CATAN expansions
Seafarers vs Traders & Barbarians
| Question | Seafarers | Traders & Barbarians |
|---|---|---|
| Our label | Buy this first | Worth it |
| Buy order | #1 for CATAN | #3 for CATAN |
| What it adds | Ships, a pirate, gold fields, new islands to settle and a campaign of nine map setups. | A box of variants: 2-player rules, event cards instead of dice, fishermen, rivers, and a five-scenario campaign. |
| What it fixes | Long-time players find the same board stale; adds sea exploration. | Adds variety without a big rules jump, including gentle scenarios for newer players. |
| Type | Expansion | Expansion |
| Players | 3–4 players | 2–4 players |
| Rules load | About the same rules load | About the same rules load |
| Best for | Best for casual groups | Best for casual groups |
| What you need | Just the base game | Just the base game |
| Price guide | $40–$60 | $60–$100 |
| More | Seafarers details | Traders & Barbarians details |