Think you’ve mastered the Catan board game? Well, Netflix is about take the experience to the small screen, having secured global rights to multiple Catan movies and a TV series.
Here’s what we know so far. According to a report from Variety, the streamer will be developing projects “across film and both scripted and unscripted TV, as well as both live-action and animation.” Game publisher asmodee, Catan Studios and the sons of game inventor Klaus Teuber are all set to work together as producers.
Thankfully, that’s not my problem – but I do have one idea. Catan has numerous expansion packs that take typical gameplay to the next level, and I think adapting its best (in my opinion) would be an electric first step.
Explorers & Pirates is the Catan expansion pack Netflix should adapt first
Here’s the vision. Following the smash-hit success of Netflix’s live-action One Piece, Black Sails and not forgetting the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Catan’s Explorers & Pirates expansion pack could add the perfect injection of excitement and danger that any new streaming IP needs.
In the board game, choosing this expansion pack means you’re getting a lot of add-ons for your buck. It’s one of the most popular choices because of how different it feels to the base game, allowing players to get really creative with rules and setups in order to make the two cohesive.
In adaptation terms, this means the scope of what’s creatively on offer is enormous. As the name suggests, the premise is entirely dedicated to exploring ‘uncharted territories,’ meaning there are no rules to break (or for fans to get upset by when adaptations don’t look how they expected).
You’re also not strictly building anything here, at least not in the traditional way. Your focus is on ships, crews and harbours, with an added need to be incredibly assertive with any resource trading. The expansion pack means you can’t be passive and win – players need to be actively involved, ambitious and dynamic.
Bringing the base game and Explorers & Pirates together in an adaptation raises the stakes and tension for any drama we see on screen, and that always translates into more views, more attention, and more episodes.
Frankly, I think it’s the smartest place to start the new Netflix-Catan relationship… and if I had to pick, I’d choose an animated series for my idea (animation, of course, being the limitless medium). The ball is in your court now, Netflix.
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