19 Challenging Games like Settlers of Catan to Truly Test your Diplomacy Skills

For major fans of grand strategy board games, games like Settlers of Catan are often the reliable go-to as it’s a type of game where players must use strategy and diplomacy to win the game. 

First released in 1995 under its original name, Settlers of Catan, Catan has sold 32 million copies worldwide as players get addicted to the resource gathering and settlement building phenomenon. 

The Catan board game rules can seem daunting at first and may not be for everyone once you know more about the game.

But there are plenty of alternatives to choose from. We’ve picked 19 of our favorite games like Catan, which vary from the easy to the downright complex, with everything in-between. 

Related: 14 games like Risk

19 Games like Settlers Of Catan

CATAN JUNIOR

Players: 2 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 45 minutes. 

Age: Ages 6+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Catan Studio. 

Game Overview:

A much simpler, focused, and condensed version of classic Catan, Catan Junior requires players to become the first player to build 7 Pirate lairs. Players take turns traveling to the different islands to find resources to build their lairs. Roll the dice to determine how many resources can get picked up on each island. 

RELATED: Catan Junior Rules. 

THE CASTLES OF BURGUNDY

Players: 2 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 90 minutes. 

Age: Ages 12+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Ravensburger.

Game Overview:

Like Catan, The Castles of Burgundy relies on players earning Victory Points throughout the game to win. Players roll the dice and choose an action to build their estate in 15th century France. Players will also choose actions to hinder the progress of other players, leading to ultra-competitive games. 

RELATED: Castles of Burgundy rules. 

RELATED VIDEO: The Castles of Burgundy – How to Play 

https://youtu.be/UVa31MPbm6g

TICKET TO RIDE: EUROPE

Players: 2 – 5 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 60 minutes. 

Age: Ages 8+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Days of Wonder. 

Game Overview:

Similar to Catan, as it’s all about route building rather than settlement building, Ticket to Ride: Europe requires players to build the longest route possible for their trains. Every route built gives players a number of points depending on length and quality. The player with the most points at the end wins the game. 

RELATED: Ticket to Ride: Europe rules

RELATED VIDEO: Learn how to play Ticket To Ride Europe better and faster

https://youtu.be/sP4cEemA8L8

TICKET TO RIDE: FIRST JOURNEY

Players: 2 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 15 – 30 minutes. 

Age: Ages 6+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Days of Wonder. 

Game Overview:

First Journey is the Ticket to Ride answer to Catan Junior, with simplified rules and not as in-depth gameplay for little gamers. Players need to complete a series of destinations by placing train cars on the board game track. The first player to complete their journey wins. 

RELATED: Ticket to Ride: First Journey rules. 

DICE FORGE

Players: 2 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 45+ minutes.

Age: Ages 10+. 

Game Type: Strategy, Dice. 

Publisher(s): Libellud

Game Overview:

The most interesting and unique part of Dice Forge is that players get to choose what their dice displays at the start of the game to influence gameplay. Like Catan, players will spend their time earning resources which award them points depending on the resource. Whoever earns the most Glory Points before the end of the game wins. 

RELATED: Dice Forge rules

WINGSPAN

Players: 1 – 5 players. 

Playing Time: 40 – 70 minutes. 

Age: Ages 14+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Stonemaier.

Game Overview:

Just like in Catan, players need to accumulate points by gathering different birds in their aviary. Different bird combinations earn players different points as they try to find the combination which nets them the most points. The winner of Wingspan is the player who creates the most varied aviary and subsequently earns the most points. 

RELATED: Wingspan board games rules

RELATED VIDEO: Wingspan – How to Play

https://youtu.be/lgDgcLI2B0U

CARCASSONE

Players: 2 – 5 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 45 minutes. 

Age: Ages 8+. 

Game Type: Strategy.

Publisher(s): Z-Man Games. 

Game Overview:

In Carcassone, players are required to build roads, cities, and monasteries in their respective cities. The more that each play is able to expand its city, the more points they are awarded. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. 

RELATED: Carcassone rules. 

RISK

Players: 2 – 6 players. 

Playing Time: 120+ minutes.

Age: Ages 10+. 

Game Type: Strategic. 

Publisher(s): Hasbro. 

Game Overview:

Risk is the battle-heavy, world-encompassing version of Catan that rewards ambition and allows players to compete to become the most powerful player. Rather than building territory, Risk is all about capturing territory, with the player who owns all territories in the end winning. 

RELATED: Risk board game rules. 

RELATED VIDEO: How to play Risk

https://youtu.be/-rqxpjOz-EA

SCYTHE

Players: 1 – 7 players. 

Playing Time: 115 minutes. 

Age: Ages 14+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Stonemaier. 

Game Overview:

If you’re after a more mature version of Catan, then Scythe will be the game for you. Set in 1920s Europe, players explore mature themes by building their land to build up their faction so they can make an attempt to control territories from other player factions. The first player to earn $75 in wealth across the game wins in Scythe. 

RELATED: Scythe board game rules. 

7 WONDERS

Players: 2 – 7 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 60 minutes. 

Age: Ages 10+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Repos Production. 

Game Overview:

7 Wonders is played in 3 rounds. Players need to play cards throughout each round in order to build their wonders and gain Victory Points. There are 3 types of building cards players collect and can only play 1 card per round, with the rest being passed to the next play in the circle. After round 3, the player with the most Victory Points wins. 

STONE AGE

Players: 2 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 60 minutes. 

Age: 13+ years. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Z-Man Games. 

Game Overview:

Players lead their own tribe in Stone Age, and they need to collect and train resources with other players to expand their tribe throughout the game. The aim of the game is to advance your tribe, the player whose tribe is most advanced by the end of the game wins. 

DRAGONWOOD

Players: 2 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 60 minutes. 

Age: Ages 8+. 

Game Type: Strategy, Fantasy. 

Publisher(s): Gamewright. 

Game Overview:

Dragonwood is Catan, except instead of gathering resources and founding settlements, players capture creatures instead. Capturing creatures earns individual players points, but all players need to work as a team to defeat the 2 dragons at the end of the game. 

The more creatures defeated and points accumulated throughout the game, the easier the end of the game is!

RELATED: Dragonwood rules

RELATED VIDEO: Learn to Play: Dragonwood

https://youtu.be/_fOmX9rgLVY

TERRA MYSTICA

Players: 2 – 5 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 45 minutes. 

Age: Ages 13+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Z-Man Games

Game Overview:

In Terra Mystica, players need to terraform land and join cults in order to expand their influence and territory in their fantasy realm. Perform actions on current resources that players own so that you can expand territory. Whoever has the most territory at the end of the game wins. 

CONCORDIA

Players: 2 – 5 players. 

Playing Time: 45 – 90 minutes. 

Age: Ages 12+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Rio Grande.

Game Overview:

Build a dynasty in Roman Empire times by guiding colonists and sending them to different parts of the world. Concordia enables players to attempt to expand to various places in the world by producing goods and trading them for houses. Different cards have different functions, and players can trade with opposing players as well. 

SUBURBIA 

Players: 1 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 60 minutes.

Age: Ages 13+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Bezier Games. 

Game Overview:

Suburbia is a modern take on the settlement building genre, with players required to build cities and transport rather than medieval-themed settlements. Players need to decide which buildings and services to build in their part of the city to make it as prosperous as possible. Victory points get awarded throughout the game, with the most at the end winning the game. 

MYSTERIUM

Players: 2 – 7 players. 

Playing Time: 45 – 60 minutes. 

Age: Ages 10+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Libellud. 

Game Overview:

Players are placed inside a haunted house with magic and mystery afoot. In Mysterium, players need to work together and build different contraptions to attempt to solve the murder. Each player has a particular role that they must role-play as throughout the game to help with the clues and social deductions. 

RELATED: Mysterium Rules

ARTIFACTS, INC. 

Players: 2 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 60 players. 

Age: Ages 13+. 

Game Type: Strategy.

Publisher(s): Red Raven. 

Game Overview:

Artifacts Inc. requires players to build their own archaeology company in 1929, and they need to earn cash and enhance their reputation by dipping up the best artifacts. Players compete in digs to find the most valuable treasure to sell to a museum. Once everything has been dug up, the player with the most money and reputation wins the game. 

BOHNANZA

Players: 3 – 5 players. 

Playing Time: 45+ minutes. 

Age: Ages 13+. 

Game Type: Strategy, Card. 

Publisher(s): Rio Grande. 

Game Overview:

If you’re someone looking for a card game alternative to Catan, then Bohnanza should fit the bill nicely. Rather than creating settlements, in Bohnanza, the resource that players harvest is specifically beans. Strategically harvest the best beans to earn gold points, most gold points at the end of the game win. 

Related: Bohnanza rules. 

RELATED VIDEO: How to play Bohnanza in 5 minutes 

https://youtu.be/O_OsVHe5-OE

AGE OF CIVILISATION 

Players: 1 – 4 players. 

Playing Time: 30 – 45 minutes. 

Age: Ages 10+. 

Game Type: Strategy. 

Publisher(s): Ice Makes. 

Game Overview:

Build wonders, expand your civilization, and wage wars against other regions in Age of Civilization which is a Catan-like game but uses cards. Pick your kingdom from the various options with their own strengths and weaknesses, and different cards that get drawn throughout the game give players different challenges to overcome throughout the game.