All "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2002" game award winners & nominees in comparison 2026
We have clearly compared and listed all winners and nominees of the audience award "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2002".
- Winner Deutscher Spielepreis 2002: Puerto Rico (Deutscher Spielepreis 2002 winner)
- Winner Deutscher Kinderspielpreis 2002: Highly Suspect
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🇩🇪 2002 winners and nominees:
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Villa Paletti
All details & ratingVilla Paletti is an engaging and whimsical game designed for 2 to 4 players, aged 8 and up, that challenges budding architects to construct a towering structure. Set in a land of blooming lemons, players follow in the footsteps of the sage "Paletti" who sought to complete his grandfather's unfinished castle in the sky. The twist in Paletti's plan is to reuse old columns from the lower levels of the castle to build higher floors, creating a daring and precarious architectural marvel – the Villa Paletti.
2–4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 2 € above the best price24 € at Amazon* -
Puerto Rico
All details & ratingPuerto Rico is a strategy game where players become colonial governors in Puerto Rico, aiming to earn victory points through trade and construction.
3–5 90–150 min 12+ Medium complexity+ 66 € above the best price103 € at Amazon* -
Pueblo
All details & ratingPueblo challenges players to masterfully construct a tribal structure that remains aesthetically pleasing while cleverly concealing their own colored building blocks from the Chieftain. This engaging board game blends strategy with spatial reasoning, inviting players to think creatively and plan tactically.
2–4 60 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Highly Suspect
All details & ratingDetectives hunt for a thief hiding in the park. The board tilts, causing both detectives and the thief to move to one side until they hit an obstacle. The objective is to position your detective next to the thief to capture him.
2–4 20 min 6+ Immediately playable -
Pirate's Cove
All details & ratingPirate's Cove is a thrilling board game of adventure and piracy on the high seas. Players take on the roles of daring pirates, each striving to become the most famous and feared buccaneer in the world. The game is a blend of strategic navigation, fierce combat, and treasure hunting, set against the backdrop of a legendary pirate haven.
3–5 60–90 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Goldland
All details & ratingPlayers have a backpack with space for 12 tools, provisions, trade goods, or treasures. The number of spaces they can move corresponds to the number of empty spots in their backpack, meaning lighter travel allows for faster movement.
2–5 60–80 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Nautilus
All details & ratingPlayers build an underwater research station while trying to find Atlantis, recover sunken treasures, and gather resources. The gameboard depicts the ocean floor as a grid with shades indicating depth levels.
2–4 120 min 12+ Medium complexity
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Villa Paletti (Spiel des Jahres 2002 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 6 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 60 to 80 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: