1. Settlers Of Catan For Mac
2. Settlers Of Catan online, free Mac Version
3. Settlers Of Catan online, free
4. Settlers Of Catan online, free Machine
5. Ticket To Ride Online

1. Computer Versions

There are a lot of computer versions of Settlers of Catan floating around. Not all are complete or available. Here are the ones which seem the most available and/or playable. All of them are free and multiplayer except where noted.

The ultimate, digital multi-platform version of CATAN. Play CATAN anytime and anywhere: the original board game, the card game ( Rivals for CATAN) and the most important extensions in one app! Go on a journey into the CATAN universe and compete in exciting duels against players from all over the world. Catan Universe is the current official Settlers of Catan online game that is available in multiple platforms, but mainly for PC. It is the official video game version for the Settlers of Catan board game. It features multiplayer online play so you can play with other Catan players. It has 3D graphics which are pleasing to the eyes. The Settlers of the Stone Age is the newest game by Klaus Teuber in the Settlers of Catan sequence. Like previous online games The Settlers of Nurnberg and The Starfarers of Catan this one particular The Settlers 8 free. download full Version adapts some of the simple Catan ideas and dynamics, but offers a reasonably new gameplay.

The official website for “The Settlers of Catan” allows you to play the game with other people online, directly from your browser. The website recommends using Safari, which makes sense if.

Links last checked: 2011-08-08

Currently Available:

Jens Willibald's Catan for PC (download, 804K)

DOS/Windows version, originally found at Kulkmann's G@meBox. The interface is clunky, but gameplay is lightning fast, and it has bots, so you can play solitaire. I've repackaged it, adding a bunch of scenarios, documentation, and tips. For details see readme.txt (included in the zip). Last updated 2005-07-15

NOTE: To get this to work in 64-bit Windows, you need to use DOSBox; for a bigger window, make sure this line is in the DOSBox config file: scaler=normal2x forced

JSettlers2

Settlers Of Catan For Mac

This open-source version, replaces the old JSettlers project. It's java-based, and requires you to download and run a server and client, executable from the command line. Getting it up and running is a bit of a pain, and the interface is very clunky and slow. However, at least it has bots, and once you're into the game it's actually pretty clear and fun. Right now this is the best option for playing playing Catan for free. I just hope the developers spend some time making installation and execution more user friendly!

Microsoft's Catan: the Computer Game (download, $30)

The online version was discontinued in 2009. When I tried it, it gave me 60 free minutes, but after that you had to purchase, so I assume I was seeing the complete game. It had bots and a very clean interface. You can get rid of the sounds and speed up the interface, but the remaining animations and popup windows still slow the game down. As a solo game, it was sluggish, but still fun. When the 60 minutes ran out I was disappointed, which I guess is a good sign!

NetSettlers (download)

This multiplayer Win32 game looks pretty good, but development seems to have ceased in 2001. There's no single player or hotseat (yet), so it's hard to give it a decent test.

Pioneers (linux)

This was formerly called 'Gnocatan'. The game server runs on linux, but a game client can run on Windows. I didn't see mention of any bots.

PlayCatan.com (online, download)

No registration necessary for the intro game, which seems to always start with the same board layout. The bots are ok, but the interface is sluggish. The download version is almost exactly the same, except you have to play against real people.

NOTE: They no longer let you run a free game without the tutorial, which takes away some of the game play. So, another free Catan bites the dust!

Broken or Discontinued:

AsoBrain - Xplorers (online)

You have to register first, which does not require email. This has bots and supports two variants (Cities and Knights, Cheops), and lots of different maps. The graphics are clear and the interface is easy, but the sounds and popups get a little annoying. There is one annoying interface quirk: when you reach the victory point requirement, you need to remember to hit Claim Victory, or you won't actually win. Even with the annoyances, this is my favorite Settlers game.

Denda - Catan Deluxe Edition CD (20 Euros)

Computer versions of Catan, Seafarers, Starfarers, and the card game all on CD. There doesn't seem to be a semo, and the site is in Dutch, so I can't tell you much more about it.

Ravensburger's Settlers of Catan CD - out of print?

Ravensburger created a CD version a few years ago. Unfortunately, their site (www.ravensburger.de) now features an unrelated game. Ravensburger Catan seems to have vanished. The reason I'm still mentioning it is that lots of people said it was really good.

S3D Connector (download)

You can play online or offline, and there are several rule and map options. I didn't see any bots yet, though, so there's no true solo play. Graphics are pretty good, but the interface needs a little streamlining.

Solito's Catan Server (online)

This doesn't have bots yet, but if you open 2 browser windows, you can test it by playing again yourself. It's attractive and easy to figure out; well executed - I'm very impressed!

WannaGame

This site lets you play online with a choice of 2 different Catan versions: Xplorers (Java, discussed above) and Pioneers of Peru (download, illegal?). Not all the info is available in English, and I don't want to try illegal software, so you're on your own here!

Yahoo Groups - settlers-of-catan ($6)

Play by email, includes Knights and Cities. Requires one-time registration fee. I didn't try it yet. The message board hasn't seen any traffic since 2004, so it might not be actively supported anymore.

The official website for “The Settlers of Catan” allows you to play the game with other people online (here), directly from your browser. The website recommends using Safari, which makes sense if you need to keep an eye on your resources (during play, Firefox, for example, used up to 90% of the processor).

The problem when using Safari is the fact that you need to enable the Java plug-in to run the game. To avoid all this, you can download and install the PlayCatan Access Software and play Catan using a desktop client.

The PlayCatan Access Software requires Java 1.5 or later, the upside being that it can run on most Macs, old or new, from OS X 10.5 onward to Mountain Lion.

The PlayCatan Access Software installer places the game in your home directory, which can be a bit confusing for Mac users accustomed with the /Applications folder as the default installation location for their apps, but you can always create an alias for easy access.

The Looks

Settlers Of Catan online, free Mac Version

The PlayCatan main window design tries to preserve the original game atmosphere but also keeps everything quite organized. The top toolbar contains most account and location management tools, the chat panel is placed on the bottom, the bottom left corner map indicates your location, and the right side panel allows you to view other players’ statistics and create a friends list.

The PlayCatan main area is reserved for browsing your current location in the game. If you are in the tavern, click on the game table to open the games panel. Here you can view the available Catan games, join/watch one, and even start your own (the 'Open Up' button).

Once you join a game, the window will transform to match the classic “The Settlers of Catan” setting: the main area displays the game board, the players are placed in the corners, and on the bottom left corner you can view your playing tools (Roll Dice, Trade, Build, and End Turn). The score is automatically calculated and the statistics are shown at the bottom of the player’s icon. The only elements that remain unchanged are the top toolbar and the bottom chat panel.

The Works

Like with any other online game, you are required to register for an account here, free of charge. The starter account allows you to play the base game, but if you are looking for more, you can always upgrade your plan.

Your PlayCatan account can be easily managed via the PlayCatan.com website, and, besides the usual statistics, chat logs, or language settings, you also have the possibility to change your ZIP code. The ZIP code is important because it will place you in a village with other users from the same area: this way you can play with other people who live near you and even make new connections.

Settlers Of Catan online, free

Each time you launch PlayCatan you are greeted by the login window, where you can set up the window size and choose to go directly to the games panel. Make sure you memorize your password, because the app cannot.

If you are willing to get involved in the PlayCatan community, you get to explore your city, trade with other citizens, schedule games, buy a house, and much more (for many of these actions a Premium account is required). The entire experience is quite straightforward, but if you ever find yourself in trouble, the Help button (placed in the top toolbar at all times) should clarify things.

In this universe, the Tavern is the place to go if you simply want to play the game. Once you start or join a game, things go quite smoothly: all the tools from 'The Settlers of Catan' board game are included, you can trade with other players and communicate with them (for commodity, the chat panel includes a list of frequently used phrases), and so on.

One main difference compared to the actual board game is the absence of the resources cards sheet: the building panel, where you can see what you need for each development, becomes active only when it’s your turn. Being able to view what you need to build items is useful if you want to trade, especially if you are a beginner.

The Help panel could be of use in this case, but the window cannot be resized, takes a lot of space, and does not allow you to interact in the game. Thus, having it open at all times is practically impossible.

Running PlayCatan does not usually take up a lot of resources but, in some cases, it can use up to 50% of your processor. Either way, the desktop client needs fewer resources than your browser.

The Good

PlayCatan is a great solution if you want to play the “The Settlers of Catan” game online, with old or new friends. The online community can make things more interesting but, if you prefer to simply play the game, you are not required to join any of the available activities.

The PlayCatan interface is intuitive and easy to use, preserving the original game atmosphere. The desktop client provides most features included in the “The Settlers of Catan” board game, which makes it a great replacement for the original whenever you have some free time.

The Bad

The PlayCatan access software is working on the Java Runtime Environment and, as a result, it lacks the stylish Mac OS X look and feel.

Although, in some form or another, PlayCatan offers all the information and tools to play the game, accessing some of them can be tricky: the building tool is active only on your turn, and you do not have a development card sheet.

The Help window includes a lot of useful information but cannot be kept open at all times. Memorizing all the rules can be a bit of a challenge if you are a new player, and you need all the data readily available to make informed decisions.

Settlers Of Catan online, free Machine

The Truth

PlayCatan loses points on account of not being an OS X native application, but it is a viable solution in terms of resource usage. Whether you are new to the game or an experienced player, the PlayCatan desktop client seems to be the perfect solution for a quick match without all the hustle of organizing a game night.

Ticket To Ride Online

Here are some snapshots of the application in action: