Which Carcassonne expansion after the base game?

2-5 players (base) Tile placement About 35 min

The game

Already own Carcassonne? The first two expansions are the classic buy. After that it is a matter of how much chaos your table likes.

2-5 players with the base game, which now ships with the mini River and Abbot. The big expansions need the base game.

Old art vs new art. Expansions printed before 2014 use the old art and look different next to a modern base game, even if the tiles still play fine.

The 6th player is in expansion 1. Inns & Cathedrals brings the components for a 6th player, on top of the big meeple and the inns.

Big Box is not all expansions. The Big Box bundles the base game and the first two expansions plus minis. It is a starting point, not the whole line.

Which boxes do you already own?

Put on the table what you already have, and how many of you play.

You usually play with

2-5

Release timeline

Base 2000, Inns & Cathedrals 2002, Traders & Builders 2003, The Princess & the Dragon 2005, The Tower 2006, Abbey & Mayor 2007, Bridges, Castles & Bazaars 2010, Hills & Sheep 2014, Under the Big Top 2017.

The graph

How the Carcassonne boxes connect, plus the mechanics. An arrow starts at the expansion and points to the box it needs.

needs another box
contains this box
part of the line
game mechanic

Depending on what you want

You want	Get
The classic first buy	Inns & Cathedrals, then Traders & Builders
Steal features, more fight	The Dragon or The Tower
Bigger farms and cities	Abbey & Mayor or Bridges, Castles & Bazaars
Family chaos	Under the Big Top (Circus)

Tick your boxes at the top and the answer follows.

At the table

Box	What it brings
Carcassonne	2-5 players. Tiles, meeples, farms.
Inns & Cathedrals	Inns, cathedrals, big meeple, 6th player.
Traders & Builders	Goods, the builder and the pig.
Hills & Sheep	Shepherds, sheep and vineyards.
The Princess & the Dragon	A dragon that eats meeples, and a fairy.
The Tower	Tower pieces to capture meeples.
Abbey & Mayor	Abbey tiles, mayors and wagons.
Bridges, Castles & Bazaars	Bridges over tiles, small castles, bazaar auctions.
Under the Big Top	A travelling circus and acrobat pyramids.

Compatibility

Box	Needs	Players
Carcassonne	standalone base	2-5
Inns & Cathedrals	needs base	with the base game
Traders & Builders	needs base	with the base game
Hills & Sheep	needs base	with the base game
The Princess & the Dragon	needs base	with the base game
The Tower	needs base	with the base game
Abbey & Mayor	needs base	with the base game
Bridges, Castles & Bazaars	needs base	with the base game
Under the Big Top	needs base	with the base game

The Big Box, Hunters & Gatherers, the 25th anniversary edition and the mini-expansions are outside the picker. The newest French slots may reach English later under different numbering.

FAQ

Which Carcassonne expansion first?

Inns & Cathedrals, then Traders & Builders. They are the two the game grew up with and they add a 6th player.

Can I mix old-art and new-art tiles?

They play together, but the backs and fronts look different. Most groups stick to one art generation.

What does the Big Box contain?

The base game, Inns & Cathedrals, Traders & Builders and mini-expansions. Not the later big expansions.

Which expansion adds a 6th player?

Inns & Cathedrals.

Who publishes Carcassonne in English?

Z-Man Games (Hans im Glück in German). Designer: Klaus-Jürgen Wrede.