Better Settlers

Andrew Flynn

In-app purchases

About this game

The Better Settlers Board Generator is for use with the offline board game Settlers of Catan. Not only does it allow for faster game setup, it generates a fair and engaging game.

We love playing Settlers. We've noticed that sometimes the game seems to be over in the first fifteen minutes--and no matter how fairly we try to distribute resources and probabilities during setup, natural bias creeps in. So we developed the Better Settlers Board Generator.

The algorithm for the generator is designed to create fair play. The result is more riveting and engaging play.

You'll have a better game of Settlers.

Please note:
- This is not a Settlers of Catan emulator, but is a companion tool intended to improve offline Settlers of Catan games.
- 6s & 8s are next to each other only if the 3rd tile is a 2 or a 12.
- For a board that follows the rules in the rulebook, please use 'Traditional' board layout.
- Network Access permission is used for Google Analytics, there are no ads or anything bad :)
- If you have feedback/problems, please email us and we'll do our best to help you. Stay tuned for future updates!

Ratings and reviews

I have been playing 3-6 person Settlers for the past 2 decades and using Better Settlers for the past 5 years or so. Prior to using this app, 1 or 2 people would always crush everyone else even though we would try to make the board fair. Now, the game always has most people within reach of winning at the end making for a much more fun game. I never set up my games without using this app anymore. The app has not been updated in a while but still works for me. I use on Android. Interface is fine.

the ports are a little tricky, but I just covered up unused ports with unused numbers. I put ports as close to edge of tiles as possible, without covering up the tile itself then I explained to everyone what that means I wish ports used the docks drawn on the board. I wish the app constrained board setups to just use those port positions, or at least gave you that option. I also struggled with figuring out which initial spots on the board are best. I wish that ui was improved

This is for setting up the physical board. I use it since years. What I miss is a separation of the edge pieces, like a 3 edge piece or 1 expansion length, 2, or the seafahrer expansion corner. And also the use of the edge harbors. Sometimes the setup isn't possible with the edge pieces.