CATAN (6th Edition)

The trading-and-building classic: gather resources, trade with other players and race to 10 points on a modular island board. CATAN lists 3–4 players, ages 10+, 60–90 minutes.

Quick verdict

Best for:: Trading and building with 3–4 players.
Watch out:: Doesn't work with two.

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Amazon US listing and availability checked October 28, 2026. Prices and stock can change.

Reviewed October 11, 2026 · How we review

A completed game of Catan on a green table, with the hex-tile island, cards and colored pieces

Photo credits

Our Take

CATAN is the game that brought modern board games to many households. Players collect brick, wood, wheat, ore and sheep from a hex-tile island, trade with each other, and build roads, settlements and cities in a race to 10 victory points. The modular board changes every game, so it stays fresh. The official site lists the 6th Edition for 3–4 players, ages 10 and up, 60–90 minutes. A separate extension adds 5–6 players. The trade-offs: dice luck can stall a player for several turns, it doesn't work with two, and games can run long with slow traders. We haven't played this edition ourselves. Choose it if your group enjoys bargaining and a bit of table talk. Choose Ticket to Ride for a shorter, gentler game.

Specs (This Configuration)

Players: 3–4; 5–6 with the extension (CATAN)
Ages: 10+ (CATAN)
Play time: 60–90 minutes (CATAN)
Board: Modular hex tiles
Edition: 6th Edition

Best For

Groups that like trading and negotiation
Family game night with older kids
Replayable strategy on a changing board

Skip If

You usually play with two people
You dislike dice luck
You want a game under an hour

What We Like

Trading keeps everyone involved
New board every game
Easy to find more players who know it

What To Know

Needs 3–4 players; the 5–6 extension is sold separately
Our photo shows an earlier edition; the 6th Edition's artwork differs
Amazon's rating for the 6th Edition listing is separate from older editions

Pros

Highly replayable
Social and interactive
Sold by Amazon.com on the listing we checked

Cons

Not for two players
Dice luck
Can run long

Alternatives

Ticket to Ride — A quicker, easier route-building game for 2–5 players.

Why PriceDropIQ Selected It

If your group enjoys bargaining and a bit of friendly rivalry, CATAN keeps everyone involved on every turn, and the board changes each game. It's the classic for good reason. It needs 3 or 4 players, so look elsewhere for two.