diff --git a/resources/lang/debug.json b/resources/lang/debug.json
index 5b7c27515b..924720ce31 100644
--- a/resources/lang/debug.json
+++ b/resources/lang/debug.json
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@
     "disable_nations": "single_modal.disable_nations",
     "instant_build": "single_modal.instant_build",
     "infinite_gold": "single_modal.infinite_gold",
+    "random_spawn": "single_modal.random_spawn",
     "infinite_troops": "single_modal.infinite_troops",
     "disable_nukes": "single_modal.disable_nukes",
     "start": "single_modal.start"
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@
     "bots_disabled": "host_modal.bots_disabled",
     "disable_nations": "host_modal.disable_nations",
     "instant_build": "host_modal.instant_build",
+    "random_spawn": "host_modal.random_spawn",
     "infinite_gold": "host_modal.infinite_gold",
     "infinite_troops": "host_modal.infinite_troops",
     "disable_nukes": "host_modal.disable_nukes",
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@
     "Impossible": "difficulty.Impossible"
   },
   "heads_up_message": {
-    "choose_spawn": "heads_up_message.choose_spawn"
+    "choose_spawn": "heads_up_message.choose_spawn",
+    "random_spawn": "heads_up_message.random_spawn"
   }
 }
diff --git a/resources/lang/en.json b/resources/lang/en.json
index 12cc0f05f8..052086266a 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en.json
+++ b/resources/lang/en.json
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@
   },
   "single_modal": {
     "title": "Single Player",
+    "random_spawn": "Random spawn",
     "allow_alliances": "Allow alliances",
     "options_title": "Options",
     "bots": "Bots: ",
@@ -262,6 +263,7 @@
     "player": "Player",
     "players": "Players",
     "waiting": "Waiting for players...",
+    "random_spawn": "Random spawn",
     "start": "Start Game",
     "host_badge": "Host"
   },
@@ -661,10 +663,15 @@
     "copy_clipboard": "Copy to clipboard",
     "copied": "Copied!",
     "failed_copy": "Failed to copy",
+    "spawn_failed": {
+      "title": "Spawn failed",
+      "description": "Automatic spawn selection failed. You can't play this game."
+    },
     "desync_notice": "You are desynced from other players. What you see might differ from other players."
   },
   "heads_up_message": {
-    "choose_spawn": "Choose a starting location"
+    "choose_spawn": "Choose a starting location",
+    "random_spawn": "Random spawn is enabled. Selecting starting location for you..."
   },
   "territory_patterns": {
     "title": "Skins",
diff --git a/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts b/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
index 320b8e3d89..d4b8f8a5a1 100644
--- a/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
+++ b/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import {
 } from "./Transport";
 import { createCanvas } from "./Utils";
 import { createRenderer, GameRenderer } from "./graphics/GameRenderer";
+import { GoToPlayerEvent } from "./graphics/layers/Leaderboard";
 import SoundManager from "./sound/SoundManager";
 
 export interface LobbyConfig {
@@ -202,6 +203,8 @@ export class ClientGameRunner {
 
   private lastMessageTime: number = 0;
   private connectionCheckInterval: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+  private goToPlayerTimeout: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+
   private lastTickReceiveTime: number = 0;
   private currentTickDelay: number | undefined = undefined;
 
@@ -325,6 +328,39 @@ export class ClientGameRunner {
       if (message.type === "start") {
         this.hasJoined = true;
         console.log("starting game!");
+
+        if (this.gameView.config().isRandomSpawn()) {
+          const goToPlayer = () => {
+            const myPlayer = this.gameView.myPlayer();
+
+            if (this.gameView.inSpawnPhase() && !myPlayer?.hasSpawned()) {
+              this.goToPlayerTimeout = setTimeout(goToPlayer, 1000);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            if (!myPlayer) {
+              return;
+            }
+
+            if (!this.gameView.inSpawnPhase() && !myPlayer.hasSpawned()) {
+              showErrorModal(
+                "spawn_failed",
+                translateText("error_modal.spawn_failed.description"),
+                this.lobby.gameID,
+                this.lobby.clientID,
+                true,
+                false,
+                translateText("error_modal.spawn_failed.title"),
+              );
+              return;
+            }
+
+            this.eventBus.emit(new GoToPlayerEvent(myPlayer));
+          };
+
+          goToPlayer();
+        }
+
         for (const turn of message.turns) {
           if (turn.turnNumber < this.turnsSeen) {
             continue;
@@ -402,6 +438,10 @@ export class ClientGameRunner {
       clearInterval(this.connectionCheckInterval);
       this.connectionCheckInterval = null;
     }
+    if (this.goToPlayerTimeout) {
+      clearTimeout(this.goToPlayerTimeout);
+      this.goToPlayerTimeout = null;
+    }
   }
 
   private inputEvent(event: MouseUpEvent) {
@@ -420,7 +460,8 @@ export class ClientGameRunner {
     if (
       this.gameView.isLand(tile) &&
       !this.gameView.hasOwner(tile) &&
-      this.gameView.inSpawnPhase()
+      this.gameView.inSpawnPhase() &&
+      !this.gameView.config().isRandomSpawn()
     ) {
       this.eventBus.emit(new SendSpawnIntentEvent(tile));
       return;
diff --git a/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts b/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts
index 4da0867918..ccb01843c8 100644
--- a/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts
+++ b/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
   @state() private maxTimer: boolean = false;
   @state() private maxTimerValue: number | undefined = undefined;
   @state() private instantBuild: boolean = false;
+  @state() private randomSpawn: boolean = false;
   @state() private compactMap: boolean = false;
   @state() private lobbyId = "";
   @state() private copySuccess = false;
@@ -390,6 +391,22 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
                   </div>
                 </label>
 
+                <label
+                  for="random-spawn"
+                  class="option-card ${this.randomSpawn ? "selected" : ""}"
+                >
+                  <div class="checkbox-icon"></div>
+                  <input
+                    type="checkbox"
+                    id="random-spawn"
+                    @change=${this.handleRandomSpawnChange}
+                    .checked=${this.randomSpawn}
+                  />
+                  <div class="option-card-title">
+                    ${translateText("host_modal.random_spawn")}
+                  </div>
+                </label>
+
                 <label
                   for="donate-gold"
                   class="option-card ${this.donateGold ? "selected" : ""}"
@@ -668,6 +685,11 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
     this.putGameConfig();
   }
 
+  private handleRandomSpawnChange(e: Event) {
+    this.randomSpawn = Boolean((e.target as HTMLInputElement).checked);
+    this.putGameConfig();
+  }
+
   private handleInfiniteGoldChange(e: Event) {
     this.infiniteGold = Boolean((e.target as HTMLInputElement).checked);
     this.putGameConfig();
@@ -749,6 +771,7 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
           infiniteTroops: this.infiniteTroops,
           donateTroops: this.donateTroops,
           instantBuild: this.instantBuild,
+          randomSpawn: this.randomSpawn,
           gameMode: this.gameMode,
           disabledUnits: this.disabledUnits,
           playerTeams: this.teamCount,
diff --git a/src/client/SinglePlayerModal.ts b/src/client/SinglePlayerModal.ts
index eebf1ac0fb..ddf61f3658 100644
--- a/src/client/SinglePlayerModal.ts
+++ b/src/client/SinglePlayerModal.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export class SinglePlayerModal extends LitElement {
   @state() private maxTimer: boolean = false;
   @state() private maxTimerValue: number | undefined = undefined;
   @state() private instantBuild: boolean = false;
+  @state() private randomSpawn: boolean = false;
   @state() private useRandomMap: boolean = false;
   @state() private gameMode: GameMode = GameMode.FFA;
   @state() private teamCount: TeamCountConfig = 2;
@@ -293,6 +294,22 @@ export class SinglePlayerModal extends LitElement {
                 </div>
               </label>
 
+              <label
+                for="singleplayer-modal-random-spawn"
+                class="option-card ${this.randomSpawn ? "selected" : ""}"
+              >
+                <div class="checkbox-icon"></div>
+                <input
+                  type="checkbox"
+                  id="singleplayer-modal-random-spawn"
+                  @change=${this.handleRandomSpawnChange}
+                  .checked=${this.randomSpawn}
+                />
+                <div class="option-card-title">
+                  ${translateText("single_modal.random_spawn")}
+                </div>
+              </label>
+
               <label
                 for="singleplayer-modal-infinite-gold"
                 class="option-card ${this.infiniteGold ? "selected" : ""}"
@@ -440,6 +457,10 @@ export class SinglePlayerModal extends LitElement {
     this.instantBuild = Boolean((e.target as HTMLInputElement).checked);
   }
 
+  private handleRandomSpawnChange(e: Event) {
+    this.randomSpawn = Boolean((e.target as HTMLInputElement).checked);
+  }
+
   private handleInfiniteGoldChange(e: Event) {
     this.infiniteGold = Boolean((e.target as HTMLInputElement).checked);
   }
@@ -563,6 +584,7 @@ export class SinglePlayerModal extends LitElement {
               donateTroops: true,
               infiniteTroops: this.infiniteTroops,
               instantBuild: this.instantBuild,
+              randomSpawn: this.randomSpawn,
               disabledUnits: this.disabledUnits
                 .map((u) => Object.values(UnitType).find((ut) => ut === u))
                 .filter((ut): ut is UnitType => ut !== undefined),
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/layers/HeadsUpMessage.ts b/src/client/graphics/layers/HeadsUpMessage.ts
index 435116223e..9ab20dae35 100644
--- a/src/client/graphics/layers/HeadsUpMessage.ts
+++ b/src/client/graphics/layers/HeadsUpMessage.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ export class HeadsUpMessage extends LitElement implements Layer {
                     backdrop-blur-md text-white text-md lg:text-xl p-1 lg:p-2"
         @contextmenu=${(e: MouseEvent) => e.preventDefault()}
       >
-        ${translateText("heads_up_message.choose_spawn")}
+        ${this.game.config().isRandomSpawn()
+          ? translateText("heads_up_message.random_spawn")
+          : translateText("heads_up_message.choose_spawn")}
       </div>
     `;
   }
diff --git a/src/core/GameRunner.ts b/src/core/GameRunner.ts
index 9a77218578..a78e396991 100644
--- a/src/core/GameRunner.ts
+++ b/src/core/GameRunner.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ export class GameRunner {
   ) {}
 
   init() {
+    if (this.game.config().isRandomSpawn()) {
+      this.game.addExecution(...this.execManager.spawnPlayers());
+    }
     if (this.game.config().bots() > 0) {
       this.game.addExecution(
         ...this.execManager.spawnBots(this.game.config().numBots()),
diff --git a/src/core/Schemas.ts b/src/core/Schemas.ts
index a390e9912a..caac254d86 100644
--- a/src/core/Schemas.ts
+++ b/src/core/Schemas.ts
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ export const GameConfigSchema = z.object({
   infiniteGold: z.boolean(),
   infiniteTroops: z.boolean(),
   instantBuild: z.boolean(),
+  randomSpawn: z.boolean(),
   maxPlayers: z.number().optional(),
   maxTimerValue: z.number().int().min(1).max(120).optional(),
   disabledUnits: z.enum(UnitType).array().optional(),
diff --git a/src/core/configuration/Config.ts b/src/core/configuration/Config.ts
index 273dfce089..696bc8d26b 100644
--- a/src/core/configuration/Config.ts
+++ b/src/core/configuration/Config.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ export interface Config {
   infiniteTroops(): boolean;
   donateTroops(): boolean;
   instantBuild(): boolean;
+  isRandomSpawn(): boolean;
   numSpawnPhaseTurns(): number;
   userSettings(): UserSettings;
   playerTeams(): TeamCountConfig;
diff --git a/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts b/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts
index 2a4f1329e4..bed100c27a 100644
--- a/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts
+++ b/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts
@@ -338,6 +338,9 @@ export class DefaultConfig implements Config {
   instantBuild(): boolean {
     return this._gameConfig.instantBuild;
   }
+  isRandomSpawn(): boolean {
+    return this._gameConfig.randomSpawn;
+  }
   infiniteGold(): boolean {
     return this._gameConfig.infiniteGold;
   }
diff --git a/src/core/execution/ExecutionManager.ts b/src/core/execution/ExecutionManager.ts
index 6fadf0d6e4..4a8e5df916 100644
--- a/src/core/execution/ExecutionManager.ts
+++ b/src/core/execution/ExecutionManager.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import { SpawnExecution } from "./SpawnExecution";
 import { TargetPlayerExecution } from "./TargetPlayerExecution";
 import { TransportShipExecution } from "./TransportShipExecution";
 import { UpgradeStructureExecution } from "./UpgradeStructureExecution";
+import { PlayerSpawner } from "./utils/PlayerSpawner";
 
 export class Executor {
   // private random = new PseudoRandom(999)
@@ -131,6 +132,10 @@ export class Executor {
     return new BotSpawner(this.mg, this.gameID).spawnBots(numBots);
   }
 
+  spawnPlayers(): Execution[] {
+    return new PlayerSpawner(this.mg, this.gameID).spawnPlayers();
+  }
+
   fakeHumanExecutions(): Execution[] {
     const execs: Execution[] = [];
     for (const nation of this.mg.nations()) {
diff --git a/src/core/execution/utils/PlayerSpawner.ts b/src/core/execution/utils/PlayerSpawner.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..29c0fe1a6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/execution/utils/PlayerSpawner.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+import { Game, PlayerType } from "../../game/Game";
+import { TileRef } from "../../game/GameMap";
+import { PseudoRandom } from "../../PseudoRandom";
+import { GameID } from "../../Schemas";
+import { simpleHash } from "../../Util";
+import { SpawnExecution } from "../SpawnExecution";
+
+export class PlayerSpawner {
+  private random: PseudoRandom;
+  private players: SpawnExecution[] = [];
+  private static readonly MAX_SPAWN_TRIES = 10_000;
+  private static readonly MIN_SPAWN_DISTANCE = 30;
+
+  constructor(
+    private gm: Game,
+    gameID: GameID,
+  ) {
+    this.random = new PseudoRandom(simpleHash(gameID));
+  }
+
+  private randTile(): TileRef {
+    const x = this.random.nextInt(0, this.gm.width());
+    const y = this.random.nextInt(0, this.gm.height());
+
+    return this.gm.ref(x, y);
+  }
+
+  private randomSpawnLand(): TileRef | null {
+    let tries = 0;
+
+    while (tries < PlayerSpawner.MAX_SPAWN_TRIES) {
+      tries++;
+
+      const tile = this.randTile();
+
+      if (
+        !this.gm.isLand(tile) ||
+        this.gm.hasOwner(tile) ||
+        this.gm.isBorder(tile)
+      ) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      let tooCloseToOtherPlayer = false;
+      for (const spawn of this.players) {
+        if (
+          this.gm.manhattanDist(spawn.tile, tile) <
+          PlayerSpawner.MIN_SPAWN_DISTANCE
+        ) {
+          tooCloseToOtherPlayer = true;
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (tooCloseToOtherPlayer) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      return tile;
+    }
+
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  spawnPlayers(): SpawnExecution[] {
+    for (const player of this.gm.allPlayers()) {
+      if (player.type() !== PlayerType.Human) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      const spawnLand = this.randomSpawnLand();
+
+      if (spawnLand === null) {
+        // TODO: this should normally not happen, additional logic may be needed, if this occurs
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      this.players.push(new SpawnExecution(player.info(), spawnLand));
+    }
+
+    return this.players;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/server/GameManager.ts b/src/server/GameManager.ts
index f366a63ec7..0cd4420da7 100644
--- a/src/server/GameManager.ts
+++ b/src/server/GameManager.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ export class GameManager {
         infiniteTroops: false,
         maxTimerValue: undefined,
         instantBuild: false,
+        randomSpawn: false,
         gameMode: GameMode.FFA,
         bots: 400,
         disabledUnits: [],
diff --git a/src/server/GameServer.ts b/src/server/GameServer.ts
index 9a9e97333d..078c482b44 100644
--- a/src/server/GameServer.ts
+++ b/src/server/GameServer.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ export class GameServer {
     if (gameConfig.instantBuild !== undefined) {
       this.gameConfig.instantBuild = gameConfig.instantBuild;
     }
+    if (gameConfig.randomSpawn !== undefined) {
+      this.gameConfig.randomSpawn = gameConfig.randomSpawn;
+    }
     if (gameConfig.gameMode !== undefined) {
       this.gameConfig.gameMode = gameConfig.gameMode;
     }
diff --git a/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts b/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
index b84938b97b..564af609e1 100644
--- a/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
+++ b/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ export class MapPlaylist {
       infiniteTroops: false,
       maxTimerValue: undefined,
       instantBuild: false,
+      randomSpawn: false,
       disableNPCs: mode === GameMode.Team && playerTeams !== HumansVsNations,
       gameMode: mode,
       playerTeams,
diff --git a/tests/core/execution/utils/PlayerSpawner.test.ts b/tests/core/execution/utils/PlayerSpawner.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6e719c2db8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/execution/utils/PlayerSpawner.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { PlayerSpawner } from "../../../../src/core/execution/utils/PlayerSpawner";
+import { PlayerInfo, PlayerType } from "../../../../src/core/game/Game";
+import { setup } from "../../../util/Setup";
+
+describe("PlayerSpawner", () => {
+  // Manually calculated based on number of tiles in manifest of each map
+  // and minimum distance between players in PlayerSpawner
+  test.each([
+    ["big_plains", 49],
+    ["half_land_half_ocean", 1],
+    ["ocean_and_land", 1],
+    ["plains", 9],
+  ])(
+    "Spawn location is found for all players in %s map with %i players",
+    async (mapName, maxPlayers) => {
+      const players: PlayerInfo[] = [];
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < maxPlayers; i++) {
+        players.push(
+          new PlayerInfo(
+            `player${i}`,
+            PlayerType.Human,
+            `client_id${i}`,
+            `player_id${i}`,
+          ),
+        );
+      }
+
+      const game = await setup(mapName, undefined, players);
+
+      const executors = new PlayerSpawner(game, "game_id").spawnPlayers();
+      expect(executors.length).toBe(maxPlayers);
+
+      for (const executor of executors) {
+        expect(game.isLand(executor.tile)).toBe(true);
+        expect(game.isBorder(executor.tile)).toBe(false);
+      }
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < executors.length; i++) {
+        for (let j = i + 1; j < executors.length; j++) {
+          const distance = game.manhattanDist(
+            executors[i].tile,
+            executors[j].tile,
+          );
+          expect(distance).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(30);
+        }
+      }
+    },
+  );
+
+  test("Handles spawn failure when map is too crowded", async () => {
+    const players: PlayerInfo[] = [];
+
+    // Try to spawn more players than possible on a small map
+    for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+      players.push(
+        new PlayerInfo(
+          `player${i}`,
+          PlayerType.Human,
+          `client_id${i}`,
+          `player_id${i}`,
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
+    const game = await setup("half_land_half_ocean", undefined, players);
+    const executors = new PlayerSpawner(game, "game_id").spawnPlayers();
+
+    // Should spawn fewer than requested when map is too small
+    expect(executors.length).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/util/Setup.ts b/tests/util/Setup.ts
index 9ef2a00bef..963b134c13 100644
--- a/tests/util/Setup.ts
+++ b/tests/util/Setup.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export async function setup(
     infiniteGold: false,
     infiniteTroops: false,
     instantBuild: false,
+    randomSpawn: false,
     ..._gameConfig,
   };
   const config = new ConfigClass(