catan website.
- Catan creator Klaus Teuber has been known to play online sometimes, but he often does it anonymously so those he’s playing with won’t start treating him differently as a player.
- One of Teuber’s main pieces of advice to win the game? Don’t build the longest road in the beginning. Teuber’s sons Guido and Benny, who also help run the company, also said to complain a lot even if you’re winning to make it seem like you’re not, and to build cities as early as possible.
- In the television series Parks and Recreation, Ben Wyatt (played by Adam Scott) was super into Catan, and built his own version of a game called “The Cones of Dunshire” in season six of the show. The writers of Parks and Rec actually consulted with Mayfair Games, who produced Catan at the time, to create the game for the show.
- In 2003, a novel by German historical fiction author Rebecca Gable was published based on the world of Catan called, fittingly, The Settlers of Catan.
- In August 2021, a 3D version of the game will be re-released (a 3D version was originally released in 2005), featuring designs hand sculpted by Teuber. All of the 3D terrain pieces are hand painted and antiqued for a historical look. It can be pre-ordered on the Catan website.
8 thoughts on “The Settlers of Catan: The Most Influential ‘90s Board Game + A GIVEAWAY!”
Catan is obviously my favorite board game!
Catan and Risk are my two favorite board games. Been playing them since I was a kid.
Catan is my favorite, especially with all of the expansions!
Carcassonne & Catan are 2 of my favorite board games. In my family I am known as the game-master as I own the most and am always am looking to play games & try new ones. Also a fan of Game of Thrones.
I’d have to say my favorite is Rail Baron now known as Box Cars but the adventures are my favorite in Catan.
Catan Cities and Knights is my favorite!
Catan is my favorite board game!
After playing the Catan board game I don’t think I can play anything else and enjoy it like used to.
Definitely Catan is my favorite game.