Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Playing Lean

A board game that teaches the Lean Startup Methodology

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Playing Lean launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Playing Lean▲12

   Board game for Startups - on Kickstarter

   2015 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Running Lean▲144

   An exacting strategy for achieving a product/market fit

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Startup Challenge ▲108

   A learning game for Startup Class by Sam Altman

   2014 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   One Slide Deck▲71

   A startup/TED Talk inspired improv game.

   2016 · oneslidedeck.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Accounting Play▲79

   Teaching accountancy through apps and games

   2016 · accountingplay.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Lean It If You Mean It▲64

   Testing lean startup methodology IRL!

   2017 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   The Lean Startup▲149

   Use continuous innovation to create successful businesses

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Games People Play▲65

   The basic handbook of transactional analysis

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Online challenge: Build a CPU from scratch▲143

   An educational puzzle game. Solve a series of tasks where you build increasingly powerful components. Starts with the simplest logical components and ends up with a programmable computer.

   2018 · nandgame.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works▲66

    The systematic method for quickly vetting product ideas

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    The Lean Product Playbook▲97

    How to innovate w/ MVPs & rapid customer feedback

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Guul Board Games for Slack▲126

    Online team building board games for Slack

    2022 · guul.games · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Pitch Deck▲76

    A game about making ridiculous pitches for startup ideas.

    2017 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Doozy: Play's Back▲61

    Interactive life-sized board game that helps kids get active

    2014 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Happy Mitten - 35: Board Games, Business, and Andrew Federspiel▲51

    Pulling off a career change into the board game industry

    2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Startup Game▲117

    How do you startup?

    2023 · pushtostart.tv · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Happy Mitten - 37: Board Games, Business, and Protospiel Ann Arbor▲51

    Interviews and play testing with designers and publishers

    2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Agile Bird▲60

    Meet the start to go to the next level.

    2017 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Startups of SF board game▲68

    Settlers of Catan for Startups

    2015 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Oh Hi▲79

    A logic game

    2014 · 0hh1.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Interaction▲76

    Party and family board game with “fairness” algorithm

    2017 · rudy-games.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Playtest▲89

    Be the first to play tomorrow's games.

    2014 · playte.st · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Happy Mitten - 27: Board Games, Business, and Michael Coe of Gamelyn Games▲51

    Reflections on an epic Kickstarter campaign for a tiny game

    2016 · happymittengames.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Höme Improvisåtion▲68

    An IKEA assembly simulator

    2015 · thestorkburntdown.itch.io · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →