Spiel des Jahres
The Spiel des Jahres (German for Game of the Year) is arguably the most prestigious board game award for German-style board games.
The award was created in the late 1970s to reward excellence in game design, and to promote top-quality games in the German market. 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. However, some game fanatics feel that in the last couple of years, the award is awarded for diplomatic reasons, cycling between the three or four largest game producers in Germany.
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Award critera
The award is given by a jury, which reviews games released in Germany in the preceding twelve months. The award generally goes to a 'family style' game. Games such as wargames are not considered.
The award critera are:
- Game idea & originality
- Rule structure & clarity
- Presentation (art and parts)
- Game mechanics
2005 nominations
The nominations for the 2005 award were released on 8 May [[2005] and the winner will be announced 27 June 2005. The five games nominated are:
- Verflixxt – Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling, Ravensburger
- Around the World in 80 Days – Michael Rieneck, Kosmos
- Niagara – Thomas Liesching, Zoch Verlag
- Jambo – Rüdiger Dorn, Kosmos
- Himalaya – Régis Bonnessée, Tilsit (game publisher)
Previous winners
Here is the list of games that have won this award:
- 2004 Ticket to Ride – Days of Wonder
- 2003 Alhambra – Queen Games
- 2002 Villa Paletti – Zoch Verlag
- 2001 Carcassonne – Hans im Gluck
- 2000 Torres – Ravensberger
- 1999 Tikal – Ravensberger
- 1998 Elfenland – Amigo Spiele
- 1997 Mississippi Queen – Goldsieber
- 1996 El Grande – Hans im Gluck
- 1995 The Settlers of Catan – Kosmos
- 1994 Manhattan – Hans im Gluck
- 1993 Call My Bluff (German title is Bluff) – F.X. Schmid
- 1992 Um Reifenbreite – Jumbo
- 1991 Drunter und Druber – Hans im Gluck
- 1990 Adel Verpflichtet – F.X. Schmid
- 1989 Café International – Mattel
- 1988 Barbarossa – Altenburger und Stralsunder Spielkarten-Fabriken
- 1987 Auf Achse – F.X. Schmid
- 1986 Top Secret Spies (German title is Heimlich and Co.) – Ravensberger
- 1985 Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective – Kosmos
- 1984 Dampfross – Schmidt Spiele
- 1983 Scotland Yard – Ravensberger
- 1982 Enchanted Forest (German title is Sagaland) – Ravensberger
- 1981 Focus – Parker
- 1980 Rummikub – Intelli
- 1979 Hare and Tortoise – Ravensberger
See Also
External link
- Spiel des Jahres – official website
Categories: Games awards | Spiel des Jahres winners