The best games with variable starting conditions 2023

Looking for a really good game with variable start conditions? Then we have just the thing for you: the list with the best variable start conditions games 2023.

What are games with variable start conditions?

In these games, the status of the starting conditions varies from game to game. This can be implemented by changes to common game components such as the game board and/or by changes to starting player order, resources, objectives, etc.

"Variable starting conditions" is called "variable setup".

Examples of games with variable start conditions

A good example of a game with variable start conditions is Dominion. Here you can be very flexible in determining the 10 supply card types that are used for this game round. Dominion lives from varying the different card types again and again and from increasing the combination possibilities by new Dominion-expansions.

Another game with variable starting conditions is for example Catan - here for example the hexagonal landscape tiles are newly assembled for each game.

list of best variable start-conditions-games 2023

This list was last updated on February 21, 2023. We compared 825 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Cascadia

    All details for the board game Cascadia and similar games

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 6.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2022

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

    More details for Cascadia
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!25€ atAmazon.de
  2. Sushi Go Party!

    All details for the board game Sushi Go Party! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Sushi Go Party!
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. The Quacks of Quedlinburg

    All details for the board game The Quacks of Quedlinburg and similar games

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 10.

    ⭐️ 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

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Quacks of Quedlinburg" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. Clank!: Legacy – Acquisitions Incorporated

    All details for the board game Clank!: Legacy – Acquisitions Incorporated and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  5. Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

    All details for the board game Deception: Murder in Hong Kong and similar games
    • 4 - 12 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. Heat: Pedal to the Metal

    All details for the board game Heat: Pedal to the Metal and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

    All details for the board game Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. 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!28€ atAmazon.de
  9. Horrified

    All details for the board game Horrified and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for Horrified
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Horrified

    • YouTube Review for the game "Horrified" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  10. The Castles of Burgundy

    All details for the board game The Castles of Burgundy and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 70 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!38€ atAmazon.de
  11. Camel Up

    All details for the board game Camel Up and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Camel Up
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. Everdell

    All details for the board game Everdell and similar games

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 5.

    More details for Everdell
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 40 - 80 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Everdell

    • YouTube Review for the game "Everdell" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  13. 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
  14. The Castles of Burgundy

    All details for the board game The Castles of Burgundy and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Castles of Burgundy
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for The Castles of Burgundy

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Castles of Burgundy" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  15. 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
  16. Dominion

    All details for the board game Dominion and similar games

    Nominated for 32 awards and won 17.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2009

    More details for Dominion
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Spaceship Unity

    All details for the board game Spaceship Unity and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. Concordia

    All details for the board game Concordia and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Concordia
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 100 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Concordia

    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  19. Memoir '44

    All details for the board game Memoir '44 and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    More details for Memoir '44
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Potion Explosion

    All details for the board game Potion Explosion and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

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

    Video reviews for Potion Explosion

    • YouTube Review for the game "Potion Explosion" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  21. Dorfromantik: The Board Game

    All details for the board game Dorfromantik: The Board Game and similar games

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

    More details for Dorfromantik: The Board Game
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!32€ atAmazon.de
  22. Tyrants of the Underdark

    All details for the board game Tyrants of the Underdark and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Under Falling Skies

    All details for the board game Under Falling Skies and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 4.

    More details for Under Falling Skies
    • 1 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  24. Valeria: Card Kingdoms

    All details for the board game Valeria: Card Kingdoms and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. Aeon's End

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

    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
  26. 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
  27. Istanbul: Big Box

    All details for the board game Istanbul: Big Box and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 40 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!39€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Istanbul: Big Box

    • YouTube Review for the game "Istanbul: Big Box" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  28. 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
  29. Cubitos

    All details for the board game Cubitos and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Cubitos
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Twin It!

    All details for the board game Twin It! and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Twin It!
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 5 - 10 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!15€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Twin It!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Twin It!" 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: