The best games where the starting player is determined by auction 2024

Looking for a really good game where the starting player is determined by auction? Then we have just the thing for you: The list with the best "Starting order: Auction" games 2024.

What are games where the starting order is determined by auction?

Players bid for the turn order. A variety of auction mechanisms (Dutch, English, Sealed Bid, ...) can be used.

By the way, in English "turn order: auction" is called "turn order: auction".

Examples of games where the starting player is determined by auction:

A good example of a turn order: auction game is Viticulture.

List of Games with different Turn Order Mechanisms

There are many more, creative Turn Order Mechanisms than the Auction based one, you can find a list at the bottom of this page.

List of best starting order: auction games 2024

This list was last updated on August 20, 2024. We compared 64 board games for this list and selected the top 28. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Viticulture Essential Edition

    All details for the board game Viticulture Essential Edition and similar games

    Step into the charming, rustic world of Viticulture Essential Edition, where players assume the roles of individuals in picturesque, pre-modern Tuscany. Inherit meager vineyards, a handful of plots, an aged crushpad, a quaint cellar, and three diligent workers. With dreams of making their wineries renowned successes, players embark on an unforgettable journey.

    More details for Viticulture Essential Edition
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  2. Riff Raff

    All details for the board game Riff Raff and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Riff Raff
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala

    All details for the board game Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala and similar games

    Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala is a strategy board game set in the mystical land of Naqala. Designed by Bruno Cathala, it puts a unique spin on the traditional German-style worker placement games.

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 5.

    More details for Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 - 80 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala

    • YouTube Review for the game "Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  4. Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan

    All details for the board game Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan and similar games

    Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan is a strategic war game for two players, allowing them to relive the pivotal battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which unified Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate for over 250 years. Players take on the roles of either Ishida Mitsunari, defending the rightful heir, or Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most powerful daimyo, as they gather armies from their allies, all the while questioning their loyalty. With no use of dice, the game emphasizes strategy and loyalty through card mechanics, where cards are essential for motivating armies to fight. Loyalty is a fluctuating resource, represented by hand size, and battles involve deploying hidden units based on loyalty, with the potential for defections. The game aims to provide a historically accurate experience within a concise and intuitive set of rules, focusing on strategic deployment and the significance of loyalty without relying on luck to determine outcomes.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    More details for Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan
    • 2 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  5. El Grande

    All details for the board game El Grande and similar games

    El Grande is a classic strategy board game set in medieval Spain, where players, as powerful lords or "Grandes," vie for control over various regions in a declining kingdom. The game is known for its blend of tactical depth and strategic planning.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1996

    More details for El Grande
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  6. Railways of the World

    All details for the board game Railways of the World and similar games

    Railways of the World, initially released as Railroad Tycoon, is a grand-scale board game where players build and manage their own railroad empire. This 2009 edition revitalizes the original with several improvements and expanded features.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Railways of the World
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  7. Keyflower

    All details for the board game Keyflower and similar games

    Keyflower is a strategic board game designed for 2-6 players that spans over four rounds, each representing a different season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The game combines elements of auction, tile placement, and resource management set in a medieval world. Players start with a "home" tile and a team of workers, using them to bid for new tiles, gather resources, and build their village.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    🔥 Deal: 14% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Keyflower
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  8. Boomtown

    All details for the board game Boomtown and similar games

    Boomtown combines the thrill of gold rush era mining with strategic gameplay elements, including auctions, dice-rolling, and tactical use of action cards. Players start as hopeful gold diggers and aim to rise to the status of wealthy tycoons by smartly acquiring mining concessions, becoming influential in local politics, and capitalizing on the economic opportunities of the era.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Boomtown
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. Endless Winter: Paleoamericans

    All details for the board game Endless Winter: Paleoamericans and similar games

    Journey back to North America around 10,000 BCE in Endless Winter: Paleoamericans, a game designed by Stan Kordonskiy, developed by Jonny Pac, and illustrated by The Mico. In this immersive experience, you guide your tribe's evolution across generations, from nomadic hunter-gatherers to thriving tribal societies. With each passing era, your tribes will migrate, establish traditions, hunt massive prehistoric creatures, and construct magnificent megalithic structures.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  10. Empire's End

    All details for the board game Empire's End and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. Scoville

    All details for the board game Scoville and similar games

    Scoville sets players in the spicy role of pepper farmers in the pepper-loving town of Scoville. The game revolves around planting, crossbreeding, and harvesting peppers to create the hottest new breeds. It’s a fun blend of strategy and resource management as you strive to meet the fiery demands of the town.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Scoville
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  12. Chickwood Forest

    All details for the board game Chickwood Forest and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Chickwood Forest
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. 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 2 awards and won 1.

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

    All details for the board game The Great Zimbabwe and similar games

    The Great Zimbabwe is a strategic board game that takes players back to ancient Africa, where they aim to build a thriving civilization around the iconic Great Zimbabwe. Inspired by the rich history and culture of southern Africa, the game challenges players to construct monumental edifices to honor their chosen deity. Each of the twelve gods in the game offers unique blessings but demands varying efforts to achieve victory. Players must develop an efficient logistics network across the region, producing and acquiring ritual goods to elevate their monuments and gain the favor of their god. The game blends historical inspiration with Splotter's signature approach to creating engaging, replayable experiences, offering a mix of strategic planning, resource management, and tactical positioning.

    More details for The Great Zimbabwe
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 150 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  15. Carolus Magnus

    All details for the board game Carolus Magnus and similar games

    Carolus Magnus is a strategic board game where players vie for control over a medieval landscape using mercenaries represented by wooden blocks. The game's board consists of hexagonal clusters arranged in a circle, creating a dynamic battlefield where control shifts with each move. Players deploy their mercenaries to gain dominance over different types of lands and to consolidate their power by constructing towers, which serve both as markers of control and as the primary means to achieve victory.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2000

    More details for Carolus Magnus
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  16. Pole Position

    All details for the board game Pole Position and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Orongo

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    🔥 Deal: 25% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Orongo
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)

    All details for the board game A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) and similar games

    A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) is a strategy board game that immerses players in the world of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. It's a game of diplomacy, warfare, and intrigue, capturing the essence of the epic fantasy saga.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 120 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  19. Godspeed

    All details for the board game Godspeed and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  20. Friesematenten

    All details for the board game Friesematenten and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Beowulf: The Legend

    All details for the board game Beowulf: The Legend and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Copycat

    All details for the board game Copycat and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Copycat
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 95 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Yggdrasil Chronicles

    All details for the board game Yggdrasil Chronicles and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  24. Crystal Palace

    All details for the board game Crystal Palace and similar games

    In Crystal Palace, players are transported back to the vibrant atmosphere of London in 1851, at the dawn of the first World Fair. Here, nations compete not with military might but with the power of innovation and influence, showcasing spectacular inventions and securing the support of notable figures from the era. This dice-placement game stands out by allowing players to set the values of their dice at the start of each round, presenting a strategic dilemma between aiming high for better outcomes and managing the cost of ambition.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Crystal Palace
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 150 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  25. Serenissima

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    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  26. New Amsterdam

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    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for New Amsterdam
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for New Amsterdam

    • YouTube Review for the game "New Amsterdam" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  27. Tramways

    All details for the board game Tramways and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Tramways
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  28. Heart of Africa

    All details for the board game Heart of Africa and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

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