All "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 1996" game award winners & nominees in comparison 2026
We have clearly compared and listed all winners and nominees of the audience award "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 1996".
- Winner Deutscher Spielepreis 1996: El Grande (Spiel des Jahres 1996 winner)
- Winner Deutscher Kinderspielpreis 1996: Hallo Dachs!
Audience Award instead of Critics Award
In contrast to the Spiel des Jahres, the "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪" is not awarded by critics but by a professional audience (individual players, retailers, game circles, journalists). It is also called the "player" award – by players for players.
All games between "Essen" & "Nürnberg" are nominated
All games published between the SPIEL in Essen of the previous year and the Nuremberg Toy Fair of the same year are included in the nomination list for the "Deutscher Spielepreis" (german for "German Game Award").
Anyone can participate
In addition to trade magazines and retailers, everyone (since 2001) may vote online. All participants choose what they think are the 5 best games of the vintage – first place gets 5 points, second 4, third 3, fourth 2 and fifth 1 point. Each participant is weighted exactly the same and their points are added up.
List of the 10 best games of the year
Finally, the 10 games with the highest total score are published. The game with the highest score is then the winner of the "German Game Award".
Since 1992 also "Deutscher Kinderspielpreis" (German Children's Game Award)
In addition to the 5 best games, each participant may also select a children's game. The one with the most votes then becomes the winner of the "Deutscher Kinderspielpreis" for the respective year.
All other "Deutscher Spielepreis" years
The German Game Prize is awarded since 1990, we have listed for you both across all years, all Children's Game Prize winners and separated by year you can find at the bottom of the page.
More info can be found on the official website of the "German Games Award".
List with all Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 1996 winners and nominees:
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El Grande
All details & ratingEl Grande is a classic strategy board game set in medieval Spain, where players, as powerful lords or "Grandes," vie for control over various regions in a declining kingdom. The game is known for its blend of tactical depth and strategic planning.
2–5 60–120 min 12+ Medium complexity2 € below the next retailer15 € at Amazon* -
Gloria Picktoria
All details & ratingPlayers try to collect majorities in as many of the ten different glamorous resource chicken holdings as possible by playing the most or the second-most cards of each type. There are three scoring rounds triggered by the appearance of specific cards from the draw pile. The game has previously been released under different names in Germany and the USA.
2–5 45 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Top Race
All details & ratingMaximize your earnings by finishing as one of the first to cross the finish line while also betting on your performance. Each player starts with 200,000 credits and selects their "Speed cards" after an auction for "Contestants cards" corresponding to their colors.
2–6 45 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Hallo Dachs!
All details & ratingA children's game by Klaus Teuber features animals, meals, and memories. Players take on the role of a badger in the forest, where paths lead to various meals. Upon reaching a meal area, the badger rolls the dice according to the number of meals available, turning over stones for points. The first player to reach the point gate wins the game.
2–4 20 min 6+ Immediately playable -
MarraCash
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of shop owners in a Moroccan marketplace, purchasing various stores as color-coded tourists appear at the entrance. They can bring tourists to their matching stores for profit or direct them to opponents' shops to share in the earnings. The player with the highest bank balance at the end wins, combining auction elements with spatial relationships for an engaging experience.
3–4 60 min 12+ Easy to learn -
Ab die Post!
All details & ratingPlayers navigate a racetrack, avoiding storm clouds, making repairs, and possibly picking up a passenger for bonus points. A black plastic storm cloud with a clear cap holds colored balls that determine flight speed. Players draw cards to assist in repairs and choose between outer, middle, or inner lanes, with the inner lane being the shortest but most expensive to use.
3–6 45 min 8+ Immediately playable
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
El Grande (Spiel des Jahres 1996 winner) currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.
How many players do the games on this list support?
Most games on this list support 2 to 5 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.
What age are these games suitable for?
Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 6 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 45 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
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