The Spiel des Jahres (, "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. 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. 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.Scott Tepper cited in As Germany is considered the biggest for Board Games worldwide, being awarded 'Spiel des Jahres' has a tremendous impact for the success of any game.
Award criteria The award is given by a jury of German-speaking board game critics from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 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: 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: +Game of the YearGameDesignerPublisherResultHare and TortoiseDavid ParlettRio Grande Games +Special AwardGameDesigner(s)PublisherCategorySetiAndreas Steiner and Hartmut WittHexagamesBeautiful Game
1980 awards The games receiving recognition at the 1980 awards were: +Game of the YearGameDesignerPublisherResultRummikubEphraim HertzanoPressman Toy Corp. +Special AwardGameDesignerPublisherCategorySpielReinhold WittigABC ToysBeautiful GameRubik's CubeErno RubikIdeal Toy CorpBest Solitaire Game
1981 awards The games receiving recognition at the 1981 awards were: +Game of the YearGameDesignerPublisherResultFocusSid SacksonWhitman +Special AwardGameDesignerPublisherCategoryRa: Strategy Among HexagonsMarco DonadoniInternational TeamBeautiful Game
1982 awards The games receiving recognition at the 1982 awards were: +Game of the YearGameDesignerPublisherResultEnchanted ForestAlex Randolph and Michael MatschossRavensburger +Special AwardGameDesignerPublisherCategorySkriptHenri SalaJumboBeautiful Game
1983 awards The games receiving recognition at the 1983 awards were: +Game of the YearGameDesignerPublisherResultScotland YardManfred Burggraf and othersRavensburger +Special AwardGameDesignerPublisherCategoryWir füttern die kleinen NilpferdeReinhold WittigFagusBeautiful Game
1984 awards The games receiving recognition at the 1984 awards were: +Game of the YearGameDesignerPublisherResultRailway RivalsDavid WattsGames Workshop +Special AwardGameDesignerPublisherResultUisgeRoland SiegersHexagames
1985 awards The games receiving recognition at the 1985 awards were: +Game of the YearGameDesignerPublisherResultSherlock Holmes: Consulting DetectiveRaymond Edwards, Suzanne Goldberg and Gary GradySpace Cowboys +Special AwardGameDesignerPublisherCategoryDie MagierJohann RüttingerNoris SpieleBeautiful Game
1998 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1998 awards were:
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Elfenland Alan R. Moon Amigo
+ Special Award Game Designer Publisher Category Result Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke (Chicken Cha Cha Cha) Klaus Zoch Zoch Verlag Children's Game of the Year
1999 awards
The games receiving recognition at the 1999 awards were:
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Tikal Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling Ravensburger Giganten Wilko Manz Kosmos Alan R. Moon Amigo
+ Special Award Game Designer Publisher Category Result Kayanak Peter-Paul Joopen HABA and Nabita World Children's Game of the Year
2000 awards
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Torres Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling F.X. Schmid Carolus Magnus Leo Colovini Rio Grande Games Ohne Furcht und Adel (Citadels) Bruno Faidutti Hans im Glück + Special Award Game Designer Publisher Category Result Arbos Armin Müller, Martin Arnold M+A Spiele Children's Game of the Year
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 Das Amulett Alan R. Moon and Aaron Weissblum Goldsieber Spiele Zapp Zerapp Heinz Meister and Klaus Zoch Zoch Verlag + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Klondike Stefanie Rohner, Christian Wolf HABA Rüsselbande (The Piggyback Brigade) Alex Randolph Drei Magier Im Märchenwald Markus Nikisch Adlung Spiele + Special Award Game Designer Publisher Category Result Troia Thomas Fackler Zeitstein Spiele Historical Game Der Herr der Ringe (Lord of the Rings) Reiner Knizia Kosmos Literary Game
2002 awards
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Villa Paletti Bill Payne Zoch Verlag Puerto Rico Andreas Seyfarth Alea TransAmerica Franz-Benno Delonge Winning Moves Germany + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Maskenball der Käfer Peter-Paul Joopen Selecta Höchst verdächtig (Highly Suspect) Manfred Ludwig HABA Bärenstark Heinz Meister Goldsieber Spiele
2003 awards
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Der Palast von Alhambra (Alhambra) Dirk Henn Queen Games Clans Leo Colovini Venice Connection Die Dracheninsel Tom Schoeps Amigo + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Viva Topo! Manfred Ludwig Selecta Robbys Rutschpartie Wolfgang Kramer, Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan Kosmos Lauras Sternenspiel Kai Haferkamp, Rüdiger Husmeier Amigo
2004 awards
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Zug um Zug (Ticket to Ride) Alan R. Moon Days of Wonder Dicke Luft in der Gruft (Dawn Under) Norbert Proena Zoch Verlag Ingenious Reiner Knizia Kosmos Raja: Palastbau in Indien (Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India) Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling Phalanx Games Sankt Petersburg (Saint Petersburg) Michael Tummelhofer Hans im Glück + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Geistertreppe (Spooky Stairs) Michelle Schanen Drei Magier Schnelle Welle (Treasure Hunt) Dirk Hanneforth, Hajo Bücken Ravensburger Schatz der Drachen Reiner Knizia Winning Moves Mare Polare Roberto Fraga Selecta Macius: Achtung, fertig los! Wolfgang Kramer, Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan Kosmos
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 Verflixxt! (That's Life!) Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling Ravensburger In 80 Tagen um die Welt (Around the World in 80 Days) Michael Rieneck Kosmos Jambo Rüdiger Dorn Kosmos Himalaya Régis Bonnessée Tilsit + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Das kleine Gespenst Kai Haferkamp Kosmos Schildkrötenrennen (Ribbit) Reiner Knizia Winning Moves Schildi Schildkröte Ronald Hofstätter HABA Mago Magino Reiner Knizia Selecta Daddy Cool Heinz Meister Huch!
2006 awards The nominations for the 2006 award were announced on May 28, 2006, and the winner on July 17, 2006:
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Thurn and Taxis Karen & Andreas Seyfarth Hans im Glück Seeräuber (Buccaneer) Stefan Dorra Queen Games Aqua Romana Martin Schlegel Queen Games Just 4 Fun Jürgen P.K. Grunau Kosmos Blue Moon City Reiner Knizia Kosmos + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Der schwarze Pirat Guido Hoffmann HABA Piratissimo Manfred Ludwig Selecta Nacht der Magier Kirsten Becker, Jens-Peter Schliemann Drei Magier Los Mampfos Maja Dorn, Rüdiger Dorn Zoch Verlag Giro Galoppo Jürgen P.K. Grunau Selecta
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:
+ Special Prizes Game Designer Publisher Category Result Schatten über Camelot (Shadows over Camelot) Serge Laget and Bruno Cathala Days of Wonder Fantasy Game Caylus William Attia Ẏstari Games Complex Game
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 Der Dieb von Bagdad (The Thief of Baghdad) Thorsten Gimmler Queen Games Jenseits von Theben (Thebes) Peter Prinz Queen Games Die Baumeister von Arkadia (Arkadia) Rüdiger Dorn Ravensburger Yspahan Sébastien Pauchon Ẏstari Games + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Beppo der Bock Peter Schackert, Klaus Zoch Oberschwäbische Magnetspiele Rettet den Märchenschatz! (Save the Treasure of Fairy Tales) Kai Haferkamp Selecta Hüpf hüpf, Hurra! (Hop Hop Hooray!) Heinz Meister Ravensburger Gesagt – getan! Roberto Fraga HABA Burg-Ritter (Castle Knights) Christian Tiggemann HABA
2008 awards The nominations for the 2008 award were announced on May 25, 2008, and the winner on June 30, 2008:
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Keltis Reiner Knizia Kosmos Stone Age Michael Tummelhofer Hans im Glück Wie verhext! (Witch's Brew) Andreas Pelikan Alea/Ravensburger Blox Wolfgang Kramer, Jürgen P.K. Grunau, Hans Raggan Ravensburger Suleika Dominique Ehrhard Zoch Verlag + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Wer war's? (Whoowasit?) Reiner Knizia Ravensburger Geisterjäger (Ghost Hunters) Andreas, Ueli und Lukas Frei HABA Fluss der Drachen Inka and Markus Brand Kosmos Didi Dotter Ariel Laden Zoch Verlag Capt'n Sharky: Abenteuer auf der Schatzinsel Kai Haferkamp Die Spiegelburg
+ Special Prize Game Designer Publisher Category Result Agricola Uwe Rosenberg Lookout Games Complex Game
2009 awards The nominations for the 2009 award were announced on May 24, 2009 and the winner on June 29, 2009:
+ Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Dominion Donald X. Vaccarino Rio Grande Games FITS Reiner Knizia Ravensburger Finca Ralf zur Linde, Wolfgang Sentker Hans im Glück Fauna Friedemann Friese HUCH & Friends Pandemie (Pandemic) Matt Leacock Pegasus Spiele + Children's Game of the Year Game Designer Publisher Result Das magische Labyrinth (The Magic Labyrinth) Dirk Baumann Drei Magier Curli Kuller Marco Teubner Selecta Zoowaboo Carlo A. Rossi Selecta Nicht zu fassen (Hide the Kids!) Fréderic Moyersoen Zoch Verlag Land in Sicht (Tonga Island) Stefan Dorra Ravensburger + Special Prizes Game Designer Publisher Category Result Gift Trap Nick Kellet Heidelberger Spieleverlag Party Game Space Alert Vlaada Chvátil Heidelberger Spieleverlag New Game Worlds
2010 awards The nominations for the 2010 award were announced on May 31, 2010, and the winner on June 28, 2010: