Harald Schrapers, Chairman of the Jury of the Spiel des Jahres
Randy Flynn’s Cascadia : Winner of Spiel des Jahres 2022
The Spiel des Jahres (German: [ˈʃpiːl dəs ˈjaːʁəs] , 'Game of the Year') is an award for board and card games , created in 1978 with the purpose of rewarding family-friendly game design, and promoting excellent games in the German market.[ 1] It is thought that the existence and popularity of the award was one of the major drivers of the quality of games coming out of Germany , particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.[ 2] A Spiel des Jahres nomination can increase the typical sales of a game from 500–3,000 copies to around 10,000, and the winner can usually expect to sell as many as 500,000 copies.[ 3]
Award criteria
The award is given by a jury of German-speaking board game critics from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland,[ 1] who review games released in Germany in the preceding twelve months. The games considered for the award are family-style games. War games , role-playing games , collectible card games , and other complicated, highly competitive, or hobbyist games are outside the scope of the award. Since 1989, there has been a separate award for children's games . The jury is not subject to public scrutiny and members of the public are not offered the opportunity to influence the voting.
On occasion, the jury has awarded a special prize for more complex games, such as Agricola in 2008 or World Without End in 2010. Prior to 2011, this award was an exceptional award which was not necessarily awarded annually. In 2011, however, this practice was formalized when the jury created a new category for more complex games called Kennerspiel des Jahres . Along with the nominations, the jury also gives a list of recommended games, and occasionally gives out special prizes for games which will not be considered for the main award. The criteria on which a game is evaluated are:[ 4]
game concept (originality, playability, game value)
rule structure (composition, clearness, comprehensibility)
layout (box, board, rules),
design (functionality, workmanship)
The jury does not release its scoring system or provide insight into how the categories are weighted.
Awards and nominees
1979 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1979 awards were:
Special Award
Game
Designer(s)
Publisher
Category
Seti
Andreas Steiner and Hartmut Witt
Hexagames
Beautiful Game
1980 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1980 awards were:
1981 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1981 awards were:
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Ra: Strategy Among Hexagons
Marco Donadoni
International Team
Beautiful Game
1982 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1982 awards were:
Special Award
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Skript
Henri Sala
Jumbo
Beautiful Game
1983 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1983 awards were:
Special Award
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Wir füttern die kleinen Nilpferde
Reinhold Wittig
Fagus
Beautiful Game
1984 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1984 awards were:
Special Award
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Uisge
Roland Siegers
Hexagames
Won
1985 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1985 awards were:
Special Award
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Die Magier
Johann Rüttinger
Noris Spiele
Beautiful Game
1998 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1998 awards were:
Special Award
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Result
Ref
Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke (Chicken Cha Cha Cha)
Klaus Zoch
Zoch Verlag
Children's Game of the Year
Won
[ 7] [ 6]
1999 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1999 awards were:
Special Award
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Result
Ref
Kayanak
Peter-Paul Joopen
HABA and Nabita World
Children's Game of the Year
Won
[ 11] [ 9]
2000 awards
Special Award
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Result
Arbos
Armin Müller, Martin Arnold
M+A Spiele
Children's Game of the Year
Won
2001 awards
This was the first year the Children's Game of the Year award was given, an award for more simple games:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Carcassonne
Klaus-Jürgen Wrede
Hans im Glück
Won
Das Amulett
Alan R. Moon and Aaron Weissblum
Goldsieber Spiele
Nominated
Zapp Zerapp
Heinz Meister and Klaus Zoch
Zoch Verlag
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Klondike
Stefanie Rohner, Christian Wolf
HABA
Won
Rüsselbande (The Piggyback Brigade)
Alex Randolph
Drei Magier
Nominated
Im Märchenwald
Markus Nikisch
Adlung Spiele
Nominated
2002 awards
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Maskenball der Käfer
Peter-Paul Joopen
Selecta
Won
Höchst verdächtig (Highly Suspect)
Manfred Ludwig
HABA
Nominated
Bärenstark
Heinz Meister
Goldsieber Spiele
Nominated
2003 awards
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Viva Topo!
Manfred Ludwig
Selecta
Won
Robbys Rutschpartie
Wolfgang Kramer , Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan
Kosmos
Nominated
Lauras Sternenspiel
Kai Haferkamp, Rüdiger Husmeier
Amigo
Nominated
2004 awards
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Geistertreppe (Spooky Stairs)
Michelle Schanen
Drei Magier
Won
Schnelle Welle (Treasure Hunt)
Dirk Hanneforth, Hajo Bücken
Ravensburger
Nominated
Schatz der Drachen
Reiner Knizia
Winning Moves
Nominated
Mare Polare
Roberto Fraga
Selecta
Nominated
Macius: Achtung, fertig los!
Wolfgang Kramer , Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan
Kosmos
Nominated
2005 awards
The nominations for the 2005 award were announced on May 8, 2005, and the winner on June 27, 2005:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Niagara
Thomas Liesching
Zoch Verlag
Won
Verflixxt! (That's Life!)
Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling
Ravensburger
Nominated
In 80 Tagen um die Welt (Around the World in 80 Days)
Michael Rieneck
Kosmos
Nominated
Jambo
Rüdiger Dorn
Kosmos
Nominated
Himalaya
Régis Bonnessée
Tilsit
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Das kleine Gespenst
Kai Haferkamp
Kosmos
Won
Schildkrötenrennen (Ribbit)
Reiner Knizia
Winning Moves
Nominated
Schildi Schildkröte
Ronald Hofstätter
HABA
Nominated
Mago Magino
Reiner Knizia
Selecta
Nominated
Daddy Cool
Heinz Meister
Huch!
Nominated
2006 awards
The nominations for the 2006 award were announced on May 28, 2006, and the winner on July 17, 2006:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Der schwarze Pirat
Guido Hoffmann
HABA
Won
Piratissimo
Manfred Ludwig
Selecta
Nominated
Nacht der Magier
Kirsten Becker, Jens-Peter Schliemann
Drei Magier
Nominated
Los Mampfos
Maja Dorn, Rüdiger Dorn
Zoch Verlag
Nominated
Giro Galoppo
Jürgen P.K. Grunau
Selecta
Nominated
Along with the nominations, the jury also assigned two special prizes for games which it felt were too demanding to count as 'family style' games:[ 12]
2007 awards
The nominations for the 2007 award were announced on May 20, 2007, and the winner on June 25, 2007:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Zooloretto
Michael Schacht
Abacus Spiele
Won
Der Dieb von Bagdad (The Thief of Baghdad)
Thorsten Gimmler
Queen Games
Nominated
Jenseits von Theben (Thebes)
Peter Prinz
Queen Games
Nominated
Die Baumeister von Arkadia (Arkadia)
Rüdiger Dorn
Ravensburger
Nominated
Yspahan
Sébastien Pauchon
Ẏstari Games
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Beppo der Bock
Peter Schackert, Klaus Zoch
Oberschwäbische Magnetspiele
Won
Rettet den Märchenschatz! (Save the Treasure of Fairy Tales)
Kai Haferkamp
Selecta
Nominated
Hüpf hüpf, Hurra! (Hop Hop Hooray!)
Heinz Meister
Ravensburger
Nominated
Gesagt – getan!
Roberto Fraga
HABA
Nominated
Burg-Ritter (Castle Knights)
Christian Tiggemann
HABA
Nominated
2008 awards
The nominations for the 2008 award were announced on May 25, 2008, and the winner on June 30, 2008:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Wer war's? (Whoowasit?)
Reiner Knizia
Ravensburger
Won
Geisterjäger (Ghost Hunters)
Andreas, Ueli und Lukas Frei
HABA
Nominated
Fluss der Drachen
Inka and Markus Brand
Kosmos
Nominated
Didi Dotter
Ariel Laden
Zoch Verlag
Nominated
Capt'n Sharky: Abenteuer auf der Schatzinsel
Kai Haferkamp
Die Spiegelburg
Nominated
2009 awards
The nominations for the 2009 award were announced on May 24, 2009 and the winner on June 29, 2009:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Das magische Labyrinth (The Magic Labyrinth)
Dirk Baumann
Drei Magier
Won
Curli Kuller
Marco Teubner
Selecta
Nominated
Zoowaboo
Carlo A. Rossi
Selecta
Nominated
Nicht zu fassen (Hide the Kids!)
Fréderic Moyersoen
Zoch Verlag
Nominated
Land in Sicht (Tonga Island)
Stefan Dorra
Ravensburger
Nominated
Special Prizes
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Result
Gift Trap
Nick Kellet
Heidelberger Spieleverlag
Party Game
Won
Space Alert
Vlaada Chvátil
Heidelberger Spieleverlag
New Game Worlds
Won
2010 awards
The nominations for the 2010 award were announced on May 31, 2010, and the winner on June 28, 2010:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Dixit
Jean-Louis Roubira
Libellud
Won
Identik
William P. Jacobson and Amanda A. Kohout
Asmodee
Nominated
A la Carte
Karl-Heinz Schmiel
Moskito/Heidelberger
Nominated
Im Wandel der Zeiten: Das Würfelspiel – Bronzezeit (Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age)
Matt Leacock
Pegasus Spiele
Nominated
Fresko (Fresco)
Marco Ruskowski and Marcel Süßelbeck
Queen Games
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Diego Drachenzahn
Manfred Ludwig
HABA
Won
Panic Tower!
Andrew Lawson, Jack Lawson
Goliath
Nominated
Vampire der Nacht (Vampires of the Night)
Kirsten Becker, Jens-Peter Schliemann
Drei Magier
Nominated
Turi-Tour
Alessandro Zucchini
Selecta
Nominated
Kraken-Alarm
Oliver Igelhaut
Kosmos
Nominated
Special Prizes
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Result
Die Tore der Welt (World Without End)
Michael Rieneck, Stefan Stadler
Kosmos
Game of the Year Plus
Won
2011 awards
The nominations for the 2011 awards were announced on May 23, 2011, and the winners on June 27, 2011. This was the first year the Connoisseur -gamer Game of the Year award was given, an award for more complex games:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Qwirkle
Susan McKinley Ross
Mindware Spiele
Won
Asara
Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling
Ravensburger
Nominated
Die verbotene Insel (Forbidden Island)
Matt Leacock
Schmidt Games
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
7 Wonders
Antoine Bauza
Repos Production
Won
Strasbourg
Stefan Feld
Pegasus Spiele
Nominated
Lancaster
Matthias Cramer
Queen Games
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Da ist der Wurm drin
Carmen Kleinert
Zoch Verlag
Won
Die kleinen Zauberlehrlinge (Magician's Kitchen)
Thomas Daum, Violetta Leitner
Drei Magier
Nominated
Monster-Falle (Monster Trap)
Inka and Markus Brand
Kosmos
Nominated
2012 awards
The nominations for the 2012 awards were announced on May 21, 2012, and the winners on July 9, 2012:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Kingdom Builder
Donald X. Vaccarino
Queen Games
Won
Las Vegas
Rüdiger Dorn
Alea /Ravensburger
Nominated
Eselsbrücke
Stefan Dorra and Ralf zur Linde
Schmidt Spiele
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Village
Inka Brand and Markus Brand
Pegasus Spiele
Won
K2
Adam Kałuża
rebel.pl
Nominated
Targi
Andreas Steiger
Kosmos
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Schnappt Hubi!
Steffen Bogen
Ravensburger
Won
Spinnengift und Krötenschleim
Klaus Teuber
Kosmos
Nominated
Die kleinen Drachenritter
Marco Teubner
HUCH! & friends
Nominated
2013 awards
The nominations for the 2013 awards were announced on May 21, 2013, and the Spiel and Kennerspiel winners were announced on July 8, 2013. The Kinderspiel (Children's) Game of the Year was announced on June 12, 2013:
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Die Legenden von Andor (Legends of Andor)
Michael Menzel
Kosmos
Won
Brügge (Bruges)
Stefan Feld
Hans im Glück
Nominated
Die Paläste von Carrara (The Palaces of Carrara)
Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer
Hans im Glück
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Der verzauberte Turm (The Enchanted Tower)
Inka and Markus Brand
Schmidt Games
Won
Gold am Orinoko
Bernhard Weber
HABA
Nominated
Mucca Pazza
Iris Rossbach
Zoch Verlag
Nominated
2014 awards
The nominations for the 2014 awards were announced on May 19, 2014. The Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 23, and the Game of the Year and Connoisseur's Game of the Year were announced on July 14:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Camel Up
Steffen Bogen
Pegasus Spiele
Won
Concept
Gaëtan Beaujannot and Alain Rivollet
Repos Production
Nominated
Splendor
Marc André
Space Cowboys
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Istanbul
Rüdiger Dorn
Pegasus Spiele
Won
Rokoko (Rococo)
Matthias Cramer, Louis Malt and Stefan Malz
Eggertspiele
Nominated
Concordia
Mac Gerdts
PD-Verlag
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Geister, Geister, Schatzsuchmeister! (Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters)
Brian Yu
Mattel Games
Won
Flizz & Miez
Klemens Franz, Hanno Girke, Dale Yu
Stadlbauer
Nominated
Richard Ritterschlag (Brandon the Brave)
Johannes Zirm
HABA
Nominated
2015 awards
The nominations for the 2015 awards were announced on May 18, 2015. The Kinderspiel des Jahres winner were announced on Monday, June 8, 2015, and the Spiel and Kennerspiel winners were announced on Monday, July 6, 2015:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Colt Express
Christophe Raimbault
Ludonaute
Won
Machi Koro
Masao Suganuma
Kosmos
Nominated
The Game
Steffen Benndorf
Nürnberger Spielkarten Verlag
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Broom Service
Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister
Ravensburger
Won
Elysium
Brett J. Gilbert and Matthew Dunstan
Space Cowboys
Nominated
Orléans
Reiner Stockhausen
dlp games
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Spinderella
Roberto Fraga
Zoch Verlag
Won
Push a Monster
Wolfgang Dirscherl, Manfred Reindl
Queen Games
Nominated
Schatz-Rabatz
Karin Hetling
Noris-Spiele
Nominated
2016 awards
The nominations for the 2016 awards were announced on May 23, 2016,[ 13] and the winners on Monday July 18, 2016:
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Codenames
Vladimír Chvátil
Czech Games Edition
Won
Imhotep
Phil Walker-Harding
Kosmos
Nominated
Karuba
Rüdiger Dorn
HABA
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Isle of Skye: Vom Häuptling zum König (Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King)
Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister
Lookout Games
Won
Pandemic Legacy - Season 1
Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau
Z-Man Games
Nominated
T.I.M.E Stories
Manuel Rozoy
Space Cowboys
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Stone Age Junior (My First Stone Age)
Marco Teubner
Hans im Glück
Won
Mmm!
Reiner Knizia
Pegasus Spiele
Nominated
Leo muss zum Friseur (Leo Goes to the Barber)
Leo Colovini
Abacus Spiele
Nominated
2017 awards
The nominations for the 2017 award were announced on May 22, 2017. The winner for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 19, 2017. The winners for Game of the Year and Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year were announced on July 17, 2017.
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year[ 16]
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
EXIT: Das Spiel (Exit: The Game)
Inka Brand and Markus Brand
Kosmos
Won[ 17]
Räuber der Nordsee (Raiders of the North Sea)
Shem Phillips
Schwerkraft (Oberhausen)
Nominated
Terraforming Mars
Jakob Fryxelius
Schwerkraft (Oberhausen)
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year[ 18]
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
ICECOOL
Brian Gomez
Amigo
Won[ 19]
Captain Silver
Wolfgang Dirscherl and Manfred Reindl
Queen Games
Nominated
Der Mysteriöse Wald (The Mysterious Forest)
Carlo A. Rossi
Iello (Heillecourt)
Nominated
2018 awards
The nominations and the special prize for the 2018 award were announced on May 14, 2018.[ 20] The winner for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 11, 2018. The winners for Game of the Year and Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year were announced on July 23, 2018.
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Azul
Michael Kiesling
Next Move/Plan B Games
Won
Luxor
Rüdiger Dorn
Queen Games
Nominated
The Mind
Wolfgang Warsch
Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Die Quacksalber von Quedlinburg (The Quacks of Quedlinburg)
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt Games
Won
Ganz Schön Clever
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt Games
Nominated
Heaven & Ale
Michael Kiesling and Andreas Schmidt
Eggertspiele
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Funkelschatz (Dragon's Breath)
Lena und Günter Burkhardt
HABA
Won
Emojito!
Urtis Šulinskas
Huch! & friends
Nominated
Panic Mansion
Asger Harding Granerud and Daniel Skjold Pedersen
Blue Orange
Nominated
2019 awards
The nominations for the 2019 award were announced on May 20, 2019.[ 21] The winner for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 24, 2019[ 22]
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Just One [ 23] [ 24] [ 25]
Ludovic Roudy and Bruno Sautter
Repos Production
Won
L.A.M.A. (L.L.A.M.A.)
Reiner Knizia
Amigo
Nominated
Werwörter (Werewords)
Ted Alspach
Ravensburger
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Flügelschlag (Wingspan) [ 26] [ 25]
Elizabeth Hargrave
Stonemaier Games
Won
Carpe Diem
Stefan Feld
Alea/Ravensburger
Nominated
Detective: Ein Krimi-Brettspiel (Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game)
Ignacy Trzewiczek, Przemysław Rymer and Jakub Łapot
Portal Games and Pegasus Spiele
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Tal der Wikinger (Valley of the Vikings) [ 27] [ 28] [ 25]
Marie and Wilfried Fort
HABA
Won
Fabulantica
Marco Teubner
Pegasus Spiele
Nominated
Go Gecko Go!
Jürgen Adams
Zoch Verlag
Nominated
2020 awards
The nominations for the 2020 award were announced on May 18, 2020.[ 29] The award for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 15, 2020.[ 30] The winners were announced on July 20, 2020.[ 31] [ 32]
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Pictures
Daniela and Christian Stöhr
PD-Verlag
Won
My City
Reiner Knizia
Kosmos
Nominated
Nova Luna
Uwe Rosenberg and Corné van Moorsel
Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus Spiele
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Die Crew: Reist gemeinsam zum 9. Planeten (The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine)
Thomas Sing
Kosmos
Won
Der Kartograph (Cartographers)
Jordy Adan
Pegasus Spiele
Nominated
The King's Dilemma
Lorenzo Silva, Hjalmar Hach and Carlo Burelli
Horrible Guild and HeidelBÄR Games
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Speedy Roll (Hedgehog Roll)
Urtis Šulinskas
Piatnik
Won
Foto Fish
Michael Kallauch
Logis
Nominated
Wir sind die Roboter (Robots)
Reinhard Staupe
NSV
Nominated
2021 awards
The nominations for the 2021 award were announced on May 18, 2021.[ 33] The award for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 14, 2021.[ 34] The winners were announced on July 19, 2021.[ 35]
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
MicroMacro: Crime City
Johannes Sich
Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus Spiele
Won[ 33] [ 36] [ 37]
Die Abenteuer des Robin Hood (The Adventures of Robin Hood)
Michael Menzel
Kosmos
Nominated
Zombie Teenz Evolution
Annick Lobet
Scorpion Masqué
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Paleo
Peter Rustemeyer
Hans im Glück
Won[ 33] [ 36] [ 37]
Die verlorenen Ruinen von Arnak (Lost Ruins of Arnak)
Michaela Štachová and Michal Štach
CGE
Nominated
Fantastische Reiche (Fantasy Realms)
Bruce Glassco
Strohmann Games and WizKids
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Dragomino
Bruno Cathala, Marie Fort and Wilfried Fort
Pegasus Spiele and Blue Orange
Won[ 38] [ 33] [ 37]
Fabelwelten (Storytailors)
Wilfried Fort and Marie Fort
Lifestyle Boardgames
Nominated
Mia London
Antoine Bauza and Corentin Lebrat
Scorpion Masqué
Nominated
2022 awards
The nominations for the 2022 award were announced on May 23, 2022. The award for Children's Game of the Year was announced on June 20, 2022.[ 39]
The winners were announced on July 17, 2022.[ 40] [ 41]
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Cascadia
Randy Flynn
Flatout Games, AEG, and Kosmos
Won[ 42]
Scout
Kei Kajino
Oink Games
Nominated
Top Ten
Aurélien Picolet
Cocktail Games
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Living Forest
Aske Christiansen
Pegasus Spiele and Ludonaute
Won[ 42]
Cryptid
Hal Duncan and Ruth Veevers
Osprey Games/Skellig Games
Nominated
Dune: Imperium
Paul Dennen
Dire Wolf
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Zauberberg (Magic Mountain)
Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber
Amigo
Won[ 43]
Auch schon clever (Ganz Schön Clever Kids)
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt
Nominated
Mit Quacks & Co. nach Quedlinburg (Quacks & Co. Quedlinburg Dash)
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt
Nominated
2023 awards
The nominations for the 2023 award were announced on May 22, 2023.[ 44] The winners were announced on July 21, 2023.[ 45] [ 46]
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Dorfromantik: Das Brettspiel (Dorfromantik: The Board Game)
Michael Palm and Lukas Zach
Pegasus Spiele
Won
Fun Facts
Kaspar Lapp
Repos Productions
Nominated
Next Station London
Matthew Dunstan
HCM Kinzel
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Challengers!
Johannes Krenner and Markus Slawitscheck
1 More Time Games and Z-Man Games
Won
Iki
Koota Yamada
Giant Roc / Sorry We Are French
Nominated
Planet Unknown
Ryan Lambert and Adam Rehberg
Strohmann Games / Adam’s Apple Games
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Mysterium Kids
Antonin Boccara and Yves Hirschfeld
Libellud / Space Cow
Won
Carla Caramel
Sara Zarian
Loki
Nominated
Gigamon (Gigamons)
Johann Roussel and Karim Aouidad
Mirakulus / Studio H
Nominated
Special Prize
Game
Designer
Publisher
Category
Result
Unlock! Game Adventures
Cyril Demaegd, Mathieu Casnin, Thomas Cauët and Jeremy Koch
Space Cowboys
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year Special Prize
Won
Unlock! Kids: Detektivgeschichten (Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories)
Cyril Demaegd, Wilfried Fort, Marie Fort
Space Cow
Children's Game of the Year Special Prize
Won
2024 awards
The nominations for the 2024 award were announced on June 11, 2024. The winners were announced on July 21, 2024.[ 47]
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Sky Team
Luc Rémond
Kosmos / Scorpion Masqué
Won
Auf den Wegen von Darwin (In the Footsteps of Darwin)
Grégory Grard and Matthieu Verdier
Sorry We Are French
Nominated
Captain Flip
Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori
Playpunk
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
e-Mission (Daybreak)
Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace
Schmidt / CMYK
Won
Die Gilde der fahrenden Händler (The Guild of Merchant Explorers)
Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert
Skellig Games / AEG
Nominated
Zug um Zug Legacy: Legenden des Westens (Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West)
Rob Daviau, Matt Leacock and Alan R. Moon
Days of Wonder
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Die magischen Schlüssel (Magic Keys)
Markus Slawitschek and Arno Steinwender
Game Factory / Happy Baobab
Won
Große kleine Edelsteine
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt
Nominated
Taco Katze Pizza Junior (Taco Kitten Pizza)
Dave Campbell and Thierry Denoual
Blue Orange
Nominated
All winners
Game of the year
Connoisseurs' game of the year
Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
2011
7 Wonders
Antoine Bauza
Repos Production
2012
Village
Inka Brand and Markus Brand
eggertspiele and Pegasus games
2013
Legends of Andor
Michael Menzel
Fantasy Flight Games
2014
Istanbul
Rüdiger Dorn
Pegasus games
2015
Broom Service
Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister
Ravensburger
2016
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King [ 48]
Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister
Mayfair
2017
Exit - The Game
Inka Brand and Markus Brand
Kosmos
2018
The Quacks of Quedlinburg
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt Games
2019
Wingspan [ 26] [ 25]
Elizabeth Hargrave
Stonemaier Games
2020
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
Thomas Sing
Kosmos
2021
Paleo [ 33] [ 36] [ 37]
Peter Rustemeyer
Hans im Glück
2022
Living Forest [ 42]
Aske Christiansen
Pegasus games and Ludonaute
2023
Challengers!
Johannes Krenner and Markus Slawitscheck
1 More Time Games and Z-Man Games
2024
Daybreak
Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace
Schmidt
2025
Endeavor: Deep Sea [ 49]
Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray
Burnt Island Games and Grand Gamers Guild
Children's game of the year
Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
1989
Gute Freunde
Alex Randolph
Selecta
1990
My Haunted Castle (German title: Das Geisterschloss )
Virginia Charves
F.X. Schmid
1991
Corsaro – Irrfahrt im Piratenmeer
Wolfgang Kramer
Herder
1992
Galloping Pigs (German title: Schweinsgalopp )
Heinz Meister
Ravensburger
1993
Ringel Rangel
Geni Wyss
Habermaaß
1994
Loopin' Louie
Carol Wiseley
Milton Bradley
1995
Karambolage
Heinz Meister
Habermaaß
1996
Noah's Park (German title: Vier zu Mir )
Heike Baum
Altenburger und Stralsunder
1997
Leinen Los!
Alex Randolph
Habermaaß
1998
Chicken Cha Cha Cha
Klaus Zoch
Zoch Verlag
1999
Kayanak
Peter-Paul Joopen
Habermaaß
2000[ 50]
Arbos (game)
Armin Müller and Martin Arnold
M+A Spiel
2001
Klondike
Christian Wolf and Stefanie Rohner
Habermaaß
2002
The Ladybug's Costume Party (German title: Maskenball der Käfer )
Peter-Paul Joopen
Selecta
2003
Viva Topo!
Manfred Ludwig
Selecta
2004
Spooky Stairs (German title: Geistertreppe )
Michelle Schanen
Drei Magier Spiele
2005
Das Kleine Gespenst
Kai Haferkamp
Kosmos
2006
Der Schwarze Pirat
Guido Hoffmann
Habermaaß
2007
Beppo der Bock
Peter Schackert
Huch & Friends
2008
Wer war's?
Reiner Knizia
Ravensburger
2009
The Magic Labyrinth
Dirk Baumann
Drei Magier Spiele
2010
Diego Drachenzahn
Manfred Ludwig
HABA
2011
Da ist der Wurm drin
Carmen Kleinert
Zoch Verlag
2012
Schnappt Hubi!
Steffen Bogen
Ravensburger
2013
Der verzauberte Turm
Inka and Markus Brand
Schmidt/Marke Drei Magier Spiele
2014
Geister, Geister, Schatzsuchmeister!
(English title: Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters )
Brian Yu
Mattel Games
2015
Spinderella
Roberto Fraga
Zoch Verlag
2016
My First Stone Age[ 51]
Marco Teubner
ZMAN Games
2017
Ice Cool[ 19]
Brian Gomez
Amigo
2018
Funkelschatz
(English title: Dragon's Breath )
Lena und Günter Burkhardt
HABA
2019
Tal der Wikinger [ 27] [ 25]
(English title: Valley of the Vikings )
Marie and Wilfried Fort
HABA
2020
Speedy Roll
(Alternate title: Hedgehog Roll )
Urtis Šulinskas
Piatnik
2021
Dragomino [ 37] [ 33]
Bruno Cathala, Marie Fort and Wilfried Fort
Pegasus games and Blue Orange
2022
Zauberberg
(English title: Magic Mountain )
Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber
Amigo
2023
Mysterium Kids
Antonin Boccara and Yves Hirschfeld
Libellud / Space Cow
2024
Die magischen Schlüssel
(English title: Magic Keys )
Markus Slawitschek and Arno Steinwender
Game Factory / Happy Baobab
2025
Topp die Torte!
(English title: Top the Cake! )
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt
Special awards
Year
Prize
Game
Designer
Publisher
1979
Beautiful game
Seti
No specific designer
Bütehorn
1980
Beautiful game
Spiel
Reinhold Wittig
Edition Perlhuhn
Solitaire
Rubik's Cube
Ernő Rubik
1981
Beautiful game
Ra
Marco Donadoni
International Team
1982
Beautiful game
Skript
Henri Sala
Jumbo
1983
Beautiful game
Wir füttern die kleinen Nilpferde
Reinhold Wittig
Edition Perlhuhn
1984
Beautiful game
Uisge
Roland Siegers
Hexagames
1985
Beautiful game
Die Magier
Johann Rüttinger
Noris Spiele
1986
Beautiful game
Müller & Sohn
Rei'nhold Wittig
Kosmos
1987
Beautiful game
Orient Express
Jeff Smets
Jumbo
1988
Beautiful game
Inkognito
Alex Randolph and Leo Colovini
Milton Bradley
Cooperative family game
Sauerbaum
Johannes Tranelis
1989
Beautiful game
Henne Berta
Geni Wyss
Habermaaß
1990
Beautiful game
Life Style
No specific designer
Ravensburger
1991
Beautiful game
Master Labyrinth
Max Kobbert
Ravensburger
1992
No special prizes awarded
1993
Beautiful game
Kula Kula
Reinhold Wittig
Blatz Spiele
1994
Beautiful game
Doctor Faust
Reinhold Wittig
Blatz Spiele
1995
Beautiful game
Tri-Ba-Lance
Michael Sohre
Theta Promotions
Puzzle
3D Krimi-Puzzle
No specific designer
1996
Beautiful game
Venice Connection
Alex Randolph
Drei Magier Spiele
Dexterity game
Carabande
Jean du Poel
1997
Beautiful game
Aztec
Nicolas Neuwahl
Zoch Verlag
Dexterity game
Husarengolf
Torsten Marold
1998–2000
No special prizes awarded
2001
Literary game
Lord of the Rings
Reiner Knizia
Kosmos
Historical game
Troia
Thomas Fackler
2002–03
No special prizes awarded
2004
Recommended
Attika
Marcel-André Casasola Merkle
Rio Grande
2005
No special prizes awarded
2006
Fantasy game
Shadows Over Camelot
Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala
Days of Wonder
Complex game
Caylus
William Attia
2007
No special prizes awarded
2008
Complex game
Agricola
Uwe Rosenberg
Lookout Games
2009
New game worlds
Space Alert
Vlaada Chvátil
Czech Games Edition
Party game
Gift Trap
Nick Kellet
2010
Game of the Year plus
World Without End
Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler
Kosmos
2011–17
No special prizes awarded
2018
Special prize
Pandemic Legacy: Season 2
Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau
Z-Man Games
2019–22
No special prizes awarded
2023
Special prize
Unlock! Game Adventures and Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories [ 52]
Cyril Demaegd, Mathieu Casnin, Thomas Cauët and Jeremy Koch
Space Cowboys
See also
References
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^ Werneck, Tom. "The Impact of the Award "Spiel des Jahres" on the Development of the Board Games Market in Germany" (PDF) .
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^ "Spiel des Jahres e.V." Archived from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2018-05-16 .
^ "Hier sind die Nominierten 2019!" . Spiel des Jahres (www.spiel-des-jahres.com) (in German). Archived from the original on 20 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019 .
^ "Kinder Spiel des Jahres!" . Spiel des Jahres (www.spiel-des-jahres.com) (in German). Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019 .
^ a b Breuer, Hendrik (July 22, 2019). "'Just One' is the game of the year 2019" . Der Spiegel . Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019 .
^ a b Pyttlik, Olaf (July 26, 2019). "'Just One' ist das Spiel des Jahres 2019" . Buchreport . Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2019 .
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^ a b "Flügelschlag" . Spiel des Jahres . Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019 .
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^ "Tal der Wikinger" . Spiel des Jahres. 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2021 .
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^ Heinecke, Guido (2020-06-15). "Speedy Roll ist das Kinderspiel des Jahres 2020" [Speedy Roll is the Kinderspiel des Jahres 2020]. Spiel des Jahres (in German). Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2020-12-15 .
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^ "Kinderspiel des Jahres 2022: Zauberberg" . Spiel des Jahres . 2022-06-20. Archived from the original on 2023-05-20. Retrieved 2022-06-20 .
^ "Cascadia is Spiel des Jahres 2022" . Spiel des Jahres . 2022-06-20. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2022-07-17 .
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^ "Award winners 2023" . Spiel des Jahres . 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2023-05-29 .
^ "Spiel des Jahres 2023: Dorfromantik" . Spiel des Jahres . 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-24 .
^ "Spiel des Jahres 2023" . Spiel des Jahres . 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-24 .
^ "Spiel des Jahres 2024: Sky Team" . Spiel des Jahres . 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-21 .
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^ "Aktuelle Preisträger 2025" . spiel-des-jahres.de . Retrieved 2025-07-14 .
^ This and earlier awards were Special Awards
^ "Spiel des Jahres on Twitter" . Archived from the original on 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2016-08-30 .
^ "Unlock! Game Adventures" .
External links
Authority control databases: National