The best games with Variable Phase Order 2023

Looking for a really good game with a changing turn schedule? Then we've got just the thing for you: the list of the best "changing turn order" games 2023.

What are variable turn games?

Variable round flow means that the phases of a round may not be played in the same way as before and/or after.

Using Puerto Rico as an example, each turn is different. Depending on who starts selecting the roles and what roles they take, you may have to play the "set up" action earlier than you would like. In other games, you may be denied certain actions.

Differentiation from other game mechanics

Most games with limited action and all games without static game order fall under this "mechanism". Variable-player-order games are not variable-round-sequence games.

"Variable Phase Order" is also called "turn order changes".

List of the best "turn order changes" games 2023

This list was last updated on December 4, 2023. We compared 612 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Aeon's End: War Eternal

    All details for the board game Aeon's End: War Eternal and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  2. Aeon's End

    All details for the board game Aeon's End and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    🔥 Deal: 24% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Aeon's End
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!51€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Aeon's End

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. Aeon's End: The New Age

    All details for the board game Aeon's End: The New Age and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Aeon's End: The New Age

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End: The New Age" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  4. Tiny Epic Galaxies

    All details for the board game Tiny Epic Galaxies and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Tiny Epic Galaxies
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!31€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Tiny Epic Galaxies

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tiny Epic Galaxies" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  5. Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest

    All details for the board game Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. 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
    👍 Good price!33€ atAmazon.de
  7. Aeon's End: Legacy

    All details for the board game Aeon's End: Legacy and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Aeon's End: Legacy

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End: Legacy" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Queendomino

    All details for the board game Queendomino and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Queendomino
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. Dream Home

    All details for the board game Dream Home and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dream Home
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Dream Home

    • YouTube Review for the game "Dream Home" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Dream Home" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  10. San Juan

    All details for the board game San Juan and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for San Juan
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for San Juan

    • YouTube Review for the game "San Juan" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "San Juan" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  11. Race for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Race for the Galaxy and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 4.

    More details for Race for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  12. Roll for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Roll for the Galaxy and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for Roll for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  13. Smash Up: It's Your Fault!

    All details for the board game Smash Up: It's Your Fault! and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. 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
  15. Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

    All details for the board game Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  16. Libertalia

    All details for the board game Libertalia and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Libertalia
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 40 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Libertalia

    • YouTube Review for the game "Libertalia" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  17. Cyclades

    All details for the board game Cyclades and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    More details for Cyclades
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!57€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Cyclades

    • YouTube Review for the game "Cyclades" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  18. Aeon's End: Outcasts

    All details for the board game Aeon's End: Outcasts and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Aeon's End: Outcasts

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End: Outcasts" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  19. Broom Service

    All details for the board game Broom Service and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2015

    More details for Broom Service
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 75 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Advanced Song of Blades and Heroes

    All details for the board game Advanced Song of Blades and Heroes and similar games
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 45 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Dice Hospital

    All details for the board game Dice Hospital and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dice Hospital
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Dice Hospital

    • YouTube Review for the game "Dice Hospital" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  22. Ultra Tiny Epic Galaxies

    All details for the board game Ultra Tiny Epic Galaxies and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  23. Vindication

    All details for the board game Vindication and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Vindication
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 150 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  24. Conan

    All details for the board game Conan and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Conan
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Conan

    • YouTube Review for the game "Conan" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  25. 51st State: Master Set

    All details for the board game 51st State: Master Set and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  26. Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    All details for the board game Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 240 - 480 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    • YouTube Review for the game "Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  27. 1754: Conquest – The French and Indian War

    All details for the board game 1754: Conquest – The French and Indian War and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Glory to Rome

    All details for the board game Glory to Rome and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Glory to Rome
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  29. Rising Sun

    All details for the board game Rising Sun and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.

    More details for Rising Sun
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  30. Song of Blades and Heroes: Revised Edition

    All details for the board game Song of Blades and Heroes: Revised Edition and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy 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: