Catan: Game of Thrones, Star Trek, and Every Licensed Spinoff Explained

The licensed-spinoff catalog

CATAN GmbH has licensed Catan to roughly 30+ properties over 20 years. The major categories:

• Fantasy/sci-fi IP: Game of Thrones, Star Trek, Mandalorian, Lord of the Rings (limited)
• Regional sports teams: NHL teams, NFL teams, European football clubs
• Cultural collaborations: Disney editions, gaming brands, niche academic editions
• Theme variants: Pirates, Vikings, Medieval-themed without specific IP

Each adds a thematic layer on top of base Catan's mechanics. Some are deep re-implementations; most are art-and-flavour reskins.

Catan: Game of Thrones (recommended)

Catan: A Game of Thrones — Brotherhood of the Watch (2017) is the best-regarded Catan licensed edition. It's set at the Wall, replaces the standard production with a "watch resource" system, adds Wildling raids (a barbarian attack mechanic), and features "Hero" character cards.

The mechanics are substantially different from base Catan. The setting integration is thoughtful (the Wall theme actually informs the strategic feel). Worth buying for Game of Thrones fans and Catan fans alike. Price: $50-70 retail.

Catan: Star Trek (medium recommend)

Star Trek Catan (2012) reskins base Catan in the Star Trek universe — ship pieces replace settlements, starbases replace cities, planets replace land hexes. Mechanics are roughly identical to base Catan with theme overlay.

The "Support cards" introduce a one-time bonus mechanic that base Catan lacks. The thematic integration is light — most decisions feel like base Catan with sci-fi flavour text. Star Trek fans love it; non-Trek fans get a familiar game.

Price: $40-60 retail.

Catan: The Mandalorian (light reskin)

A 2024 release combining Catan mechanics with Star Wars/Mandalorian theme. The game is essentially base Catan with desert-planet themed hexes, sand-resource substitutions, and Mandalorian "bounty" cards adding minor variation. Theme is the main draw.

Mechanically light. For dedicated Mandalorian fans, the theming is excellent; for Catan strategists, it's base Catan with extra steps. Price: $50-80 (premium edition pricing).

Regional sports editions (collector only)

NHL Catan, NFL Catan, and various European football editions exist. These are typically straight-up base Catan with team-themed packaging and component colours. No mechanical differences — buy as a team-fan collector item, not as a different game.

Price: $40-60 retail.

Catan: Lord of the Rings (limited availability)

A Lord of the Rings themed Catan exists but availability is regional and intermittent. Mechanics are close to base Catan with thematic flavour. Lord of the Rings collectors target it; general Catan players don't need it.

Cultural collaborations

Catan: Spain has Spanish regional theming. Catan: Maritime History tells port-city history through gameplay. Catan: Roman Empire has imperial themes. These are all genuine designs (not just art reskins) but typically only available in specific regional markets.

For collectors interested in Catan's cultural reach, these editions document the franchise's flexibility. For players wanting a different Catan experience, they're mid-tier between Cities & Knights and Star Trek Catan.

The buying framework

Three questions to ask before buying a licensed edition:

1. Are you a fan of the IP? Game of Thrones Catan only makes sense for Game of Thrones fans. The IP-specific theming is the main value.
2. Do you want a mechanically different game or just thematic variety? Most licensed editions are reskins with minor rule tweaks. If you want different mechanics, get Cities & Knights, Seafarers, or Traders & Barbarians instead.
3. Are you collecting? Licensed editions hold their value better than standard reprints in collector markets. If you're building a collection, they're investment-grade buys.

The licensing pipeline

New licensed editions appear roughly once per year. CATAN GmbH has been more selective since the 2024-2025 brand consolidation — fewer cash-grab licenses, more genuine collaborations. Watch for 2026 releases tied to the 30th anniversary.

What's not licensed

A few notable absences: no Catan: Pokemon, no Catan: Marvel, no Catan: Harry Potter (despite rumours over the years). These either weren't pursued, weren't approved, or weren't profitable to develop. CATAN GmbH's licensing strategy avoids properties that would dilute the brand.

The verdict

For most Catan players: skip the licensed editions unless you're a fan of a specific IP or you're collecting. The base game plus 1-2 major expansions (Cities & Knights, Seafarers) gives you more game variety than any 3 licensed editions combined.

For IP fans: Game of Thrones is the standout buy. Star Trek is the next best. The rest are theme overlays best evaluated by your interest in the property.

To experience the underlying mechanics that all licensed editions share, the Catan board generator produces the same balanced layout that powers every licensed reskin. The math is unchanged regardless of theme.

Related: deluxe editions compared · Catan in pop culture · localization around the world