We apologize for an error in our new materials for our game CATAN. The packaging states that the new 2025 edition is fully compatible with previous editions, but we have discovered that the card backs are different , which may affect gameplay. We sincerely regret not noticing this earlier, and apologize for any frustration this may have caused.
| 2025 edition | Previous editions |
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Problem
The new 2025 edition features a different back design from cards in our previous editions (issued before 2025).
This difference creates a problem when a game requires mixing different cards in a single deck. The two most common cases are:
- Base game of previous editions + new expansion for 5-6 players (or vice versa): Resource card sets must be mixed together.
- Base game from previous editions + new expansion "Cities and Knights" (or vice versa): the new goods cards (cloth, coins, paper) should be mixed together with the resource cards.
2025 expenses
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| CATAN (2025) | Catan: 5–6 players | Catan: Seafarers | Catan: Cities and Knights |
Previous editions
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| CATAN | Catan: 5–6 players | Catan: Seafarers | Catan: Cities and Knights |
Solutions for fair play
We want you to continue enjoying the game, so we are currently offering the following recommendations:
- Immediate solution: To keep the card draw random, the player drawing the card must call out a number (e.g., "third card from the top") rather than making a choice by looking at the cards.
- Future solution: We are developing card replacement kits to completely resolve this issue. Given international production schedules, we expect these kits to be available in Q3 2026.
- Best Experience: Currently, the best experience can be had by combining the corresponding editions (the base game released in 2025 and the expansions released in 2025).
We appreciate your patience and understanding while we resolve this issue!
If you would like to be notified when card replacement sets become available, please leave us your email address.
If you have any further questions or need assistance, please contact our online store support team: iveikals@brain-games.com