All "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2016" game award winners & nominees in comparison 2026

We have clearly compared and listed all winners and nominees of the audience award "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2016".

  • Winner Deutscher Spielepreis 2016: Mombasa
  • Winner Deutscher Kinderspielpreis 2016: Leo

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🇩🇪 2016 winners and nominees:

This list was last updated on June 22, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Codenames

    Codenames

    Codenames is a captivating and popular party game that involves clever wordplay and deduction. Two teams compete, each led by a spymaster who knows the secret identities of 25 agents, represented by cards bearing single-word codenames like "disease," "Germany," or even "carrot." The objective is for each team to be the first to correctly identify all their agents based on clues given by their spymaster, while avoiding the dangerous assassin.

    All details & rating
    2–8 15 min 10+ Immediately playable
    + 2 € above the best price
    16 € at Amazon*
  2. 7 Wonders Duel

    7 Wonders Duel

    7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.

    All details & rating
    2 30 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 1 € above the best price
    19 € at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  3. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 offers an extraordinary gaming experience as a cooperative campaign game, immersing players in an overarching story-arc that unfolds over 12-24 gripping sessions. The duration depends on your group's performance and the fate of the world. Here's an overview of this thrilling journey:

    All details & rating
    2–4 60 min 13+ Medium complexity
  4. Karuba

    Karuba

    Karuba is a tile-laying race game that combines strategy with a touch of luck, as players navigate their explorers through a dense jungle to reach temples and collect treasures. Each player's decision-making skills are put to the test as they create paths and vie to be the first to explore the riches of Karuba.

    All details & rating
    2–4 30–40 min 8+ Immediately playable
  5. Mysterium

    Mysterium

    Mysterium is a cooperative mystery-solving game set in the 1920s, where players take on the roles of mediums trying to solve a murder at a Scottish mansion, guided by a ghost who communicates through visions.

    All details & rating
    2–7 42 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 7 € above the best price
    42 € at Amazon*
  6. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

    Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

    Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is a strategic tile-laying board game set in the stunning landscape of Isle of Skye. In this game, 2 to 5 players take on the roles of chieftains from different clans, each aspiring to expand their territories and build their kingdoms to gain the most points.

    All details & rating
    2–5 30–50 min 8+ Easy to learn
  7. Imhotep

    Imhotep

    Imhotep invites players into the ancient world of Egypt, where they compete as builders trying to leave their mark on history by constructing notable monuments.

    All details & rating
    2–4 40 min 10+ Easy to learn
  8. T.I.M.E Stories

    T.I.M.E Stories

    T.I.M.E Stories is a unique narrative-driven board game that blends elements of role-playing, exploration, and puzzle-solving. It offers an immersive experience as players take on the role of temporal agents sent on missions to prevent disruptions in the space-time continuum.

    All details & rating
    2–4 90 min 12+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  9. Mombasa

    Mombasa

    Mombasa is a deep and strategic Euro-style board game set in 18th century Africa, revolving around economic expansion and investment in trading companies. Players work to spread their influence across the continent by investing in companies based in key African cities and engaging in various trade activities.

    All details & rating
    2–4 75–150 min 12+ For connoisseurs
  10. Nippon

    Nippon

    Nippon is a strategic board game set during the transformative Meiji period in Japan, a time when the nation underwent a rapid transition from a feudal society to a modern industrial state. This period of Japan's history saw the end of isolation and the beginning of Western influence and technological advancement.

    All details & rating
    2–4 60–120 min 12+ For connoisseurs

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Codenames (Spiel des Jahres 2016 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 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 40 to 42 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: