The best games with alternating starting player each round 2023

Looking for a really good game with a starting player that changes in turn every round? Then we have just the thing for you: The list with the best "starting order: progressive" games 2023.

What are games with alternating starting player?

One player has the token of the first player. At the end of the round, the token passes to the player to the left. This player becomes the new first player for the next round. During the round, players take turns in clockwise order.

Counterclockwise turn order is called "reverse turn order" and can also be included in this category.

In English, by the way, "starting order: progressive" is called "turn order: progressive."

Examples of games with the starting player changing in turn every round:

A good example of a "turn order: progressive" game is Isle of Skye.

List of Games with different Turn Order Mechanisms

There are many more, creative Turn Order Mechanisms than the "Alternating Start Player" based one. You can find a list at the bottom of this page.

List of best starting order: progressing games 2023

This list was last updated on July 10, 2023. We compared 160 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Wingspan

    All details for the board game Wingspan and similar games

    Nominated for 25 awards and won 16.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Wingspan
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 40 - 70 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!38€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Wingspan

    • YouTube Review for the game "Wingspan" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Dune: Imperium

    All details for the board game Dune: Imperium and similar games

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Dune: Imperium
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  3. Sagrada

    All details for the board game Sagrada and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards.

    More details for Sagrada
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  4. Terraforming Mars

    All details for the board game Terraforming Mars and similar games

    Nominated for 27 awards and won 14.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for Terraforming Mars
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Terraforming Mars

    • YouTube Review for the game "Terraforming Mars" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  5. Lost Ruins of Arnak

    All details for the board game Lost Ruins of Arnak and similar games

    Nominated for 26 awards and won 10.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Lost Ruins of Arnak
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!48€ atAmazon.de
  6. Targi

    All details for the board game Targi and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2012

    More details for Targi
    • 2 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Targi

    • YouTube Review for the game "Targi" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  7. Marvel Champions: The Card Game

    All details for the board game Marvel Champions: The Card Game and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 2.

    More details for Marvel Champions: The Card Game
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Marvel Champions: The Card Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "Marvel Champions: The Card Game" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  8. Orléans

    All details for the board game Orléans and similar games

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2015

    More details for Orléans
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  9. Colt Express

    All details for the board game Colt Express and similar games

    Nominated for 18 awards and won 8.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2015

    More details for Colt Express
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

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

    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
  11. Stone Age

    All details for the board game Stone Age and similar games

    Nominated for 22 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2008

    More details for Stone Age
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Stone Age

    • YouTube Review for the game "Stone Age" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  12. Oriflamme

    All details for the board game Oriflamme and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    More details for Oriflamme
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Stone Age: Anniversary

    All details for the board game Stone Age: Anniversary and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Tiny Towns

    All details for the board game Tiny Towns and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.

    More details for Tiny Towns
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!31€ atAmazon.de
  15. Zombicide: Black Plague

    All details for the board game Zombicide: Black Plague and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!85€ atAmazon.de
  16. Furnace

    All details for the board game Furnace and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    🔥 Deal: 6% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Furnace
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!32€ atAmazon.de
  17. Castles of Mad King Ludwig

    All details for the board game Castles of Mad King Ludwig and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 4.

    More details for Castles of Mad King Ludwig
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  18. New York Slice

    All details for the board game New York Slice and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for New York Slice

    • YouTube Review for the game "New York Slice" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  19. Here to Slay

    All details for the board game Here to Slay and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Pan Am

    All details for the board game Pan Am and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Hellapagos

    All details for the board game Hellapagos and similar games
    • 3 - 12 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Carpe Diem

    All details for the board game Carpe Diem and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Carpe Diem
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 75 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Puerto Rico

    All details for the board game Puerto Rico and similar games

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 8.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2002

    More details for Puerto Rico
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 150 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  24. Walk the Plank!

    All details for the board game Walk the Plank! and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Walk the Plank!
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Above and Below

    All details for the board game Above and Below and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards.

    More details for Above and Below
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  26. El Grande

    All details for the board game El Grande and similar games

    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
  27. Dungeon Fighter

    All details for the board game Dungeon Fighter and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dungeon Fighter
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Planet

    All details for the board game Planet and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

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

    Video reviews for Planet

    • YouTube Review for the game "Planet" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Planet" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  29. Photosynthesis

    All details for the board game Photosynthesis and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 4.

    More details for Photosynthesis
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!27€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Photosynthesis

    • YouTube Review for the game "Photosynthesis" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Photosynthesis" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  30. Evolution: Climate

    All details for the board game Evolution: Climate and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Evolution: Climate

    • YouTube Review for the game "Evolution: Climate" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English

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: