Catan: Explorers & Pirates is the fourth major expansion for The Settlers of Catan (following Seafarers, Cities & Knights and Traders & Barbarians) and it includes five scenarios and three missions; some of the scenarios make use of the missions while others do not.

Catan: Explorers & Pirates differs from the Catan base game in three main ways. The five scenarios included in Catan: Explorers & Pirates are: Land Ho! Pirates Lairs, fish for catan, spices for catan, explorers and pirates.