GLM TEAM 
On the 28 June 2025, thousands of people all over the world will be playing Catan concurrently. It will be the first global board game event where players in 35 countries play at the same time. The event celebrates the 30th anniversary of Catan, the launch of the 6th English-language edition, as well as all the fans and followers who play the popular game.
On Saturday, 28 June, events in participating cities will be broadcast on a global live stream, allowing fans everywhere to experience the Catan community like never before. Placing settlements, making trades, building roads and dealing with robbers will all happen on a massive scale. In South Africa, in-person participants will play on a single, expansive island map in Cape Town, engaging in synchronised rounds, with shared dice rolls and simultaneous trading and building phases. All other fans can join the livestream from home and enjoy their own Catan celebration with friends. With tens of thousands of people participating, the event will be exciting, exhilarating and even more Catan-tastic than ever!
Philip Galliford, spokesperson for Solarpop, says: “Few experiences bring communities together like board games do and on Saturday the 28th of June, we’ll be bringing fans and friends of Catan together on a grand, global scale. The innovative format fosters a sense of global community and excitement, elevating the traditional Catan experience into a collective celebration of strategy and camaraderie. As Klaus Teuber, the game’s creator, aptly put it, Catan is more than just a game; it’s a bridge that connects people.”
Follow @solarpopsouthafrica for more event details and livestream info.
How to win at Catan
There are different ways to reach ten points in Catan, the number of points required to beat your opponents and taste sweet victory. Whether you earn points via the Longest Road, the Largest Army, building settlements, cities, or through victory points, the trick is to find the right combination to reach your end goal.
Below are seven tips from Stefan Roets, board gaming enthusiast and avid Catan player.
- Analyse the board: at the start, assess high-value hexes and predict where others will go. Use this insight to plan smart settlement placements and future expansions, especially where scarce but valuable resources are present.
- Prioritise key resources: secure access to wheat and ore for city-building and development cards, and wood and brick for early expansion. Adjust your resource strategy as the game evolves through early, mid, and late phases.
- Play the numbers: focus on high-probability hexes (6s and 8s) to maximise resource income. Combining these with corresponding ports can lead to powerful trading advantages.
- Use ports strategically: ports offer reliable trade routes and can compensate for missing resources. Coastal expansion can also unlock new building opportunities when the board gets crowded.
- Exploit the robber: use the robber tactically—target the biggest threat and block the most impactful hex. Use misdirection and social tactics to avoid being targeted yourself.
- Be social and observant: leverage conversation to influence decisions and deflect attention. Gather information during trades and pay attention to others’ Development Card behaviour for clues.
- Stay flexible and active: be ready to change strategies mid-game if needed. Always try to make a move on each turn—trading, building, or gathering intel—to stay engaged and influence the game flow.
For more information, follow: @solarpopsouthafrica
About The Author
Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter
