Want to finally add Catan to your board game collection? These are the versions and expansions I recommend

Date:
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:11:55 +0000

Description:
Get Catan this Prime Day, and its expansions, before the deals disappear!

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Catan is a board game icon for
a reason. It takes everything you love about childhood classics and serves them with gameplay that's much more satisfying, properly blending luck and skill. But which version should you play?

With Amazon Prime Day US deals serving up so many different versions of Catan it can feel impossible to choose one, thankfully for you Ive played them all and I know the answer.

The base game is at a phenomenally good asking price of $29.99 saving you
45% at Amazon if youre a Prime member but there are plenty of alternatives and expansions to consider sticking in your basket too.

View the full Amazon Prime Day sale (Image credit: Future/Matt Thrower) Of course, the classic base game is the best starting point, especially with the Prime Day deal Amazon has going on right now. The only issue is that the game can have an awkward number of players at exactly three or four, which is why the five-to-six player expansion is an excellent pickup if, like me, you find your game nights are rarely small enough for the base limit.

Alternatively my partner I have loved the two-player Rivals game as it provides a lot of the same strategic rivalry without needing a group over to get a game in.

If youve opted for the classic original, you also have the option to enhance it with one of three expansions (which can be expanded further with
components for five or six-player games). My favorite is Cities & Knights as it takes core elements in the base game and makes them a little more complex such as expanding the role of cities, and giving your army of knights an
enemy to oppose without altering the game so much that it feels
inaccessible. Explorers & Pirates alters the game board to include islands to be explored (and harvested), as well as pirates to contend with; much like Cities & Knights, it expands the core elements of the base game without
making it feel unfamiliar.

Traders & Barbarians includes several smaller changes in one larger package. There are new two-player rules, you can replace dice rolls with event cards, there are new trading mechanics, and the addition of fishing a mechanic all games need in my opinion.

Lastly, Ive included three entirely different standalone versions of Catan. New Energies will feel very familiar except theres now an energy mechanic, with consequences to contend with as you pollute the world (and benefits to
be gained by investing in renewables). Dawn of Humankind introduces a much larger map (essentially the whole globe) and encourages true exploration and travel supported by the games familiar resource gathering. Meanwhile, On the Road turns the classic into a portable card game with streamlined rules that make it excellent for playing while traveling.

Dawn of Humankind is pricier than weve seen in the past, unfortunately, but I love these Catan alternatives so much that I cant include them. Prime Day board game sale top picks All of Amazon Prime Day's board game deals Catan Board Game (6th Edition) was $54.99 now $29.99 The best Catan games and expansions 45% OFF CATAN Board Game (6th Edition) $29.99 $54.99 shop now 26% OFF CATAN Catan 5-6 Player Board Game Expansion (6th Edition) $18.49 $24.99 shop now 33% OFF CATAN Rivals 2-player Card Game (Deluxe) $29.99 $44.99 shop now 20% OFF CATAN Explorers & Pirates Board Game Expansion (6th Edition) $52.24 $64.99 shop now 38% OFF CATAN Traders & Barbarians Board Game
Expansion (6th Edition) $39.99 $64.99 shop now CATAN Cities & Knights Board Game Expansion (6th Edition) $59.99 shop now CATAN Explorers & Pirates 5-6 Player Expansion(6th Edition) $34.92 shop now 5% OFF CATAN Traders & Barbarians 5-6 Player Expansion (6th Edition) $28.49 $29.99 shop now CATAN Cities & Knights 5-6 Player Expansion(6th Edition) $35.50 shop now 21% OFF CATAN New Energies Board Game $54.99 $69.99 shop now CATAN On The Road Card Game $9.97 shop now 10% OFF CATAN Dawn of Humankind Board Game $71.99 $79.99 shop now More Prime Day deals in the US Amazon Devices : Fire Sticks & Echo from $18 Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99 Apple : MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29 Back-to-school tech: 48% off laptops, headphones & tablets Cheap TVs: Samsung, Sony & LG from $89.99 Headphones : 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Smartwatches : up to $250 off Garmin & Apple Vacuums : Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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