Netflix Acquires Rights to Adapt Board Game Catan for Screen

Streaming Giant Brings Popular Board Game to Life

Netflix has made a major move in the entertainment industry by acquiring exclusive global rights to adapt the beloved board game Catan into multiple screen formats. The streaming service announced in October 2025 that it will develop both scripted and unscripted content based on the iconic strategy game that has captivated players worldwide since its 1995 debut.

Comprehensive Adaptation Plans

The deal encompasses a wide range of entertainment formats, including live-action and animated films, scripted television series, unscripted projects, and potentially even video games. According to Deadline, this marks the first attempt to bring the fictional island of Catan to screens, featuring a world where settlers navigate varied landscapes, shifting alliances, and limited resources while robbers roam the land.

Netflix is collaborating with gaming publisher Asmodee, the company behind the American and British versions of Catan. The production team includes Darren Kyman from Asmodee, Pete Fenlon from Catan Studio, and Guido and Benjamin Teuber, sons of the late game creator Klaus Teuber. Roy Lee from Vertigo Entertainment, known for producing successful adaptations like The Lego Movie and It, is also involved in the project.

Building on an Established Fanbase

Series reviewer Anke Meijer, who writes for NRC among other publications, believes Netflix's strategy is clever. 'The game already has a fanbase, people know it,' she said in the radio program Nieuws en Co. 'This gives a screen adaptation a head start with viewers, similar to what we saw with the Barbie movie.'

Catan, originally known as The Settlers of Catan, has achieved remarkable success since its creation by German game designer Klaus Teuber. According to Forbes, the game has sold over 45 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 40 languages, making it one of the most successful board games ever created.

Game Elements Coming to Screen

The adaptation will incorporate all the familiar elements that have made Catan a household name. Players can expect to see the strategic resource management involving ore, grain, wool, lumber, and brick, along with the iconic robber character that disrupts resource production. The core gameplay mechanics of building settlements, cities, and roads while trading resources with other players will likely form the foundation of the storytelling.

Thomas Koegler, CEO of Asmodee, expressed excitement about expanding Catan's universe to a larger audience, noting that 'board gaming has become a significant part of pop culture.' The collaboration represents Netflix's continued investment in game adaptations, joining successful video game-to-film projects that have proven financially successful despite mixed critical reception.

Netflix's Growing Game Adaptation Portfolio

This isn't Netflix's first foray into adapting games for the screen. The streaming service has previously found success with animated series based on video games like Arcane (based on League of Legends) and Castlevania. The popular drama series The Last of Us, while produced by HBO, demonstrated the potential for successful game-to-screen adaptations.

Catan joins other popular board games being adapted for screen, including Monopoly, whose rights were sold last year to actress Margot Robbie's production company with similar adaptation intentions. The trend reflects streaming services' increasing competition for popular gaming properties as they seek to attract diverse audiences.

The exact format of the Catan adaptations remains undisclosed, but the comprehensive nature of the rights acquisition suggests multiple projects are in development. With the involvement of the Teuber family and experienced producers, fans can expect faithful adaptations that honor the spirit of the original game while expanding its universe for new audiences.