The best games with Variable Phase Order 2024

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 2024.

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 2024

This list was last updated on February 25, 2024. We compared 762 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

    Aeon's End: War Eternal plunges you into the desperate battle for Gravehold, the last stronghold in a world under siege by The Nameless. This standalone expansion of Aeon's End delivers a thrilling cooperative deck-building experience.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Aeon's End: War Eternal
    • 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

    In the concealed underground city of Gravehold, survivors of a distant invasion find solace. Here, amidst the remnants of a desperate society, they unearth a revelation: the energy emanating from breaches, the very conduits exploited by hostile beings, can be harnessed. Various gems allow them to transmute malevolent energies into beneficial spells and weapons, becoming the last bastion of defense—the breach mages.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Aeon's End
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Aeon's End

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. Tiny Epic Galaxies

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

    In Tiny Epic Galaxies, each player commands a galactic empire, striving to expand their influence by acquiring contested planets and strengthening their cosmic armada. The game features an innovative dice-rolling combo mechanic, where the number of rolled dice corresponds to your galaxy's strength. These dice display symbols representing actions such as spaceship movement, resource acquisition, and the advancement of political or economic influence over newly discovered planets.

    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

    Video reviews for Tiny Epic Galaxies

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

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

    Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest sails players into the adventurous world of Galecrest, where they become admirals of sky pirate ships. This game is a refreshed and expanded edition of the 2012 Libertalia, featuring new art, more characters, and additional game mechanics. It's all about strategy, treasure hunting, and outmaneuvering rivals in the pirate fleet.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!49€ atAmazon.de*
  5. 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
  6. Tiny Towns

    All details for the board game Tiny Towns and similar games

    Tiny Towns is a charming and strategic board game where players take on the role of mayors building their own tiny towns in a forest. The game challenges players to manage resources wisely and plan their towns carefully to maximize prosperity.

    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

    Aeon's End: Legacy immerses players into the world of breach mages, defenders of Gravehold, the last bastion of humanity. As apprentices, players are inspired by legendary mages like Brama, Dezmodia, Mist, Malastar, and Xaxos, each embodying unique traits and powers.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Aeon's End: Legacy
    • 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

    Queendomino is a standalone board game that builds upon the concepts introduced in Kingdomino. It offers a more complex and strategic experience, allowing players to create their kingdoms with an added layer of depth.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Queendomino
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!28€ atAmazon.de*
  9. Dream Home

    All details for the board game Dream Home and similar games

    Dream Home is all about unleashing your inner designer to create the perfect abode. Imagine deciding every detail of your house, from a luxurious bedroom with a canopy bed to a lavish living room with a grand piano. This family-friendly game turns you and your fellow players into architects and interior decorators, competing to build the most impressive home.

    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

    San Juan is a captivating card game that is inspired by the highly acclaimed board game, Puerto Rico. It is a game of strategy and resource management, set against the backdrop of the historic city of San Juan.

    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

    Race for the Galaxy is a captivating card game that immerses players in the challenge of building galactic civilizations. In this race through the cosmos, players use game cards to represent worlds, technologies, and developments as they strive for supremacy. Let's delve into the gameplay and discover what makes Race for the Galaxy unique.

    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
    🔥 Great price!30€ atAmazon.de*
  12. 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
  13. Roll for the Galaxy

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

    Roll for the Galaxy is a dice-based strategy game for 2-5 players, where dice represent the populace tasked with building a space empire. It's a dice adaptation of the popular card game Race for the Galaxy.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for Roll for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  14. Puerto Rico

    All details for the board game Puerto Rico and similar games

    Puerto Rico is a strategy game where players become colonial governors in Puerto Rico, aiming to earn victory points through trade and construction.

    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

    Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is an engaging engine-building game where players take on the roles of corporations with the ambitious goal of terraforming Mars. The game combines strategic resource management and project development to make the red planet habitable.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  16. Libertalia

    All details for the board game Libertalia and similar games

    In Libertalia, players delve into a world of piracy, vying to become the most cunning pirate of all. This game is about outsmarting your rivals through strategic use of crew member cards and seizing the opportunity to thwart their plans.

    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

    In this latest collaboration between Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, players must buy the favor of the gods in their race to be the first player to build two cities in the Ancient Greek island group known as the Cyclades.

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    More details for Cyclades
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    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

    🔥 Deal: 7% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

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

    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

    Broom Service is a captivating and strategic card-based game where players aim to score the most victory points by adeptly delivering potions throughout a magical realm. This game is a reimagined version of the award-winning Witch's Brew, offering a fresh theme and new gameplay elements, while retaining the core mechanics that made the original game popular.

    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
    🔥 Great price!10€ atAmazon.de*
  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

    Dice Hospital is a worker placement board game where players manage a hospital and treat patients represented by dice. The lower the dice value, the more critical the patient's condition. Players aim to efficiently treat and discharge patients, increasing their hospital's reputation.

    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. Vindication

    All details for the board game Vindication and similar games

    Vindication (originally known as Epoch: The Awakening) is a richly strategic and immersive fantasy board game designed for 2-5 players. Each session spans 15-30 minutes per player, offering a deep and engaging experience. In this game, players start as disgraced outcasts washed up on the shores of a mysterious island and embark on a journey to restore their honor through cunning resource management, area control, and strategic action selection.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

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

    All details for the board game Conan and similar games

    Conan is an asymmetric, semi-cooperative board game set in Robert E. Howard's universe, where players take on the roles of Conan and his companions, or the Overlord controlling opposition forces. The game, emphasizing Howard's original stories, features various scenarios and maps with diverse objectives. Players engage in strategic battles using a unique energy gem system for actions, while the Overlord manages units with a sliding tile board. Each scenario offers a distinct adventure with an approximate one-hour playtime.

    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
  24. 51st State: Master Set

    All details for the board game 51st State: Master Set and similar games

    51st State: Master Set is a comprehensive and rebalanced card game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players vie for control over the remnants of the United States. As leaders of one of four powers, players work to build and establish their new country amidst the ruins. The game is renowned for its strategic depth, offering multiple ways to use each card, and it includes content from the original game as well as from the New Era and Winter expansions.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for 51st State: Master Set
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  25. Glory to Rome

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

    Glory to Rome transports players back to 64 A.D., where they take on the role of architects and planners aiding Emperor Nero in rebuilding Rome after the great fire. This card-based game combines city building with resource management in a historically themed setting.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Glory to Rome
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  26. 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
  27. Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    All details for the board game Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition and similar games

    Embark on an epic journey of galactic conquest in Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition. As a leader of one of seventeen unique factions, you'll navigate the vastness of space, striving for dominance through military might, political maneuvering, and economic prowess. The game unfolds around Mecatol Rex, the central planet, where the throne of the galaxy awaits the faction that can skillfully navigate the challenges of a dynamic and strategically constructed universe.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 240 - 480 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    👍 Good price!118€ atAmazon.de*

    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
  28. Rising Sun

    All details for the board game Rising Sun and similar games

    In the mystical realm of legendary feudal Japan, the forgotten Kami have arisen from the underworld, dissatisfied with the ruling Shōgun. As spring heralds the Great New Year, the sacred clans gather to embark on a quest to reclaim the lands of Nippon, restoring honor and spirituality. Honorable Shōgun, you lead one of these clans, navigating a delicate balance of diplomacy, alliances, and war in the pursuit of victory. Will you uphold the ancient promise with strength, virtue, and spirit in the board game Rising Sun?

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.

    More details for Rising Sun
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  29. 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
  30. Innovation

    All details for the board game Innovation and similar games

    Innovation is a dynamic card game that captures the essence of civilization building. Designed by Carl Chudyk, it offers players a unique experience of guiding a civilization's journey from the stone age to modern times.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Innovation
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

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