The best games in which the players at the back are favored (Catch the Leader) 2024
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 2024.
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 2024
The Quacks of Quedlinburg
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 The Quacks of Quedlinburg- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for The Quacks of Quedlinburg
Heat: Pedal to the Metal
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 16 awards and won 7.
More details for Heat: Pedal to the Metal- 1 - 6 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Flamme Rouge
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
My City
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 11 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
Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash
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
🔥 Great price!Check for best price now at*Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
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
Cubitos
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
Geisterfalle
- 2 - 4 Players
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
YINSH
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 6 awards and won 2.
More details for YINSH- 2 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Dice Town
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
Lords of Vegas
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
Cartagena
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 2 awards and won 1.
⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2014
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More details for Cartagena- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
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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
Power Grid
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 10 awards and won 4.
More details for Power Grid- 2 - 6 Players
- 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Power Grid
Sticky Cthulhu
- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Isle of Skye: Big Box
- 2 - 5 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Pit Crew
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Pit Crew- 2 - 9 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
My Island
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for My Island- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Power Grid Deluxe: Europe/North America
More details for Power Grid Deluxe: Europe/North AmericaPower 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.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Aristeia!
- 2 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Blue Banana
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Blue Banana- 2 - 5 Players
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Charterstone
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
Dicey Peaks
- 2 - 6 Players
- 20 - 50 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Tammany Hall
More details for Tammany HallTammany 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.
- 3 - 5 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Tammany Hall
Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
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
Tiny Turbo Cars
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Dicey Goblins
- 3 - 6 Players
- 20 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Age of Steam
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 2 awards and won 1.
More details for Age of Steam- 1 - 6 Players
- 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Hard to learn
The Expanse Board Game
- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for The Expanse Board Game
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