All "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 1999" game award winners & nominees in comparison 2026

We have clearly compared and listed all winners and nominees of the audience award "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 1999".

1
All details for the board game Kayanak (Deutscher Kinderspielpreis 1999 winner) and similar games
2
All details for the board game Verräter and similar games
3
All details for the board game Medieval Merchant and similar games

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🇩🇪 1999 winners and nominees:

This list was last updated on June 21, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Kayanak

    Kayanak

    In the icy frost of the Arctic, Inuit or polar bears engage in their favorite activity: ice fishing. Players punch holes in the "ice" to try to catch fish represented by steel balls of various sizes. The first player to catch ten fish wins, and for children aged six and up, larger fish are worth more points.

    All details & rating
    2–4 15 min 4+ Immediately playable
    Dexterity
    Kids' Game
    Memory
    Toddlers
    + 1 € above the best price
    28 € at Amazon*
  2. Verräter

    Verräter

    Players engage in a conflict between two factions, the Rose and the Eagle, using power cards to sway the allegiance of districts. They choose roles such as Diplomat, Traitor, and Builder, each granting special abilities for the round. The Traitor's ability to shift loyalties at the start of the conflict can be particularly devastating, with points awarded for winning districts, taking on specific roles, and building counting houses.

    All details & rating
    3–4 60 min 12+ Medium complexity
    Negotiation
    Strategy Game
    Team Game
    Drafting
    9 € at Amazon*
  3. Medieval Merchant

    Medieval Merchant

    Players secure valuable markets through affordable trade routes between medieval cities while pushing opponents into less profitable markets. Cities have a variable number of spaces where players can develop businesses or establish new trade routes to distant towns. Generating income can risk dominance over a city, but establishing branches within a city can lower product value while increasing market influence. The player with the greatest influence at the end wins.

    All details & rating
    2–6 60–90 min 12+ Medium complexity
    Area Control
    Medieval
    Economy & Trade
    Strategy Game
    Large Groups
    47 € at Amazon*

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Kayanak (Deutscher Kinderspielpreis 1999 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 4 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 4 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 60 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: