The best games in which the players at the back are favored (Catch the Leader) 2025

Looking for a really good game where those behind are favored? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of "best first to catch up" games 2025.

What are first to catch up games?

Game systems favor players who are behind - or disadvantage players who are ahead. In computer games the principle is called "Catch-Up" - known e.g. from racing games like [Need for Speed](https:// de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_Speed) or [Mario Kart](https:// de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Kart): Here those behind are rewarded with higher speed and in Mario Kart additionally with better specials.

If this advantage is concretely limited to the turn order, then the further category "statistically determined start player" is used.

In English, by the way, "catching first" is called "catching the leader".

Examples of games that favor those behind:

A good example of a catch-first game is The Quacks of Quedlinburg.

list of the best first catch up games 2025

This list was last updated on September 28, 2025. We compared 111 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Quacks

    All details for the board game Quacks and similar games

    Become a cunning charlatan or a quack doctor in the whimsical world of The Quacks of Quedlinburg. In this quirky board game, each player concocts their own secret brew, one ingredient at a time. But beware, for a careless addition could spoil the entire mixture!

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 12.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2018

    More details for Quacks
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Quacks

    • YouTube Review for the game "Quacks" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Heat: Pedal to the Metal

    All details for the board game Heat: Pedal to the Metal and similar games

    Heat: Pedal to the Metal is a dynamic and strategic racing board game that simulates the thrill and intricacies of car racing. It offers players a chance to experience the excitement of racing while managing crucial elements like speed, car upgrades, and varying track conditions.

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 7.

    More details for Heat: Pedal to the Metal
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  3. Flamme Rouge

    All details for the board game Flamme Rouge and similar games

    Flamme Rouge presents an exhilarating bicycle racing experience where strategy, timing, and tactical decisions are paramount to success. This fast-paced game captures the intensity of a real bike race, offering players a blend of excitement and strategic gameplay.

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 2.

    More details for Flamme Rouge
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Flamme Rouge

    • YouTube Review for the game "Flamme Rouge" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Flamme Rouge" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Flamme Rouge" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  4. My City

    All details for the board game My City and similar games

    My City is a groundbreaking competitive legacy game where players develop their own city across multiple epochs. This game uniquely blends city-building with the evolving challenges and narratives of a legacy format.

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for My City
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for My City

    • YouTube Review for the game "My City" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  5. Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash

    All details for the board game Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash and similar games

    It's race day in Quedlinburg, and with the right mix of food and luck, you ride your mount to victory and win the golden cauldron. Players build their own bag of tiles throughout the game, drawing them to advance on the race track. They will collect resources, gain bonuses, and strategize until someone crosses the finish line first.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Panda Royale

    All details for the board game Panda Royale and similar games
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

    All details for the board game Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King and similar games

    Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is a strategic tile-laying board game set in the stunning landscape of Isle of Skye. In this game, 2 to 5 players take on the roles of chieftains from different clans, each aspiring to expand their territories and build their kingdoms to gain the most points.

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 50 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Cubitos

    All details for the board game Cubitos and similar games

    Cubitos presents a thrilling and colorful dice-racing game where players engage in the annual Cube Cup race, balancing strategy and luck to emerge as the champion.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Cubitos
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. YINSH

    All details for the board game YINSH and similar games

    YINSH is a strategic abstract game that is part of the renowned GIPF series of games. It involves a clever combination of movement and flipping of markers on the board, with players aiming to align five markers of their own color. The unique aspect of YINSH is its balance between advancing towards victory and simultaneously weakening your position.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for YINSH
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  10. Geisterfalle

    All details for the board game Geisterfalle and similar games

    Restless ghosts are everywhere in the ghost trap, and only players can stop them. Each player has a marble track and three ghost trap marbles to roll into the track's holes to catch the ghosts. The first to do so shouts "Stop!", ending the round, and players earn points before a new round begins; the player with the most points wins.

    More details for Geisterfalle
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Dice Town

    All details for the board game Dice Town and similar games

    Dice Town is a lively game where players step into the wild west with five poker dice and eight dollars in hand. Each turn, you'll assemble a poker hand from your dice rolls, vying for control of various key locations in Dice Town, each offering unique actions.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dice Town
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Lords of Vegas

    All details for the board game Lords of Vegas and similar games

    Lords of Vegas is a dynamic board game where players take on the roles of developers in a growing Nevada city, aiming to build the most profitable casinos along "The Strip." Starting with mere parking lots, players strategize to expand, reorganize, and gamble their way to success, aiming to score the most points by owning the most lucrative casinos and appointing the best bosses.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Lords of Vegas
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Lords of Vegas

    • YouTube Review for the game "Lords of Vegas" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  13. Cartagena

    All details for the board game Cartagena and similar games

    Cartagena is a thematic board game based on the historical 1672 pirate jailbreak from the fortress of Cartagena. It blends strategy and tactical movement with a strong pirate theme.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2014

    🔥 Deal: 32% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Cartagena
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Suburbia

    All details for the board game Suburbia and similar games

    Suburbia is a tile-laying strategy board game where players take on the role of city planners, tasked with transforming small towns into bustling metropolises. Players strategically use hexagonal building tiles to construct residential, commercial, civic, and industrial areas, along with unique points of interest that harness the resources of nearby towns. The goal is not just to expand but to effectively manage the economic and reputation aspects of their growing cities.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Suburbia
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  15. Isle of Skye: Big Box

    All details for the board game Isle of Skye: Big Box and similar games

    Get the full experience of the modern classic tile-laying game with the Isle of Skye Big Box, which includes the award-winning base game and the expansion Druids, along with additional scoring and tunnel tiles. Players assume the roles of leaders from the five traditional Scottish clans, establishing their own realms to earn victory points, while each game features only four of the 24 available scoring cards, ensuring diverse strategies each time.

    More details for Isle of Skye: Big Box
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Power Grid

    All details for the board game Power Grid and similar games

    Power Grid is a strategic board game that combines elements of network building and commodity trading. Players aim to supply power to the most cities as their networks expand.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 5.

    More details for Power Grid
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Power Grid

    • YouTube Review for the game "Power Grid" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Power Grid" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  17. Sticky Cthulhu

    All details for the board game Sticky Cthulhu and similar games

    Players each have a long sticky "tentacle" and the table is covered with six types of creature tiles in various colors, along with some investigator tiles. To start a round, one player rolls two dice to determine a color and a creature, and all players try to hit the matching creature tile with their tentacle. The round ends when a player removes their tile and holds it, earning a point, and the game continues until someone reaches the required number of points to win, while collecting "Deep Ones" points adds curses that change how you can use your tentacle.

    More details for Sticky Cthulhu
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. Pit Crew

    All details for the board game Pit Crew and similar games

    Drivers get all the attention, but the pit crew are the unsung heroes of racing. This fast-paced game requires up to three teams to work together to get their race car back on track as quickly as possible. Teams must coordinate to change tires, refuel, and repair the engine without making costly mistakes, all while deciding whether to play it safe or go for turbo bonuses that can elevate them from last place to victory.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Pit Crew
    • 2 - 9 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Thunder Alley

    All details for the board game Thunder Alley and similar games

    Thunder Alley offers a deep and dynamic stock car racing experience for 2–7 players that captures the excitement and strategy of the racetrack with the flexibility of a card-driven simulation. This game stands out by requiring players to manage not just a single car, but a team of 3–6 cars, emphasizing both individual success and team strategy. The mechanics of drafting, teamwork, handling accidents, navigating through yellow flags, and pit strategy are all intricately woven into the gameplay, providing a rich and varied racing experience.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Thunder Alley
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Power Grid Deluxe: Europe/North America

    All details for the board game Power Grid Deluxe: Europe/North America and similar games

    Power Grid Deluxe: Europe/North America is a standalone game in the Power Grid universe, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the original Power Grid game. This deluxe edition boasts a double-sided game board featuring maps of Europe and North America, newly designed wooden components, and a completely new deck of power plants, including some that use natural gas. The game also introduces an enhanced two-player experience called “Against the Trust” and new overview cards for resource refills.

    More details for Power Grid Deluxe: Europe/North America
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. My Island

    All details for the board game My Island and similar games

    Players develop their own unique islands using interconnected hexagons in a competitive legacy format inspired by a previous game. Over 24 sessions, they will uncover the story and secrets of their island, with each game introducing new rules and materials that permanently alter the landscape.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for My Island
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Blue Banana

    All details for the board game Blue Banana and similar games

    In the fast-paced card game, players face confusion from changing colors and symbols. Each round features two motif cards displaying their symbols in incorrect colors, challenging players to collect cards that match the desired properties amid the chaos. Success requires clever thinking and the ability to see beyond the misleading colors to identify the correct motifs.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Blue Banana
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Rattlebones

    All details for the board game Rattlebones and similar games

    Welcome, kids! You are invited to spend a day at Rattlebones' fantastic dice festival, where you can play games, win prizes, and go on a quest to find Rattlebones.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Rattlebones
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Aristeia!

    All details for the board game Aristeia! and similar games

    Set 175 years in the future, humanity has reached the stars and citizens connect to Maya, an interplanetary network, indulging in the thrill of entertainment. Among the many forms of excitement, Aristeia! stands out as the most popular extreme sport, where players take on the role of managers for their competition teams in a visually spectacular showdown.

    More details for Aristeia!
    • 2 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  25. Dicey Peaks

    All details for the board game Dicey Peaks and similar games

    Players brave the ascent to 29,128 feet on the treacherous Dicey Peaks of Yeti Mountain. The harsh terrain is filled with blinding snow, steep glaciers, and bone-chilling temperatures, but the lurking Yetis present the true danger. This exploration and risk game involves dice and tiles, with players competing to be the first to raise the flag at the mountain's summit.

    More details for Dicey Peaks
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 50 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. Charterstone

    All details for the board game Charterstone and similar games

    Charterstone invites players into the Kingdom of Greengully, where they are tasked with building a new village as part of a grand decree by the Forever King. This competitive legacy game evolves with each play, offering a unique and enduring experience.

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    More details for Charterstone
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 75 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  27. Tammany Hall

    All details for the board game Tammany Hall and similar games

    Tammany Hall is a fiercely competitive game of political intrigue, corruption, and the quest for power in 19th-century New York. Players vie to become the most influential force in the city by manipulating immigrant populations, securing votes, and strategically using political favors to slander opponents and win elections.

    More details for Tammany Hall
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Tammany Hall

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tammany Hall" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  28. Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends

    All details for the board game Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends and similar games

    Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends is a captivating game of magical strategy and tactics, where two to four players assume the roles of summoners in an epic arena battle. Each summoner, either working alone or in teams, demonstrates their mastery of magic by deploying minions to create complex patterns, summoning powerful beings, and outmaneuvering their opponents.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  29. Dicey Goblins

    All details for the board game Dicey Goblins and similar games

    Players take on the role of goblins stealing dragon eggs in this dice game. Each round consists of turns where players decide whether to raid the dragon's lair or retreat. The game ends when a player collects at least 18 dragon eggs or after six rounds have been played.

    More details for Dicey Goblins
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  30. Age of Steam

    All details for the board game Age of Steam and similar games

    Age of Steam transports players back to the pioneering days of U.S. railroad expansion, offering a strategic gaming experience centered around building and operating a railroad empire.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Age of Steam
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Hard to learn

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: