One person hosts the table
Open Play and choose the friend-game hosting flow. A free account is needed to host a casual table; friends can join without a subscription. Choose your island and appearance, then create the table. For a first session, keep the standard rules so everyone learns the same game.
Hosting and joining are separate actions. Creating a second table will not put you into your friend’s game: use the invite from the person who is hosting.
Send the table invite
Share the table’s invite link or code through the group chat you already use. Friends open the invite, review the table and join an available seat. Check the names in the lobby before starting.
If a link opens a full or already-started table, ask the host to check the lobby. A player returning to their own seat should use the yellow Return to your game banner. On another browser, sign in to the same account and confirm moving the seat; the previous browser loses access.
Make the first game easy to follow
Give new players the interactive tutorial before the table starts. Explain that everyone can collect resources on each roll, and that the starting placements run forward then backward.
Agree how you want to talk: game chat is useful for table messages, while your existing voice call can keep negotiations flowing. Leave room for people to decline a trade; a good offer helps both sides, but nobody owes you their grain.
- Start with the standard island before introducing custom layouts or cards.
- Review custom card effects in the invite before joining a modified table.
- Use the same browser to return to a saved seat. Keep invite links within the intended group.
Give everyone a reason to come back
After the game, compare the turning points: a blocked road, a useful port or one trade that enabled a city. Try another island or swap opening plans next time.
Archipelago is an independent island strategy game. It is not affiliated with CATAN or Colonist. This guide describes Archipelago’s own table flow; it is not an instruction guide for those services.