Why is Settlers of Catan so popular with millennials?

This position offers the tongue-in-cheek explanation that Settlers of Catan appeals to millennials because they are lazy. It argues that the game lets a supposedly work-shy generation with short attention spans 'take over the world' and achieve big ambitions with minimal effort.

This position offers the explanation that Settlers of Catan suits millennials because they would rather stay in than party. It argues that the generation is increasingly home-based and sociable in quieter ways — making a strategic board game a natural fit for a night in with friends.

This position attributes Settlers of Catan's popularity simply to its quality as a game. It points to the major awards it has won, such as Germany's Spiel des Jahres, and to a design built on constant strategy, trading and interaction that keeps every player engaged throughout.

This position holds that Settlers of Catan appeals to millennials through the lure of the simple life. It argues the relentless 24-hour modern world is hard to navigate, and that millennials—increasingly leaving cities—are drawn to the game's pastoral, agrarian fantasy.