By Jamie Quinn · Updated October 16, 2026
Which Catan to Buy: Base Game, Expansions and Editions
Start with the CATAN base game (6th Edition) at about $40: it plays 3 to 4, and everything else is an add-on that needs it. Add the 5-6 Player Expansion only if your group is often bigger than four, and pick one big expansion later, based on what your group wants more of.
The Short Version
CATAN's maker released the 6th Edition thirty years after the 1995 original. By its own account, the core play is the same, with new art, a clearer rulebook and a square box. On Amazon right now the 6th Edition base game costs less than the older 5th Edition box. Every expansion is sold per edition, and the Amazon listings for the 6th Edition expansions say they are made for the 6th Edition base game, so buy expansions that match the edition you own. There are four big expansions: Seafarers, Cities & Knights, Traders & Barbarians and Explorers & Pirates. I based this guide on the maker's announcements, the Amazon listings and what owners say in reviews, not on my own play.
The Picks at a Glance
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CATAN 6th Edition | Everyone's first Catan, 3-4 players | $39.99 |
| 5-6 Player Expansion | Groups of five or six, 3-6 players | $23.99 |
| Seafarers | Exploring and ships, 3-4 players | $61.95 |
| Cities & Knights | Longer, deeper games, 3-4 players | $59.99 |
| Traders & Barbarians | Variety and a 2-player mode, 3-4 players | $67.79 |
| Explorers & Pirates | Missions and discovery, 3-4 players | $59.73 |
| CATAN Junior | Kids and families, 2-4 players | $37.87 |
Prices are Amazon listing prices at my last check and change often.
What Each Box Adds, and What You Need to Play It
| Box | Needs | Ages | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATAN (6th Edition) | Nothing | 10+ | The game: trade, build, race to 10 points |
| 5-6 Player Expansion | Base game | 10+ | Two more players and a bigger island |
| Seafarers | Base game | 12+ | Ships, islands, fog and pirates |
| Cities & Knights | Base game | 12+ | Knights, city upgrades, invaders |
| Traders & Barbarians | Base game | 12+ | A 5-scenario story, event cards, 2-player rules |
| Explorers & Pirates | Base game | 12+ | Missions, new islands to discover, pirates |
| CATAN Junior | Nothing | 5+ | A simpler pirate version |
The listing for Cities & Knights gives 90 minutes or more per game, so it suits groups who already want a longer evening.
Playing With Five or Six? Count the Boxes
Each big expansion has its own 5-6 player add-on. The maker spells it out for Traders & Barbarians: to play it with five or six you need four boxes, the base game, the base 5-6 Player Expansion, Traders & Barbarians, and its own 5-6 player add-on. Seafarers and Explorers & Pirates work the same way, per their listings; the Explorers & Pirates 5-6 add-on is $34.99. At today's prices, the Seafarers route for six players costs about $160: base game $39.99, 5-6 Player Expansion $23.99, Seafarers $61.95 and the Seafarers 5-6 Player Expansion $33.99. Before you buy a big expansion for a big group, add up all four.
6th Edition or 5th Edition?
If you are buying your first Catan, get the 6th Edition. At my last check it was $39.99 against $54.99 for the 5th Edition box, and the 6th Edition is the one its maker now releases expansions for. If you already own the 5th Edition, you do not need to replace it to keep playing; buy 5th Edition expansions while you can find them so the boxes match. The maker's news pages do not say whether 6th Edition expansions are meant to work with a 5th Edition base game, so I would not count on mixing them.
What Owners Report
Owners of the 6th Edition base game call it engaging and family friendly with good artwork, and say a game runs about one to two hours. Opinions differ on how easy it is to learn, and on quality: some say it is beautifully made, while others feel it is cheaper than the earlier version. 5th Edition owners praise its replayability and its mix of luck and strategy, and several report missing pieces.
Detailed Picks
1. CATAN (6th Edition): Best First Catan
You gather brick, wood, wheat, ore and sheep, trade them with other players and build roads, settlements and cities, racing to 10 victory points. The board is made of hex tiles laid out differently each game. It plays 3 to 4, ages 10 and up. Check the price on Amazon.
What owners say: owners like the mix of strategy and the new art, and some note the parts feel cheaper than the older edition.
Skip it if you already own any edition of Catan and only want more of it; buy an expansion instead.
2. CATAN 5-6 Player Expansion: Best for Bigger Groups
This add-on brings two more players and a larger island: per the listing, 28 terrain hexes, 25 resource cards, 9 development cards and two sets of wooden pieces in brown and green. It is not a standalone game and needs the 6th Edition base game. Check the price on Amazon.
What owners say: owners rate it as good quality and worth the money for larger game nights.
Skip it if your group is usually four or fewer; games run longer with more players.
3. CATAN Seafarers: Best for Exploring
Seafarers adds the sea: you build ships to reach new islands, deal with pirates and fog, and look for gold. It plays 3 to 4, ages 12 and up, and needs the 6th Edition base game; five or six players need both 5-6 player add-ons. Check the price on Amazon.
What owners say: owners call it an excellent addition to Catan and a good family game.
Skip it if your group wants more conflict and depth; Cities & Knights is the heavier pick.
4. CATAN Cities & Knights: Best for Longer, Deeper Games
You upgrade cities and raise knights to defend the island from invaders, which adds new resources and more planning to each turn. The listing gives 3 to 4 players, ages 12 and up and 90 minutes or more. It needs the 6th Edition base game. Check the price on Amazon.
What owners say: owners enjoy the play and the detail, and rate the quality highly.
Skip it if you play with new players or kids; start them on the base game.
5. CATAN Traders & Barbarians: Best for Variety and Two Players
This box is a set of scenarios rather than one new game: per its maker, a 5-scenario story, event cards that replace the dice, and rules for just two players, with river crossings, merchant caravans and barbarian battles among the options. It needs the 6th Edition base game. Check the price on Amazon.
What owners say: it is new on Amazon with only a few dozen ratings and no review summary yet, so owner feedback is thin.
Skip it if you want one clear new way to play; Seafarers or Cities & Knights each change the game in one direction.
6. CATAN Junior: Best for Kids
A simpler pirate version: you start with two pirate lairs, build ships and more lairs, and collect wood, goats, molasses and cutlasses. It plays 2 to 4, with an average game of about 30 minutes per the listing, and is designed for players as young as 5. Check the price on Amazon.
What owners say: owners find it right for children 6 and up, quick to play and still interesting for adults, though some find the rules cumbersome.
Skip it if your youngest player is 10 or older; the base game is ready for them.
7. CATAN Explorers & Pirates: Best for Missions and Discovery
You sail out to discover new islands, settle them and bring resources back, while taking on missions that earn rewards from the Council of Catan and dealing with pirates. It plays 3 to 4, ages 12 and up, and needs the 6th Edition base game; five or six players need the base 5-6 Player Expansion and the Explorers & Pirates 5-6 add-on. Check the price on Amazon.
What owners say: with only a few dozen ratings on Amazon and no review summary yet, owner feedback is thin.
Skip it if your group has not played Seafarers yet; both are about ships and islands, and Seafarers has more owner feedback.
How I Chose
I started from the maker's 6th Edition release list, checked each box's current Amazon price and listing, and read what owners report. For games that play like Catan but are not Catan, see my lists of board games for adults like Catan and strategy games similar to Catan, or browse all strategy board games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Catan should I buy first?
The 6th Edition base game. Every expansion needs it, and it is the edition the maker now supports.
Can you play Catan with two players?
The base game is for 3 to 4. Traders & Barbarians adds official rules for two players.
Do I need the 5-6 Player Expansion for each expansion?
Yes, for five or six players you need the base 5-6 Player Expansion plus the 5-6 player add-on for the big expansion you play, whether that is Seafarers, Cities & Knights, Traders & Barbarians or Explorers & Pirates.
Is the 6th Edition different from the 5th Edition?
The maker says the core play is the same, with new art, a clearer rulebook and a square box.
The Verdict
Buy the CATAN 6th Edition base game first. Add the 5-6 Player Expansion if you often have five or six, then choose Seafarers for exploring, Cities & Knights for longer and deeper games, Traders & Barbarians for variety and two-player games, or Explorers & Pirates for missions. Buy CATAN Junior for young children.
Get the best board game picks in your inbox
New reviews, top picks, and honest recommendations. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
More in Strategy
The Best Engine Building Games of 2026: 5 Excellent Choices That Actually Deliver
Engine building games are genuinely addictive because they give you that satisfying progression feeling—you start with almost nothing, then gradually...
Best Euro Games for Kids in 2026: Top Picks for Family Game Night
Euro games—those elegant, strategy-focused board games from European designers—are perfect for kids who want more than dice-rolling luck.
The Best Strategy Board Games for 6 Players in 2026
Finding the right board game for exactly six players is trickier than it sounds. Too many games max out at four or five, forcing awkward house rules.