ROSEVILLE, Minn. — A board game created in Germany has a BIG Minnesota connection in more ways than one.
If you've ever played Settlers of CATAN, you likely didn't know CATAN Studio is based right here in Minnesota and some Twins players, like Royce Lewis, are huge fans of the game!
So how did this all unfold?
Alicia Lewis saw this post on X, formerly Twitter, from Twins sportswriter Aaron Gleeman. During a recent interview, Gleeman found out that Royce Lewis and some other Minnesota Twins are BIG fans of the board game.
CATAN Official replied to the tweet saying quote, "We're a Minnesota company and huge Twins (and Royce Lewis) fans! Where can we send a stack of games?"
Two worlds colliding here....
Alicia is a player of the game and wanted to learn more about how this somewhat nerdy game made it mainstream but is headquartered in Roseville.
Also... who knew some Twins players were gaming nerds... Alicia did some digging... here's what she found out!
If you've ever played the board game, "Settlers of CATAN" you know it's all about strategy, building cities and settlements and trading commodities with other players in hopes of earning the most victory points.
"The audience for CATAN at this point is very varied," said CATAN CEO and son of the games creator, Guido Teuber. "It started out with a lot of gaming enthusiasts. In Germany, it was already mainstreamed when it was launched in 1995, and then in the U.S. it went through different circles."
Different gaming circles, including the Minnesota Twins dugout.
"I play with a bunch of different guys," said Twins Third Baseman Royce Lewis.
Alicia wanted to know for those of us who play the games... who on the Twins usually wins? Who has the biggest or army longest road?
"It's different every time we play," said Royce. "I'd like to say I'm pretty good myself. I appreciate different strategies I learn from other guys."
Royce says while rehabbing injuries off the field, the guys will break out the board game.
"I'm usually the guy that likes to build cities on top of cities," said Royce.
This comes as no surprise to CATAN CEO, Guido Teuber. His late father, Klaus Teuber, created the game with team building in mind.
"We're really aware in the world of sports that athletes have really taken to CATAN whether it's a football, soccer, or basketball, you name it," said Teuber. "People are smart and sophisticated. Once they play... they will get the game."
So how did this game end up with a headquarters in Minnesota?
The game creator had a business partnership with a local game developer and the rest is history.
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