Game modes
Settler can be a quick game for two or a long evening for six. These are the ways to play and the options a table can choose.
Ways to play
- Quick match: join the next open table with the number of players you choose. If nobody else comes, bots fill the empty seats after about 45 seconds.
- Your own table: open a table, set the island and the rules, invite friends with a link and fill the rest with bots if you like.
- Play vs bots: a private game against bots, started right away. Bots come in three levels (Easy, Normal, Hard) and take their time like real players.
- Ranked: rated games for players with an account, without bots. Your rating appears on the leaderboard.
Island sizes
| Island | Players | Suggested target |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 2 to 4 (ideal for 2) | 8 victory points |
| Medium | 2 to 4 (ideal for 3 to 4) | 10 victory points |
| Large | up to 6 (ideal for 5 to 6) | 12 victory points |
| Huge | up to 6, for long games | 15 victory points |
The large and huge islands come in four shapes: Round, Crescent (bent round a bay), Ring (round a lagoon) and Twin island (two lobes joined by a land bridge). Every map is generated so that resources and ports are spread fairly.
Wide Seas
Wide Seas tables play a scenario with several islands. You build ships to reach new land, uncover fog, find gold rivers and keep away from the pirate.
- First Voyage: islets round your home island, each with a gold river.
- Misty Archipelago: fog hides land and islands; every land tile you uncover pays a card.
- Beyond the Dunes: a desert belt cuts your homeland off from two far lands.
- Cloverleaf Isles: four islands of the same size; found anywhere.
- Ocean of Treasures: an ocean of fog with six sunken treasures.
Crownlands (Beta)
Crownlands adds a second economy on the large and huge islands for 3 to 6 players: quarries give stone, fishing grounds give fish, and workshops turn resources into tools, fabric and bread. Upgrade cities to castles and castles to residences, and compete for the Master Builder title.
5 and 6 players
With five or six players everyone takes normal turns by default. A host can choose Interim build (after each turn the others may build in order) or Lead + Partner (a second player gets a short turn alongside the Lead).
Table settings
- Timers: Relaxed, Normal, Fast or Off.
- Bank: unlimited (the default) or the classic bank with a fixed number of cards.
- Newcomer protection: the Bandit spares players with 2 or fewer visible victory points.
- Victory point target and bot pace can be changed by the host.
Board sets
Your own board can wear one of nine looks: Sun Isle, Autumn, Northland, Oasis, Tropics, Lantern Night, Halloween, Christmas and Easter. The set only changes your view; the other players keep theirs.