Template:Short description
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File:Harald Schrapers.jpg Harald Schrapers, Chairman of the Jury of the Spiel des Jahres
File:Randy Flynn.jpg Randy Flynn’s Cascadia : Winner of Spiel des Jahres 2022
The Spiel des Jahres (Script error: No such module "IPA". , '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:
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:
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:
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
Template:Win
[ 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
Template:Win
2001 awards
This was the first year the Children's Game of the Year award was given, an award for more simple games:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Klondike
Stefanie Rohner, Christian Wolf
HABA
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Das kleine Gespenst
Kai Haferkamp
Kosmos
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Beppo der Bock
Peter Schackert, Klaus Zoch
Oberschwäbische Magnetspiele
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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:
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
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Da ist der Wurm drin
Carmen Kleinert
Zoch Verlag
Template:Win
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:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Schnappt Hubi!
Steffen Bogen
Ravensburger
Template:Win
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:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Der verzauberte Turm (The Enchanted Tower)
Inka and Markus Brand
Schmidt Games
Template:Win
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:
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Geister, Geister, Schatzsuchmeister! (Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters)
Brian Yu
Mattel Games
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
Machi Koro
Masao Suganuma
Kosmos
Nominated
The Game
Steffen Benndorf
Nürnberger Spielkarten Verlag
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Spinderella
Roberto Fraga
Zoch Verlag
Template:Win
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:
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
Template:Win [ 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
Template:Win [ 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.
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Funkelschatz (Dragon's Breath)
Lena und Günter Burkhardt
HABA
Template:Win
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]
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]
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Speedy Roll (Hedgehog Roll)
Urtis Šulinskas
Piatnik
Template:Win
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]
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Dragomino
Bruno Cathala, Marie Fort and Wilfried Fort
Pegasus Spiele and Blue Orange
Template:Win [ 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
Template:Win [ 42]
Scout
Kei Kajino
Oink Games
Nominated
Top Ten
Aurélien Picolet
Cocktail Games
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Zauberberg (Magic Mountain)
Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber
Amigo
Template:Win [ 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]
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Challengers!
Johannes Krenner and Markus Slawitscheck
1 More Time Games and Z-Man Games
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
Unlock! Kids: Detektivgeschichten (Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories)
Cyril Demaegd, Wilfried Fort, Marie Fort
Space Cow
Children's Game of the Year Special Prize
Template:Win
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
Template:Win
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
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Die magischen Schlüssel (Magic Keys)
Markus Slawitschek and Arno Steinwender
Game Factory / Happy Baobab
Template:Win
Große kleine Edelsteine
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt
Nominated
Taco Katze Pizza Junior (Taco Kitten Pizza)
Dave Campbell and Thierry Denoual
Blue Orange
Nominated
2025 awards
The nominations for the 2025 award were announced on May 20, 2025. The winners were announced on July 13, 2025.[ 48]
Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Bomb Busters
Hisashi Hayashi
Pegasus Games / Cocktail Games
Template:Win
Flip 7
Eric Olsen
Kosmos / The Op Games
Nominated
Krakel Orakel
7 Bazis
Topp
Nominated
Connoisseur-gamer Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Endeavor: Die Tiefsee (Deep Sea)
Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray
Frosted Games / Board Game Circus / Burnt Island Games / Grand Gamers Guild
Template:Win
Faraway
Johannes Goupy and Corentin Lebrat
Kosmos / Catch Up Games
Nominated
Neuland (Looot)
Charles Chevallier and Laurent Escoffier
Game Factory / Gigamic
Nominated
Children's Game of the Year
Game
Designer
Publisher
Result
Top the cake
Wolfgang Warsch
Schmidt
Template:Win
Cascadia Junior
Fertessa Allyse and Randy Flynn
Kosmos / AEG / Flatout Games
Nominated
The Mice Gang (Le Clan des Souris)
Christophe Lauras
Game Factory / Débâcle Jeux
Nominated
All winners
Game of the year
Connoisseurs' game of the year
Children's game of the year
Special awards
See also
References
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External links
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Template:Sister project
Template:Spiel des Jahres
Template:Authority control