From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in Small Islands?
MushrooM Games English rules

The last player to have been on an island starts.
Rule details
At the end of a round, the player following whoever placed the Ship Tile becomes the next first player.
Source & edition
- Small Islands: English rulebookMushrooM Games · Set Up, step 3; New Round · Checked 2026-09-24Printed page references: 2, 7
Image: © MushrooM Games / Aurélie Guarino · MushrooM Games / Lucky Duck Games (box image via Board Game Bliss)
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
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