When I say the word “CATAN,” whether you're a board gamer or not, chances are you know exactly what I’m talking about. Instantly, you picture that iconic red box with the glowing sunset — a testament to how this game has truly stood the test of time. Since its debut in 1995, CATAN has gone through five different editions, and now we’re on the sixth.
So, what does the 6th Edition get right? And is there anything that could still be improved? Let’s dive in.
What’s In the Box?
CATAN 6th Edition stays true to its roots with a classic presentation. The base game comes packed with everything you need to play: terrain tiles, sea frame pieces, 18 number discs, 4 player aids, 2 bonus victory point tiles, 4 sets of wooden player pieces, dice, cards, and — perhaps most impressively — a beautifully designed insert to keep it all organized.
And I have to give the insert some extra credit. There’s something oddly satisfying about the way the cards are angled in the tray. With most card-heavy games, I end up needing a bunch of bags just to avoid a mess, but CATAN is almost always ready to go straight out of the box. (Bonus: The expansions no longer have their own inserts instead they come with dividers to fit into the base game box, chef’s kiss.)
Gameplay
When board games release new editions, it’s often just a chance to tweak the components—maybe swap out materials for cost reasons, or slip in a couple of minor updates and call it something new. I’ll admit, at first glance, CATAN 6th Edition gave me that same feeling. Most of the changes are subtle, especially in the rulebook. For example, switching the term “Lumber” to “Wood” — as if we haven’t all been calling it “Wood” for years anyway.
But here’s where the 6th Edition actually shines: the rules themselves haven’t really changed, but the way they’re presented has. The language is clearer, more direct, and far more approachable for new players. That’s a big deal. CATAN has long been a gateway game — a first step into the world of modern board games for countless people — so making the learning curve a little less steep is a smart and welcome improvement.
Even seasoned players will appreciate how intuitive the updated rulebook feels. It’s easier to reference during gameplay, and teaching it to newcomers is smoother than ever. So while veteran players might not notice a huge mechanical difference, the streamlined presentation gives this edition a fresh, accessible feel without changing what made CATAN great in the first place.
Changes
The 6th Edition of CATAN doesn’t overhaul the game’s mechanics but instead refines and modernizes it for clarity, accessibility, and consistency — particularly for new players. Many of the changes focus on terminology and layout, aiming to make the game easier to learn without fundamentally altering how it's played.
One of the first things returning players may notice is the shift in naming conventions. Common player shorthand has now been made official: "Lumber" is now "Wood," "Grain" becomes "Wheat," and "Harbors" are now called "Ports." The “Building Costs” cards have been renamed “Player Aids,” although they no longer use player-specific colors, and “Number Tokens” are now referred to as “Number Discs.” Even game phases have been revised for simplicity, with the former Trade and Build phases now grouped under a single “Action Phase.” Similarly, trade terminology has been streamlined — “Domestic Trade” is now “Trade with Other Players,” while “Maritime Trade” is split into “General Trade with the Supply” and “Port Trade.”
Component-wise, there are a few noteworthy updates. The 6th Edition introduces card trays as a standard inclusion, previously only seen in special editions, which is a welcome quality-of-life improvement. However, compatibility with older editions takes a hit, as the resource card backs have changed for the first time ever. In addition, Harbor Tokens have been removed entirely, likely due to changes in how the board is set up.
Speaking of setup, both the beginner and variable setups have been adjusted. The “Starting Setup for Beginners” is now called “Fixed Setup,” and it’s been rearranged entirely — including hex placement, number disc arrangement, and player starting positions. For example, the desert hex is no longer centered but instead placed near a corner. For three-player games using this layout, the White player color is skipped rather than Red, which reverses the rule from previous editions. In variable setups, the rulebook now recommends shuffling the frame pieces — a notable departure from earlier instructions, which discouraged this to ensure balanced port spacing.
Several rulebook-level changes also stand out. The method for determining the first player in a beginner game has changed from “oldest player” to a simple dice roll. Meanwhile, a few terms have evolved to better reflect gameplay: “Buildings” now collectively refers to both Settlements and Cities, and the "Longest Road" is now called the "Longest Route," aligning with expansion terminology like in Seafarers. Development Cards also see some simplification — they are now simply “built,” not bought, and categories like Progress, Knight, and Victory Point have been largely discarded. In fact, VP cards no longer have unique names and are just called “Victory Point.”
There are a few omissions as well. Rules about randomized number disc placement — particularly the “no adjacent red numbers” guideline — are absent from the core rulebook. This may be an oversight, as they do appear again in Seafarers, but their absence here could lead to confusion. The Almanac section, which used to offer expanded rule explanations, has also been removed — likely because much of its content has been integrated more clearly into the main rulebook.
In short, the 6th Edition of CATAN feels more like a cleanup than a rewrite. While it introduces a few small tweaks and cosmetic changes, its main goal is to modernize how the game is presented, making it easier for new players to learn while still respecting what long-time fans already know.
Feedback
As someone who’s played plenty of CATAN over the years, I have to admit—I was hoping for something new from the base game in this 6th Edition. A fresh mechanic, a twist on setup, or even a small gameplay variant could’ve really made this edition feel like a celebration of how far CATAN has come. Instead, the changes are mostly cosmetic or clarity-focused, which, while helpful, don’t really move the needle for seasoned players.
That said, I genuinely do appreciate how smooth and accessible the game feels now. The way the rulebook is written makes it far easier to teach, especially to newer players who might be coming into modern board games for the first time. The new terminology is clearer, the component trays are practical, and setup feels more intuitive than ever.
And surprisingly, one of my favorite updates is the new artwork. The illustrations have a soft, almost Disney-esque charm that gives the game a warm and inviting feel without straying too far from its classic identity. It’s subtle, but it adds a sense of polish and friendliness that really suits the tone of the game.
So while I didn’t get the “new twist” I was hoping for, I can absolutely see why this edition exists—and I think for anyone just getting into CATAN, it’s probably the best version to start with.
Verdict
As a veteran of the island of CATAN, I can honestly say that while the 6th Edition hasn’t rocked my world, it’s still as enjoyable as ever. Most of the changes didn’t drastically alter my experience—I’ve seen the ports, rolled the dice, and traded sheep for wood more times than I can count. But that consistency is also part of CATAN’s charm. It still plays smooth, it still encourages table talk and clever negotiation, and now it just looks even better doing it.
Where this edition really shines is in how approachable it’s become. The updated rulebook, refined terminology, and sleek components make this the most inviting version of CATAN to date. I can absolutely see new players eating this up—diving into the game without needing a long explanation or rulebook deep-dive. If this is your first journey to the island, you couldn’t have picked a better time to settle in.
CATAN 6th Edition is available now online on Amazon or the official CATAN website, select retailers, or at your local game stores!