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Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) is an award for board and card games. Created in 1978 and awarded by a jury of German game critics, the award is intended to promote excellence in game design. The global interest in the Spiel des Jahres has since promoted it to the most prestigious award in the board game community.

Spiel des Jahres

2020

Pictures2019 • 6 offersLowest price
Jeux Cerberus Games
$31.99
3 - 5
25
7.3
1.0

Pictures is a deduction game for 3 to 5 players. Pictures is designed by Christian Stöhr and Daniela Stöhr, and published by PD-Verlag.

My City2020 • 2 offers
Lowest price
401 Games
$31.95
2 - 4
30
7.5
2.1
Nova Luna2019 • 7 offers
Lowest price
Jeux Cerberus Games
$37.59
1 - 4
45
7.4
1.9

2019

Just One2018 • 10 offersLowest price
Board Game Bandit
$26.89
3 - 7
20
7.6
1.1

Just One is a party game for 3 to 7 players. Just One is designed by Ludovic Roudy and Bruno Sautter, and published by Repos Production.

Board game mechanics:
Communication Limits
Cooperative Game

L.L.A.M.A.2019 • 4 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bliss
$10.95
2 - 6
20
6.5
1.1
Werewords2017 • 3 offers
Lowest price
Meeplemart
$13.95
4 - 10
10
7.2
1.2

2018

Azul2017 • 9 offersLowest price
Amazon CA
$39.97
2 - 4
37.5
7.8
1.8

Azul is an abstract strategy game for 2 to 4 players. Azul is designed by Michael Kiesling, and published by Next Move Games.

Board game mechanics:
Card Drafting
End Game Bonuses
Pattern Building
Set Collection
Tile Placement
Turn Order: Claim Action

Luxor2018 • 5 offers
Lowest price
Legends Warehouse
$42.95
2 - 4
45
7.3
2.0
The Mind2018 • 11 offers
Lowest price
Jeux Cerberus Games
$10.39
2 - 4
15
7.0
1.1

2017

Kingdomino2016 • 8 offersLowest price
Lvlup Games
$19.99
2 - 4
17.5
7.4
1.2

Kingdomino is a city building game for 2 to 4 players. Kingdomino is designed by Bruno Cathala, and published by Blue Orange (EU).

Board game mechanics:
Card Drafting
Pattern Building
Tile Placement

Magic Maze2017 • 9 offers
Lowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$21.37
1 - 8
15
7.1
1.7
The Quest for El Dorado2017 • 4 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bandit
$35.89
2 - 4
45
7.6
1.9

2016

Codenames2015 • 18 offersLowest price
Jeux Cerberus Games
$13.59
2 - 8
15
7.6
1.3

Codenames is a card game for 2 to 8 players. Codenames is designed by Vlaada Chvátil, and published by Czech Games Edition.

Board game mechanics:
Communication Limits
Memory
Push Your Luck
Team-Based Game

Imhotep2016 • 7 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bandit
$31.99
2 - 4
40
7.2
2.0
Karuba2015 • 3 offers
Lowest price
Great Boardgames
$39.95
2 - 4
35
7.2
1.5

2015

Colt Express2014 • 6 offersLowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$33.97
2 - 6
35
7.1
1.8

Colt Express is an american west game for 2 to 6 players. Colt Express is designed by Christophe Raimbault, and published by Ludonaute.

Board game mechanics:
Action Queue
Hand Management
Memory
Programmed Movement
Simultaneous Action Selection
Take That
Variable Player Powers

Machi Koro2012 • 10 offers
Lowest price
Meeplemart
$25.95
2 - 4
30
6.6
1.5
The Game2015 • 6 offers
Lowest price
Great Boardgames
$11.95
1 - 5
20
6.7
1.2

2014

Camel Up2014
2 - 8
25
7.0
1.5

Camel Up is an animals game for 2 to 8 players. Camel Up is designed by Steffen Bogen, and published by eggertspiele.

Board game mechanics:
Betting and Bluffing
Dice Rolling
Roll / Spin and Move

Concept2013 • 9 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bandit
$47.99
4 - 12
40
6.8
1.4
Splendor2014 • 11 offers
Lowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$36.97
2 - 4
30
7.5
1.8

2013

Hanabi2010 • 12 offersLowest price
Jeux Cerberus Games
$8.79
2 - 5
25
7.1
1.7

Hanabi is a card game for 2 to 5 players. Hanabi is designed by Antoine Bauza, and published by ABACUSSPIELE.

Board game mechanics:
Communication Limits
Cooperative Game
Hand Management
Memory
Roles with Asymmetric Information
Set Collection

Rise of Augustus2013
2 - 6
30
6.7
1.6
Qwixx2012 • 3 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bliss
$13.95
2 - 5
15
6.9
1.1

2012

Kingdom Builder2011 • 3 offersLowest price
Legends Warehouse
$53.95
2 - 4
45
7.0
2.1

Kingdom Builder is a medieval game for 2 to 4 players. Kingdom Builder is designed by Donald X. Vaccarino, and published by Queen Games.

Board game mechanics:
Area Majority / Influence
Chaining
Enclosure
Hexagon Grid
Modular Board
Variable Setup

Las Vegas2012
2 - 5
30
7.1
1.2
Eselsbrücke2011
3 - 12
37.5
7.0
1.7

2011

Qwirkle2006 • 4 offersLowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$22.95
2 - 4
45
6.8
1.6

Qwirkle is an abstract strategy game for 2 to 4 players. Qwirkle is designed by Susan McKinley Ross, and published by MindWare.

Board game mechanics:
Hand Management
Pattern Building
Tile Placement

Asara2010 • 1 offer
Lowest price
Board Game Bliss
$59.95
2 - 4
45
7.0
2.3
Forbidden Island2010 • 9 offers
Lowest price
Amazon CA
$19.98
2 - 4
30
6.8
1.7

2010

Dixit2008 • 7 offersLowest price
Great Boardgames
$32.95
3 - 6
30
7.3
1.2

Dixit is a card game for 3 to 6 players. Dixit is designed by Jean-Louis Roubira, and published by Libellud.

Board game mechanics:
Communication Limits
Simultaneous Action Selection
Storytelling
Targeted Clues
Voting

Duplik2005
3 - 10
45
7.0
1.2
A la carte1989
2 - 4
30
6.5
1.3
Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age2008 • 2 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bliss
$36.95
1 - 4
37.5
6.9
1.8
Fresco2010 • 4 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bliss
$54.95
2 - 4
60
7.3
2.6

2009

Dominion2008 • 1 offerLowest price
Meeples and Milkshakes
$37.95
2 - 4
30
7.6
2.4

Dominion is a card game for 2 to 4 players. Dominion is designed by Donald X. Vaccarino, and published by Rio Grande Games.

Board game mechanics:
Deck, Bag, and Pool Building
Delayed Purchase
Hand Management
Take That
Variable Setup

FITS2009
1 - 4
45
6.6
1.4
Finca2009
2 - 4
45
7.1
2.1
Fauna2008
2 - 6
52.5
7.0
1.5
Pandemic2008 • 16 offers
Lowest price
401 Games
$39.95
2 - 4
45
7.6
2.4

2008

Keltis2008
2 - 4
30
6.4
1.6

Keltis is a board game for 2 to 4 players. Keltis is designed by Reiner Knizia, and published by KOSMOS.

Board game mechanics:
Hand Management
Point to Point Movement
Set Collection

Stone Age2008 • 1 offer
Lowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$64.95
2 - 4
75
7.6
2.5
Witch's Brew2008
3 - 5
45
7.0
1.9
Blox2008
2 - 4
45
6.6
2.1
Marrakech2007
2 - 4
30
6.7
1.4

2007

Zooloretto2007 • 1 offerLowest price
Board Game Bliss
$52.95
2 - 5
45
6.8
1.9

Zooloretto is an animals game for 2 to 5 players. Zooloretto is designed by Michael Schacht, and published by ABACUSSPIELE.

Board game mechanics:
Set Collection
Tile Placement

12 Thieves2006 • 2 offers
Lowest price
Meeplemart
$36.95
2 - 4
45
6.4
1.9
Thebes2007
2 - 4
60
7.1
2.2
Arkadia2006
2 - 4
52.5
6.9
2.6
Yspahan2006 • 4 offers
Lowest price
Board Game Bliss
$48.95
2 - 4
52.5
7.1
2.4

2006

Thurn and Taxis2006
2 - 4
60
7.1
2.3

Thurn and Taxis is a post-napoleonic game for 2 to 4 players. Thurn and Taxis is designed by Andreas Seyfarth and Karen Seyfarth, and published by Hans im Glück.

Board game mechanics:
Card Drafting
Hand Management
Network and Route Building
Set Collection

Buccaneer2006
3 - 5
30
6.3
1.6
Aqua Romana2005
2 - 4
52.5
6.3
2.2
Just4Fun2005
2 - 4
25
5.8
1.3
Blue Moon City2006 • 3 offers
Lowest price
Amazon CA
$41.49
2 - 4
40
7.0
2.3

2005

Niagara2004
3 - 5
37.5
6.5
1.8

Niagara is a nautical game for 3 to 5 players. Niagara is designed by Thomas Liesching, and published by Zoch Verlag.

Board game mechanics:
Bias
Hand Management
Pick-up and Deliver
Set Collection
Simultaneous Action Selection

That's Life!2005
2 - 6
30
6.5
1.3
Around the World in 80 Days2004
2 - 6
60
6.6
1.8
Jambo2004
2
45
7.0
2.1
Himalaya2002
3 - 4
60
7.0
2.6

2004

Ticket to Ride2004 • 11 offersLowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$39.97
2 - 5
45
7.4
1.9

Ticket to Ride is a trains game for 2 to 5 players. Ticket to Ride is designed by Alan R. Moon, and published by Days of Wonder.

Board game mechanics:
Card Drafting
Connections
End Game Bonuses
Hand Management
Map Reduction
Network and Route Building
Set Collection

Dawn Under2004
2 - 6
30
6.4
1.6
Ingenious2004 • 4 offers
Lowest price
Great Boardgames
$34.95
1 - 4
45
7.1
1.9
Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India2004
2 - 5
90
7.1
3.2
Saint Petersburg2004
2 - 4
52.5
7.3
2.5

2003

Alhambra2003 • 1 offerLowest price
Great Boardgames
$46.95
2 - 6
52.5
7.0
2.1

Alhambra is an arabian game for 2 to 6 players. Alhambra is designed by Dirk Henn, and published by Queen Games.

Board game mechanics:
Card Drafting
Hand Management
Set Collection
Tile Placement

Clans2002
2 - 4
30
6.6
2.0
Die Dracheninsel2003
3 - 6
60
5.4
1.3

2002

Villa Paletti2001
2 - 4
30
6.5
1.2

Villa Paletti is an action / dexterity game for 2 to 4 players. Villa Paletti is designed by Bill Payne, and published by Zoch Verlag.

Board game mechanics:
Dice Rolling
Pattern Building
Stacking and Balancing

Puerto Rico2002 • 1 offer
Lowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$57.95
3 - 5
120
8.0
3.3
TransAmerica2001 • 1 offer
Lowest price
Meeplemart
$32.95
2 - 6
30
6.7
1.4

2001

Carcassonne2000 • 11 offersLowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$25.97
2 - 5
37.5
7.4
1.9

Carcassonne is a city building game for 2 to 5 players. Carcassonne is designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, and published by Hans im Glück.

Board game mechanics:
Area Majority / Influence
Map Addition
Tile Placement

Das Amulett2001
3 - 6
60
6.5
2.6
Zapp Zerapp2000
2 - 4
30
6.1
1.3

2000

Torres1999 • 2 offersLowest price
Board Game Bandit
$44.89
2 - 4
60
7.1
2.9

Torres is an abstract strategy game for 2 to 4 players. Torres is designed by Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer, and published by F.X. Schmid.

Board game mechanics:
Action Points
Area Majority / Influence
Enclosure
Grid Movement
Hand Management
Square Grid
Tile Placement

Citadels2000 • 6 offers
Lowest price
401 Games
$14.95
2 - 8
40
7.1
2.1
Carolus Magnus2000
2 - 4
60
6.8
2.6

1999

Tikal1999 • 7 offersLowest price
Jeux Cerberus Games
$31.99
2 - 4
90
7.3
2.8

Tikal is an exploration game for 2 to 4 players. Tikal is designed by Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer, and published by Ravensburger Spieleverlag GmbH.

Board game mechanics:
Action Points
Area Majority / Influence
Auction/Bidding
Grid Movement
Hexagon Grid
Map Addition
Modular Board
Set Collection
Tile Placement

Giganten1999
3 - 4
90
6.7
2.6
Union Pacific1999
2 - 6
90
7.2
2.6

1998

Elfenland1998
2 - 6
60
6.7
2.2

Elfenland is a fantasy game for 2 to 6 players. Elfenland is designed by Alan R. Moon, and published by AMIGO.

Board game mechanics:
Card Drafting
Hand Management
Network and Route Building
Point to Point Movement

1997

Mississippi Queen2019 • 3 offersLowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$35.57
2 - 6
45
6.8
1.8

Mississippi Queen is a nautical game for 2 to 6 players. Mississippi Queen is designed by Werner Hodel, and published by Super Meeple.

Board game mechanics:
Grid Movement
Modular Board
Pick-up and Deliver

1996

El Grande1995
2 - 5
90
7.8
3.1

El Grande is a medieval game for 2 to 5 players. El Grande is designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich, and published by Hans im Glück.

Board game mechanics:
Action Drafting
Area Majority / Influence
Area Movement
Auction/Bidding
Card Drafting
Hand Management
Memory
Simultaneous Action Selection
Turn Order: Progressive
Turn Order: Stat-Based

1995

Catan1995 • 13 offersLowest price
Mission: Fun & Games
$36.97
3 - 4
90
7.2
2.3

Catan is an economic game for 3 to 4 players. Catan is designed by Klaus Teuber, and published by KOSMOS.

Board game mechanics:
Dice Rolling
Hexagon Grid
Income
Modular Board
Network and Route Building
Race
Random Production
Trading
Variable Setup

1994

Manhattan1994 • 1 offerLowest price
Board Game Bliss
$34.95
2 - 4
45
6.7
1.9

Manhattan is a city building game for 2 to 4 players. Manhattan is designed by Andreas Seyfarth, and published by Hans im Glück.

Board game mechanics:
Area Majority / Influence
Hand Management

1993

Perudo1800 • 1 offerLowest price
Amazon CA
$28.99
2 - 6
22.5
6.9
1.3

Perudo is a bluffing game for 2 to 6 players. Perudo is designed by Richard Borg, and published by (Public Domain).

Board game mechanics:
Betting and Bluffing
Dice Rolling
Player Elimination

1992

Um Reifenbreite1979
2 - 4
75
6.8
2.0

Um Reifenbreite is a racing game for 2 to 4 players. Um Reifenbreite is designed by Rob Bontenbal, and published by (Unknown).

Board game mechanics:
Hand Management
Roll / Spin and Move

1991

Wacky Wacky West1991
2 - 4
37.5
6.3
1.8

Wacky Wacky West is an american west game for 2 to 4 players. Wacky Wacky West is designed by Klaus Teuber, and published by Hans im Glück.

Board game mechanics:
Tile Placement
Voting

1990

Hoity Toity1990
2 - 6
45
6.5
1.9

Hoity Toity is a bluffing game for 2 to 6 players. Hoity Toity is designed by Klaus Teuber, and published by alea.

Board game mechanics:
Rock-Paper-Scissors
Set Collection
Simultaneous Action Selection

1989

Café International1989
2 - 4
52.5
6.2
1.7

Café International is an abstract strategy game for 2 to 4 players. Café International is designed by Rudi Hoffmann, and published by AMIGO.

Board game mechanics:
Hand Management
Pattern Building
Tile Placement

1988

Barbarossa1988
3 - 4
60
6.3
1.5

Barbarossa is a deduction game for 3 to 4 players. Barbarossa is designed by Klaus Teuber, and published by Alga.

Board game mechanics:
Betting and Bluffing
Roll / Spin and Move
Targeted Clues

1987

Auf Achse1987
2 - 6
60
6.2
2.0

Auf Achse is an economic game for 2 to 6 players. Auf Achse is designed by Wolfgang Kramer, and published by Dino Toys s. r. o..

Board game mechanics:
Auction/Bidding
Pick-up and Deliver
Roll / Spin and Move

1986

Heimlich & Co.1984 • 1 offerLowest price
Meeplemart
$33.95
2 - 7
30
6.4
1.5

Heimlich & Co. is a bluffing game for 2 to 7 players. Heimlich & Co. is designed by Wolfgang Kramer, and published by Edition Perlhuhn (Göttinger Spiele).

Board game mechanics:
Roll / Spin and Move

1985

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases1982 • 1 offerLowest price
Geek Stop Games
$59.99
1 - 8
90
7.7
2.7

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases is a deduction game for 1 to 8 players. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases is designed by Raymond Edwards, Suzanne Goldberg and Gary Grady, and published by Sleuth Publications.

Board game mechanics:
Cooperative Game
Solo / Solitaire Game
Storytelling

1984

Dampfross1979
2 - 6
90
6.3
2.2

Dampfross is a racing game for 2 to 6 players. Dampfross is designed by David G. Watts, and published by Alga.

Board game mechanics:
Crayon Rail System
Network and Route Building

1983

Scotland Yard1983 • 5 offersLowest price
Great Boardgames
$34.95
3 - 6
45
6.5
2.0

Scotland Yard is a deduction game for 3 to 6 players. Scotland Yard is designed by Manfred Burggraf, Dorothy Garrels, Wolf Hoermann, Fritz Ifland, Werner Scheerer and Werner Schlegel, and published by Ravensburger Spieleverlag GmbH.

Board game mechanics:
Hidden Movement
Point to Point Movement
Secret Unit Deployment
Team-Based Game

1982

Enchanted Forest1981 • 3 offersLowest price
Board Game Bliss
$24.95
2 - 6
45
5.7
1.3

Enchanted Forest is an adventure game for 2 to 6 players. Enchanted Forest is designed by Michel Matschoss and Alex Randolph, and published by AS Company.

Board game mechanics:
Memory
Roll / Spin and Move

1981

Focus1963
2 - 4
45
6.5
2.4

Focus is an abstract strategy game for 2 to 4 players. Focus is designed by Sid Sackson, and published by Daekor Designs.

Board game mechanics:
Grid Movement

1980

Rummikub1977 • 6 offersLowest price
401 Games
$16.95
2 - 4
60
6.4
1.8

Rummikub is an abstract strategy game for 2 to 4 players. Rummikub is designed by Ephraim Hertzano, and published by (Unknown).

Board game mechanics:
Melding and Splaying
Set Collection

1979

Hare & Tortoise1973
2 - 6
45
6.6
1.9

Hare & Tortoise is an animals game for 2 to 6 players. Hare & Tortoise is designed by David Parlett, and published by 999 Games.

Board game mechanics:
Hand Management
Resource to Move