# Free Board Game Setup Randomizers & Map Generators | BoardShuffle ## Find the right board game setup tool Getting a game to the table often means more than shuffling a deck. You may need to arrange terrain, choose starting positions, fill a market, or prepare information that only some players can see. BoardShuffle brings those preparation steps into individual tools with settings suited to each game. Start with the game you own, choose the available options, and compare the generated result with your physical components. The game grid above opens each tool directly. Its setup guide explains what the helper prepares and what to check before the first turn. ## Terrain maps and starting positions For games where the landscape changes between sessions, inspect the whole map before placing pieces. The [Catan board generator](https://boardshuffle.com/catan) helps you compare resources, number tokens, and harbors. [Barony](https://boardshuffle.com/barony) combines a terrain preview with starting positions, while [Quest for El Dorado](https://boardshuffle.com/el-dorado) focuses on building a race course. Check tile orientation as well as location when transferring a layout to your table. ## Drafts, supplies, and secret information Not every game needs a new map. The [Azul factory helper](https://boardshuffle.com/azul) prepares tile displays, and [Splendor setup](https://boardshuffle.com/splendor) helps with gems, nobles, and the first player. The [Codenames key card generator](https://boardshuffle.com/codenames) produces the hidden team assignments; keep that result away from guessers. Choose the tool by the part of setup you want help with. ## Preparing cooperative and larger games Player count and difficulty can affect how much space and preparation a game needs. Explore the setup helpers for [Spirit Island](https://boardshuffle.com/spirit-island), [Forbidden Island](https://boardshuffle.com/forbidden-island), or [Burgle Bros](https://boardshuffle.com/burgle-bros) before arranging your cooperative game. For larger maps, the [Twilight Imperium](https://boardshuffle.com/twilight-imperium) and [Gaia Project](https://boardshuffle.com/gaia-project) tools let you review the generated arrangement before committing table space. Use only the settings and expansions supported by the tool and your copy of the game. A setup preview is a practical preparation aid; turn order, objectives, scoring, and any remaining setup steps still come from your rulebook. ## Board game setup questions ### What is a board game setup randomizer? A setup randomizer prepares the variable parts of a game before play. Depending on the game, that can mean a terrain layout, a secret key card, a supply of tokens, a starting-player choice, or a shuffled card deal. BoardShuffle provides a separate helper for each supported game rather than applying one set of rules to every box. ### Do I need to own the physical game? Yes. These tools are companions to physical board games. You still need the components and the relevant rulebook. A generated layout tells you what to arrange; it does not supply the complete game, teach every rule, or replace the publisher’s materials. ### Can I change the setup settings? Open the game’s tool to see its available controls. Settings differ by game and may include player count, difficulty, map size, expansions, terrain constraints, or starting conditions. Choose options that match the components you own before generating a result, and read that game’s setup guide for important checks. ### Does a random board guarantee a balanced game? No. Randomness and balance are different things. Some tools offer restrictions or starting-position comparisons, but a board can still favor a particular strategy or depend on player choices. Review the result together and use the game’s rules to decide whether the setup suits your group. ### Can I save or share a generated setup? Tools that offer a share code let you preserve and reopen that setup. Look for the sharing control in the game you are using; sharing is not available in every tool. Treat secret information carefully, especially a Codenames key card that should only be visible to spymasters. ### Is BoardShuffle free, and do I need an account? The setup tools are free to use and do not require an account. You can open a tool in your browser, choose its settings, and prepare your table. Optional analytics choices do not affect access to the games. Open the tool: https://boardshuffle.com/ ## Games - [A Handful of Stars system assigner](https://boardshuffle.com/a-handful-of-stars): Assign A Handful of Stars systems over the real board network, with black holes on lanes, wormholes and a starting reach preview for 2 to 4 players. - [Azul factory display filler](https://boardshuffle.com/azul): Fill Azul factory displays fairly from the bag with one tap. Random tile draws for any player count, plus a random first player. - [Barony terrain layout generator](https://boardshuffle.com/barony): Generate a balanced Barony board: random terrain hexes, fair starting positions and a first-player pick. Free and instant. - [Bloc by Bloc: Uprising city setup generator](https://boardshuffle.com/bloc-by-bloc): Build a Bloc by Bloc: Uprising city: the 25 district tiles dealt from piles A, B and C onto their squares, police on State districts and a start for each faction. - [Burgle Bros. floor layout generator](https://boardshuffle.com/burgle-bros): Generate the three floors of Burgle Bros.: random tile layouts, walls and a heat preview, so every heist is new. - [Carcassonne tile draw order & counter](https://boardshuffle.com/carcassonne): Shuffle the 72 Carcassonne tiles into a draw order with a tile counter, optional River expansion and equal piles, plus a shareable code. - [Catan board randomizer & setup guide](https://boardshuffle.com/catan): Shuffle a fair Catan board in one tap: balanced resource tiles and number tokens, harbors, a step-by-step setup guide, best starting spots and a random first player. Free, no sign-up. - [Chronicles of Avel map generator](https://boardshuffle.com/chronicles-of-avel): Generate Chronicles of Avel hex maps with the castle, starting tiles and a crater distance for your difficulty. - [Civilization: A New Dawn map builder](https://boardshuffle.com/civilization-new-dawn): Build a Civilization: A New Dawn world from the 16 real map tiles with legal placement and a capital resource comparison. - [Clans of Caledonia setup randomizer](https://boardshuffle.com/clans-of-caledonia): Roll the whole Clans of Caledonia setup in one tap: map, ports, scoring tiles and market, ready for a fair game. - [Clockwork Wars map generator](https://boardshuffle.com/clockwork-wars): Generate a Clockwork Wars hex map by player count, with spread-out capitals and balanced territories. - [Codenames key card generator](https://boardshuffle.com/codenames): Generate a Codenames key card for spymasters: random 5x5 team layouts with the assassin, starting team and a shareable code. Free and instant. - [Cyclades: Legendary Edition setup randomizer](https://boardshuffle.com/cyclades): Set up Cyclades: Legendary Edition in one tap: shuffled god tiles with the right face-down count, the creature and hero tracks, turn order and the placement steps. - [Eight-Minute Empire: Legends setup helper](https://boardshuffle.com/eight-minute-legends): Set up Eight-Minute Empire: Legends: the four real boards in the T-shape with region maps, a legal starting region, armies, coins and neutral armies for 2 to 4 players. - [Quest for El Dorado race course generator](https://boardshuffle.com/el-dorado): Build a fresh Quest for El Dorado race course every game: random hex tiles, balanced routes and a fair start for 2 to 4 explorers. - [Empires of the Void II setup randomizer](https://boardshuffle.com/empires-of-the-void-2): Randomize Empires of the Void II: eight planets on the board, the left-out planet, Sarkeen tokens and dependent cards. - [Survive! Escape from Atlantis island generator](https://boardshuffle.com/escape-from-atlantis): Shuffle the Survive! Escape from Atlantis island: 40 terrain tiles (16 beach, 16 forest, 8 mountain) with the volcano hidden under one mountain. - [Five Tribes tile and meeple setup](https://boardshuffle.com/five-tribes): Deal a Five Tribes setup: the 30 real tiles shuffled into the 5x6 grid with 90 meeples in sets of three, and a shareable code to replay the same puzzle. - [Forbidden Desert layout generator](https://boardshuffle.com/forbidden-desert): Set up Forbidden Desert: a shuffled 5x5 tile grid with the storm in the centre and the starting sand marked, face-down until you excavate. - [Forbidden Island alternate layout generator](https://boardshuffle.com/forbidden-island): Generate Forbidden Island layouts: classic and alternate island shapes or a random connected island, with difficulty notes. - [Forbidden Stars galaxy setup generator](https://boardshuffle.com/forbidden-stars): Lay out the Forbidden Stars board construction: seating, who places which system tile and where, and one warp storm per player. - [Gaia Project map generator](https://boardshuffle.com/gaia-project): Generate a balanced Gaia Project map: random sector tiles, rotated and arranged fairly for 2 to 4 players. - [Ghost Stories village setup randomizer](https://boardshuffle.com/ghost-stories): Randomize the Ghost Stories village: nine tiles in a 3x3 square, Taoist boards and difficulty. - [HeroScape battlefield map generator](https://boardshuffle.com/heroscape): Generate a HeroScape battlefield from the Master Set tiles you own: balanced terrain and elevation with side zones, ready to build. - [Kingdom Builder board & objectives randomizer](https://boardshuffle.com/kingdom-builder): Pick four of the eight Kingdom Builder board sections and three scoring objectives in one tap, with a shareable code. - [Labyrinth starting maze generator](https://boardshuffle.com/labyrinth): Shuffle a Labyrinth starting maze: fixed and movable path tiles, spare tile, treasure cards and a balanced-start option. - [Rise & Fall landscape generator](https://boardshuffle.com/rise-and-fall): Generate a Rise & Fall landscape on a hex grid from the real tile shapes: sea, plains, forest, mountain and glacier, with a fair starting-area preview. - [Scythe modular board generator](https://boardshuffle.com/scythe): Build a Scythe modular board from the real tiles and board sides, with faction home bases and a nearby-resource fairness summary. - [Small World Realms map builder](https://boardshuffle.com/small-world-realms): Build a Small World Realms map for 2 to 6 players: random from the 26 real terrain tiles, or play the official scenarios with their tile layouts, including the Underground side. - [Spirit Island setup: boards, spirits & adversary](https://boardshuffle.com/spirit-island): Roll a full Spirit Island setup in one tap: island boards, spirits, an adversary and scenario, with a difficulty to match. - [Splendor setup: nobles, tokens & first player](https://boardshuffle.com/splendor): Set up Splendor in seconds: random nobles, correct gem token counts for 2 to 4 players, and a first-player pick. - [Ticket to Ride setup & deal](https://boardshuffle.com/ticket-to-ride): Deal Ticket to Ride in one tap: shuffled train cards, the five face-up cards with the three-locomotive rule, starting hands and destination tickets for 2 to 5 players. - [Tiny Epic Pirates sea map generator](https://boardshuffle.com/tiny-epic-pirates): Shuffle the Tiny Epic Pirates 4x4 sea map: the 16 map cards with settlements, markets, coves and storms, ports on opposite corners and the navy ship placed. - [Tiny Epic Zombies mall and objective setup](https://boardshuffle.com/tiny-epic-zombies): Set up Tiny Epic Zombies: shuffle the eight stores around the courtyard with a random face and legal rotation, draw three objectives and pick your mode. - [Twilight Imperium galaxy map generator](https://boardshuffle.com/twilight-imperium): Create a balanced Twilight Imperium galaxy map for 3 to 6 players, with Prophecy of Kings support and balanced home systems. Vote on the layout you like.