The Spiel des Jahres (German for Game of the Year) is an award for board and card games, created in 1978 with the stated purpose of rewarding excellence in game design, and promoting top-quality games in the German market.[1] It is thought that the existence and popularity of the award is one of the major drivers of the quality of games coming out of Germany. A Spiel des Jahres nomination can increase the typical sales of a game from 500-3000 copies to around 10,000; and the winner can usually expect to sell 300,000 to 500,000 copies.[2]
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The award is given by a jury of German-speaking board game critics (from Germany, Austria, 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.
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, not necessarily awarded annually. In 2011, however, this practice was formalized when the jury created a new category for more complex games entitled "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,[3]:
The nominations for the 2011 award were released on 23 May 2011. The three games nominated were
Qwirkle was announced as the winner on June 27, 2011.
This year, an additional category "Kennerspiel des Jahres" (roughly "Connoisseur-Enthusiast Game of the Year") was also introduced for more complex games. The three nominated games for this category were
7 Wonders was announced as the winner on June 27, 2011.
The nominations for the 2010 award were released on 31 May 2010. The five games nominated were:
Dixit was announced as the winner on June 28, 2010.
The nominations for the 2009 award were released on 24 May 2009. The five games nominated were:
Dominion was announced as winner on 29 June 2009.
Along with the nominations, the jury also awarded two special prizes:
The nominations for the 2008 award were released on 25 May 2008. The five games nominated were:
Keltis was announced as winner on 30 June 2008.
Along with the nominations, the jury also awarded a special prize:
The nominations for the 2007 award were released on 20 May 2007. The five games nominated were:
Zooloretto was announced as winner on 25 June 2007.
The nominations for the 2006 award were released on 28 May, 2006. The five games nominated were:
Thurn and Taxis was announced as winner on 17 July 2006.
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.[4]
The nominations for the 2005 award were released on 8 May, 2005. The five games nominated were:
Niagara was announced to be the winner on 27 June 2005.
| Year | Winner | Designer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 Wonders | Antoine Bauza | Repos Production |
| Year | Winner | Designer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Diego Drachenzahn | Manfred Ludwig | HABA |
| 2009 | Das magische Labyrinth | Dirk Baumann | Drei Magier Spiele |
| 2008 | Wer war's? | Reiner Knizia | Ravensburger |
| 2007 | Beppo der Bock | Peter Schackert | Huch & Friends |
| 2006 | Der Schwarze Pirat | Guido Hoffmann | Habermaaß |
| 2005 | Das Kleine Gespenst | Kai Haferkamp | Kosmos |
| 2004 | Spooky Stairs (German title: Geistertreppe) |
Michelle Schanen | Drei Magier Spiele |
| 2003 | Viva Topo! | Manfred Ludwig | Selecta |
| 2002 | The Ladybug's Costume Party (German title: Maskenball der Käfer) |
Peter-Paul Joopen | Selecta |
| 2001 | Klondike | Christian Wolf and Stefanie Rohner | Habermaaß |
| 2000 | Arbos | Armin Müller and Martin Arnold | M+A Spiel |
| 1999 | Kayanak | Peter-Paul Joopen | Habermaaß |
| 1998 | Chicken Cha Cha Cha | Klaus Zoch | Zoch Verlag |
| 1997 | Leinen Los! | Alex Randolph | Habermaaß |
| 1996 | Noah's Park (German title: Vier zu Mir) |
Heike Baum | Altenburger und Stralsunder |
| 1995 | Karambolage | Heinz Meister | Habermaaß |
| 1994 | Loopin' Louie | Carol Wiseley | Milton Bradley |
| 1993 | Ringel Rangel | Geni Wyss | Habermaaß |
| 1992 | Galloping Pigs (German title: Schweinsgalopp) |
Heinz Meister | Ravensburger |
| 1991 | Corsaro - Irrfahrt im Piratenmeer | Wolfgang Kramer | Herder |
| 1990 | My Haunted Castle (German title: Das Geisterschloss) |
Virginia Charves | F.X. Schmid |
| 1989 | Gute Freunde | Alex Randolph | Selecta |
| Year | Prize | Winner | Designer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Game Of The Year plus | World Without End | Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler | Kosmos |
| 2009 | Party game | Gift Trap | Nick Kellet | GiftTRAP Enterprises |
| New game worlds | Space Alert | Vlaada Chvátil | Czech Games Edition | |
| 2008 | Complex game | Agricola | Uwe Rosenberg | Lookout Games |
| 2007 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2006 | Complex game | Caylus | William Attia | Ẏstari Games |
| Fantasy game | Shadows Over Camelot | Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala | Days of Wonder | |
| 2005 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2004 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2003 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2002 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 2001 | Historical game | Troia | Thomas Fackler | Zeitstein Spiele |
| Literary game | Lord of the Rings | Reiner Knizia | Kosmos | |
| 2000 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1999 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1998 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1997 | Dexterity game | Husarengolf | Torsten Marold | Abacus |
| Beautiful game | Aztec | Niek Neuwahl | Zoch Spiele | |
| 1996 | Dexterity game | Carabande | Jean du Poel | Goldsieber |
| Beautiful game | Venice Connection | Alex Randolph | Drei Magier Spiele | |
| 1995 | Puzzle | 3D Krimi-Puzzle | no specific designer | Milton Bradley |
| Beautiful game | Tri-Ba-Lance | Michael Sohre | Theta Promotions | |
| 1994 | Beautiful game | Doctor Faust | Reinhold Wittig | Blatz Spiele |
| 1993 | Beautiful game | Kula Kula | Reinhold Wittig | Blatz Spiele |
| 1992 | no special prizes awarded | |||
| 1991 | Beautiful game | Master Labyrinth | Max Kobbert | Ravensburger |
| 1990 | Beautiful game | Life Style | no specific designer | Ravensburger |
| 1989 | Beautiful game | Henne Berta | Geni Wyss | Habermaaß |
| 1988 | Cooperative family game | Sauerbaum | Johannes Tranelis | Herder |
| Beautiful game | Inkognito | Alex Randolph and Leo Colovini | Milton Bradley | |
| 1987 | Beautiful game | Tatort Nachtexpress | Jeff Smets | Jumbo |
| 1986 | Beautiful game | Müller & Sohn | Reinhold Wittig | Kosmos |
| 1985 | Beautiful game | Die drei Magier | Johann Rüttinger | Drei Magier Spiele |
| 1984 | Beautiful game | Uisge | Roland Siegers | Hexagames |
| 1983 | Beautiful game | Wir füttern die kleinen Nilpferde | Reinhold Wittig | Edition Perlhuhn |
| 1982 | Beautiful game | Skript | Henri Sala | Jumbo |
| 1981 | Beautiful game | Ra | Marco Donadoni | International Team |
| 1980 | Solitaire | Rubik's cube | Ernő Rubik | Arxon |
| Beautiful game | Spiel | Reinhold Wittig | Edition Perlhuhn | |
| 1979 | Beautiful game | Seti | no specific designer | Bütehorn |