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 November 27, 2023. We compared 917 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 17 awards and won 7.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for Cascadia
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  2. Sushi Go Party!

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

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Sushi Go Party!
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. 7 Wonders Duel

    All details for the board game 7 Wonders Duel and similar games

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 9.

    More details for 7 Wonders Duel
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. 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
  5. Heat: Pedal to the Metal

    All details for the board game Heat: Pedal to the Metal and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 4.

    More details for Heat: Pedal to the Metal
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Cartographers

    All details for the board game Cartographers and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for Cartographers
    • 1 - 100 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. The Quest for El Dorado

    All details for the board game The Quest for El Dorado and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 6.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2017

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

    More details for The Quest for El Dorado
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!25€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for The Quest for El Dorado

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Quest for El Dorado" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  10. Star Realms

    All details for the board game Star Realms and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 3.

    More details for Star Realms
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. PARKS

    All details for the board game PARKS and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 2.

    More details for PARKS
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. Dorfromantik: The Board Game

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

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2023

    More details for Dorfromantik: The Board Game
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!25€ atAmazon.de
  16. 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!37€ atAmazon.de
  17. 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
  18. Everdell

    All details for the board game Everdell and similar games

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 6.

    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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. Tyrants of the Underdark

    All details for the board game Tyrants of the Underdark and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

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

    More details for Tyrants of the Underdark
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!92€ atAmazon.de
  26. 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
  27. 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!26€ atAmazon.de
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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!38€ 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

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

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