Starting rules about animals

54 sourced board game rules that mention animals when choosing who goes first.

• ALIEN: Fate of the NostromoWhoever was most recently hissed at by a cat starts. Continue clockwise after each player's turn.
• AlpacaThe person who most recently petted an alpaca goes first and takes the alpaca miniature.
• AnimotionThe biggest alpha animal in the group takes the alpha animal card and starts.
• Ankh: Gods of EgyptChoose the first player at random, or give the first turn to whoever owns the most cats.
• ARGHThe strongest advocate for animal rights, or the player who most recently fed an animal, starts.
• Baba YagaStart with whoever most recently saw a black cat.
• BärenparkThe player who most recently visited an animal park starts. The rules also allow choosing the starting player at random.
• BettaThe player who most recently visited a pet shop starts.
• Big TopThe youngest player reveals the first yellow card. Everyone then races to identify the missing animal and color.
• boop.The player who most recently petted a cat starts, or choose the first player randomly.
• Caldera ParkWhoever most recently saw a wild animal in real life takes the marmot and makes the first action-token and terrain choice.
• CalicoWhoever most recently petted a cat starts.
• Cat CaféWhoever most recently petted a cat starts the first round.
• Cat in the BoxWhoever most recently encountered a black cat goes first.
• Cat LadyThe player who has the most cats in real life starts.
• Cat-a-combThe person who last combed a cat places the neutral cats during setup. Their opponent takes the first turn.
• Cha-Cha Chihuahua: The Game of Dancing DoggiesThe player who most recently pet a dog goes first.
• ChabyrintheWhoever most recently spotted a black cat starts. Turns proceed clockwise.
• Chicken ChickenWhoever most recently fed any kind of bird becomes the first Head Farmer and reveals the cards.
• ChompThe first player to name their own favorite dinosaur goes first.
• DeducktoStart with the person who most recently fed a duck.
• Dino Hunt DiceThe previous game's winner starts, or choose whoever makes the best dinosaur sound.
• Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n WriteThe first player to come up with a punny dinosaur joke takes the first-player marker. If that proves difficult, choose a first player randomly.
• Dog LoverChoose randomly, or let the player who owns the most dogs in real life start.
• Dominant SpeciesThe animal furthest left on the Initiative track makes the first action-pawn placement. Set the initial track in reverse Food Chain order: insects, arachnids, amphibians, birds, reptiles, then mammals, using only the animals in play.
• Duck Duck BruceWhoever most recently fed a live duck starts.
• Dungeon PetzWhoever fed a pet most recently receives the starting-player token. The rules also permit choosing its holder randomly or by agreement.
• Farm ClubThe player who was most recently attacked by an animal starts; the rules say even a cat scratch counts.
• FarmageddonThe player who most recently visited a farm goes first.
• FaunaThe player with the most exotic animal at home goes first.
• Fields of GreenThe player who most recently visited a farm or a rural area takes the First Player tile.
• First GiantsThe player who most recently encountered a dinosaur takes the first-player token and starts the game.
• Für die KatzThe person who most recently petted a cat is the first cat seeker.
• HabitatsWhoever fed an animal most recently starts and takes the Turn Tracker and Turn Marker.
• Hang FourWhoever most recently smelled a wet dog starts.
• Ist da wer?!The person who most recently petted an animal shakes the thicket first.
• Jurassic PartsThe person who most recently saw a dinosaur fossil starts and takes the Starting Player Marker.
• Just WildThe last player to spot a wild animal starts the game.
• KuZOOkAWhoever most recently visited a zoo goes first.
• Minecraft: Heroes of the VillageThe player who most recently tamed an animal in Minecraft starts.
• My Farm ShopThe player who most recently visited a farm starts and takes the three dice.
• My Happy FarmThe person who most recently fed their pet starts.
• My Very First Games: Nibble Munch CrunchFor the cooperative matching game What Do Animals Eat?, the player who last fed an animal starts by turning over the top animal card. For the memory game Who Eats What?, the player who last petted an animal starts by turning over a card from the center.
• NatureIn standard multiplayer play, whoever can make the most amazing animal noise goes first.
• Savannah ParkWhoever most recently fed an animal chooses the first animal token. All players then move their matching token simultaneously.
• So ein MistWhoever most recently stepped in animal poop goes first.
• Super Kawaii PetsThe player who last petted an animal starts and receives the First Player Card.
• SymbioseWhoever most recently saw a frog goes first.
• The Fox ExperimentGive the first turn-order token to whoever has the friendliest pet, or choose that player randomly. Assign the remaining tokens clockwise.
• The Isle of CatsRandomly choose the starting player. Beginning with that player, go around the table choosing cat figures and placing them on the island in turn order.
• Tiny Epic WesternWhoever most recently saw a horse starts as Dealer and places the first Posse Token. Random selection is also an official option.
• Wild SpaceWhoever most recently saw an animal starts.
• Wondrous CreaturesThe player who has befriended the most unusual animal starts.
• Zoo VadisThe person who most recently visited a zoo starts, or choose a player at random.

Each answer is our reviewed summary of that edition’s publisher rulebook. Open a game for its source, tie-break and edition details. Or pick a starting player at random.