From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in Shake That City?
English AEG base-game rules
Whoever most recently shook something is the first active player.
Rule details
The active player shakes the cubes and chooses a building color first. The other players then choose from the remaining colors.
Source & edition
- Shake That City: Alderac Entertainment Group rulesAlderac Entertainment Group · Game Setup step 6; Round Overview; PDF pages 4, 5 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 4, 5
Image: © Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc. (edition publisher) · Alderac Entertainment Group
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
Smash Up: Cease and DesistThe player who most recently borrowed something starts.
Thief's MarketThe player who most recently stole something starts.
Mary MagicaThe player who most recently looked for something starts.
Ghooost!The loser of the previous game starts; for a first game, the player most recently spooked by something starts.
The Quacks of QuedlinburgWhoever most recently cooked something is the first round's starting player.
Free game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.