Starting rules about silly contests and quirky traits

42 sourced board game rules that mention silly contests and quirky traits when choosing who goes first.

• Animal Upon AnimalThe person who can balance on one foot like a flamingo for the longest time starts.
• AquariumThe player who can hold their breath the longest starts.
• ArmadilloThe player who can count down from ten fastest takes the first turn of round one.
• Bardwood GroveThe player who can hold a note the longest starts; players may determine the starter randomly instead.
• BasketbossThe tallest person takes the Referee Advisor card and makes the first contract offer or passes.
• BirdieThe player who chirps the loudest starts the first round.
• Black SheepEveryone moos; whoever makes the loudest moo goes first.
• Café FatalThe hungriest player begins each round.
• CitrusThe player who can dance the Flamenco best begins.
• Clank!: A Deck-Building AdventureThe sneakiest player starts. The rules also allow choosing randomly.
• Clever CubedThe unluckiest player takes the six dice and starts.
• Dancing EggsThe player who can jump the highest makes the first die roll.
• Dino Hunt DiceThe previous game's winner starts, or choose whoever makes the best dinosaur sound.
• DOG KidsWhoever can bark the loudest goes first.
• Elephant's TrunkThe person who makes the best elephant sound starts.
• EmberleafChoose a starting player; the rulebook recommends that the bravest player go first.
• ExoplanetsThe player who can name the most of Jupiter's moons takes the first turn. Alternatively, choose the starting player by any random method.
• Feed the KittyThe player with the shortest little finger starts.
• Fire & Axe: A Viking SagaChoose a starting player by any method. The rules suggest the fiercest Viking roar, the hairiest beard, the most recent visit to Scandinavia, or drawing one shuffled crew member per player at random.
• FischfutterIn the competitive base game, the bravest player goes first. Play then proceeds clockwise.
• Flingin’ FrogsThe player who can make the best frog sounds goes first.
• GnomopolisThe shortest player starts, or the group may choose the starting player at random.
• It HappensThe hungriest player starts the game.
• Mamma Mia! PlusThe hungriest player goes first.
• Mmm!The bravest player takes the three dice and begins the cooperative game.
• MoonThe player with the loudest voice takes the first Construction turn.
• MyrmesThe shortest player starts and takes the First Player token.
• NanofictionaryThe player with the shortest name takes the first turn.
• NatureIn standard multiplayer play, whoever can make the most amazing animal noise goes first.
• NoahThe shortest player starts the first round.
• OceansWhoever can hold their breath the longest goes first.
• OranguTwangWhoever can say “banana” five times fast without messing up goes first.
• Relative InsanityThe brilliant, funny and talented person who owns the game goes first.
• RuthlessGive the Start Player token to whoever can shout the most piratical “Arrrr!”. That player takes the first turn.
• Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board GameChoose whoever can trace their family history back the farthest, or select the first player at random.
• Spurtle TurtleWhoever can say “Spurtle Turtle” three times fast goes first.
• The GrizzledThe hairiest player becomes the first Mission Leader and starts the first mission.
• The Siege of RunedarThe shortest player starts, or choose the starter randomly.
• Too Many MonkeysWhoever makes the best monkey sound starts the first round.
• TreelingsThe tallest player receives the starting-player card and starts the game.
• Utter Nonsense! Family EditionThe first Nonsense Judge is the person deemed to have the stinkiest feet. Phrases are then played starting with the player to the Judge’s left.
• Vivid MemoriesGive the start player marker to whoever can recall the earliest positive memory, 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.