Variable Set-up
OpenDefinition
The starting game state varies from game to game, through changes to shared game components like the map, and/or changes to starting player set-ups, resources, objectives, etc.
Top games using this mechanism
By BGG bayes rating, top 50.
| Game | Year | Rating | Wt | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass: Birmingham#1 | 2018 | 8.39 | 3.9 | 120m |
| Ark Nova#2 | 2021 | 8.35 | 3.8 | 150m |
| Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition#7 | 2017 | 8.22 | 4.4 | 480m |
| War of the Ring: Second Edition#8 | 2011 | 8.20 | 4.2 | 240m |
| Terraforming Mars#9 | 2016 | 8.19 | 3.3 | 120m |
| Star Wars: Rebellion#10 | 2016 | 8.17 | 3.8 | 240m |
| Spirit Island#11 | 2017 | 8.14 | 4.1 | 120m |
| Gaia Project#13 | 2017 | 8.09 | 4.4 | 150m |
| Twilight Struggle#14 | 2005 | 8.04 | 3.6 | 180m |
| The Castles of Burgundy#15 | 2011 | 8.03 | 3.0 | 90m |
| SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence#16 | 2024 | 8.02 | 3.8 | 160m |
| Great Western Trail#20 | 2016 | 7.98 | 3.7 | 150m |
| Brass: Lancashire#23 | 2007 | 7.96 | 3.8 | 120m |
| 7 Wonders Duel#24 | 2015 | 7.95 | 2.2 | 30m |
| Scythe#26 | 2016 | 7.95 | 3.5 | 115m |
| Concordia#29 | 2013 | 7.93 | 3.0 | 100m |
| Root#34 | 2018 | 7.88 | 3.8 | 90m |
| Terra Mystica#35 | 2012 | 7.86 | 4.0 | 150m |
| Orléans#36 | 2014 | 7.86 | 3.0 | 90m |
| Barrage#40 | 2019 | 7.84 | 4.1 | 180m |
| Everdell#42 | 2018 | 7.81 | 2.8 | 80m |
| Heat: Pedal to the Metal#47 | 2022 | 7.79 | 2.2 | 60m |
| Anachrony#61 | 2017 | 7.73 | 4.0 | 120m |
| Grand Austria Hotel#67 | 2015 | 7.72 | 3.2 | 120m |
| The White Castle#73 | 2023 | 7.68 | 3.1 | 80m |
| Power Grid#74 | 2004 | 7.68 | 3.2 | 120m |
| Quacks#78 | 2018 | 7.67 | 1.9 | 45m |
| Endeavor: Deep Sea#83 | 2024 | 7.65 | 2.9 | 120m |
| Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala#95 | 2014 | 7.61 | 2.8 | 80m |
| Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure#98 | 2016 | 7.60 | 2.2 | 60m |
| Concordia Venus#105 | 2018 | 7.59 | 3.0 | 120m |
| Aeon's End#108 | 2016 | 7.58 | 2.8 | 60m |
| Teotihuacan: City of Gods#109 | 2018 | 7.57 | 3.8 | 120m |
| 7 Wonders#116 | 2010 | 7.55 | 2.3 | 30m |
| The Voyages of Marco Polo#120 | 2015 | 7.54 | 3.2 | 100m |
| The Quest for El Dorado#122 | 2017 | 7.54 | 1.9 | 60m |
| Inis#124 | 2016 | 7.53 | 2.9 | 90m |
| Galactic Cruise#125 | 2025 | 7.53 | 4.0 | 150m |
| Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game#126 | 2008 | 7.53 | 3.3 | 180m |
| Architects of the West Kingdom#130 | 2018 | 7.51 | 2.8 | 80m |
| Dominion: Intrigue#132 | 2009 | 7.50 | 2.4 | 30m |
| Keyflower#133 | 2012 | 7.50 | 3.3 | 120m |
| Caylus#138 | 2005 | 7.49 | 3.8 | 150m |
| Troyes#140 | 2010 | 7.49 | 3.4 | 90m |
| Lorenzo il Magnifico#141 | 2016 | 7.49 | 3.3 | 120m |
| Dominion#145 | 2008 | 7.47 | 2.3 | 30m |
| Rising Sun#153 | 2018 | 7.45 | 3.3 | 120m |
| Yokohama#155 | 2016 | 7.44 | 3.3 | 90m |
| Tyrants of the Underdark#164 | 2016 | 7.42 | 2.5 | 60m |
| Pandemic#171 | 2008 | 7.40 | 2.4 | 45m |
Frequently combined with
Other mechanisms that show up in the same games. Click to drill in.
Related deep dives
Long-form design analysis on games using this mechanism.
Great Western Trail
Deep Dive for an iOS Roguelite Translation
Project context: Translate the core loop of *Great Western Trail* (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2016; 2nd ed. 2021) into a single-player iOS roguelite. The "Dominion -> Slay the Spire" pattern, applied to a movement-driven, deck-thinning, multi-track engine builder. Tier-1A u…
Heat: Pedal to the Metal
Deep Dive for an iOS Roguelite Translation
Project context: Translate the core loop of *Heat: Pedal to the Metal* (Asger Harding Granerud & Daniel Skjold Pedersen, Days of Wonder, 2022) into a single-player iOS roguelite. The "Dominion -> Slay the Spire" pattern, but for a racing deckbuilder. No direct digital competitor …
Orléans
Deep Dive for an iOS Roguelite Translation
Project context: Translate the core loop of *Orléans* (Reiner Stockhausen, dlp games, 2014) into a single-player iOS roguelite. The "Dominion -> Slay the Spire" pattern, but for bag-building with action-recipe placement. No standalone digital port exists; the only digital presenc…
The Quest for El Dorado
Deep Dive for an iOS Roguelite Translation
Project context: Translate the core loop of *The Quest for El Dorado* (Reiner Knizia, Ravensburger, 2017) into a single-player iOS roguelite. The "Dominion -> Slay the Spire" pattern, but for a *racing* deckbuilder. No direct digital port exists; the genre slot — deckbuilder race…
Tyrants of the Underdark
Deep Dive for an iOS Roguelite Translation
Project context: Translate the core loop of *Tyrants of the Underdark* (Andrew Veen, Peter Lee, Rodney Thompson; Gale Force Nine, 2016; *Aberrations & Undead* expansion 2017; *Updated Edition* / *Refreshed* re-release with the *Drow & Demons* / *Elemental Evil & Drow Houses* half…